Emma and I

By Maria Tian

Eleven years ago, I exclaimed, "Mom! Mom! Emma is ripping a stuffed animal!" 

From the moment I learned to speak, I instinctively took on the role of an older sister to Emma despite being younger. I took responsibility to tell my parents when she makes a mistake or might get in danger.

A glimpse of my life with an autistic sister

Hi, my name is Maria. I’m 13 years old, and I have the best sister I could ask for. Although Emma was diagnosed with autism when she was 3, I don’t remember a specific moment I learned she had autism. But as I got older, piece by piece I was able to understand more about her, and notice she showed her emotions differently from others.

Growing up with Emma is a privilege to me because it has taught me many valuable life lessons earlier in life. Throughout the journey, I struggled to constantly be independent and often felt like I wasn’t the priority. However, as I got older, I started to understand my parents and my sister.

An organization that has really helped me to connect with other families just like mine is the True Love for Hope organization. I remember one year during Thanksgiving I went on a week-long trip to a lake, and it was a really memorable experience. I got to spend quality time with other volunteers, and they all treated my sister really well.

Me and my family in 2016

Words of Advice

If you’re like me and have a sibling with autism, it can be really challenging to cope and have a healthy relationship with him or her. But I want to encourage you that you’re not alone and when you feel frustrated or unstable, it is okay to find and join supportive groups like True Love, especially the Siblings-to-Siblings club.

Closing Hopes

In the future I hope to make a meaningful contribution to organizations that support those with autism. I will fight for the rights of families with an autistic member and make them feel less pressured.

Last Year’s Christmas