“Dylan being part of my wedding was something I dreamed about since he was diagnosed. He did so well at my wedding, and it’s still one of the things I’m most thankful for; that I got to have him partake in such a special day for me.”
Gracie and I are inspired by siblings who are moved to do great things. As soon as we read this,”I have a little brother with autism, and his diagnosis led me to a job in the autism field. I see the world through an autism lens, both as a sister, and as a therapist,” on the blog THE AUTISM ONION we knew we wanted to get to know it’s creator Angelina even more. Angelina’s passion to make a difference in others lives, especially those families who have been touched by autism, is what moved us to make her the NOVEMBER Sibling of the month. This month’s issue is all about friendship and we believe that despite the 16 1/2 year age difference between Angelina and Dylan, they are a wonderful example of how if we reach out and make a little extra effort anything is possible. Thank you Angelina for caring and now for sharing your insights with us all on your blog The Autism Onion. And of course THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SIBLING OF THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER!
What is your favorite color?
Purple!
What do you see yourself doing in 10 years from now? I see myself with my husband and maybe a few kids, still working with children and families dealing with autism, and I see myself still writing about autism.
What is your favorite thing about your brother? 
I can’t pick just one thing! I love his sweet smile, his laugh, how affectionate he is, how much he loves the Happy Birthday song, his freckles, and how smart he is.
I started my blog because I wanted a place to write about my thoughts and feelings. Autism has really affected my life, so I wanted an outlet. Plus, I wanted to share my experiences with other people because I have a lot of knowledge about helping people with autism. I’m a big sister, and I also work with other autistic kids. I understand autism in a lot of ways, and I believe some of what I’ve learned as a therapist for autistic kids might help other families. My hope is that my unique view would be helpful to other people.
The name The Autism Onion came from a parent I’ve known for many years who has 2 kids with autism. We were talking about how complicated autism can be, and she mentioned the “layers of the autism onion”. When she said that I knew that’s what I wanted to call my blog! Autism is so complex, and there are so many layers: the sadness, the frustration, the joy, the pride, the worry, the patience, the love…. So, I thought The Autism Onion was the perfect name for my blog.
How do you explain autism to people who just don’t get it?
If I was explaining autism to a young person who didn’t understand it, I would say: Autism means the person’s brain works differently than yours. There are some ways autistic people are just like you. And there are other ways that they are different. Autistic people might not use words to talk, like you do. But they still have all the same feelings you do, they just sometimes show their feelings differently.
Love this article. Angelina obviously has a lot to offer to those affected by autism. Great choice for a feature! By the way, Angelina’s blog is great. Totally worth checking out.