An Adult Sibling’s Perspective on Autism

My greatest fear is that my brother Nikos outlives me. I lose sleep over it. Not as much as I used to but I still do. Who will look out for him? Who instinctively understands his needs – this particular nonverbal profoundly autistic adult’s needs? It is a real concern. But is it grandiose of me? Perhaps my relevance is overstated. Certainly, families without a healthy sibling in the mix face this same quandary. I regularly devote time to Nikos’ life care plan. That map is dynamic; it shifts with changes in family circumstance, state laws, his age, my age, and my energy. That will never stop. I will never stop. I will continue to do my best to get this right.