I am fortunate enough to have a 19 year old brother with an infectious smile and an incredibly massive heart. James has a whole list of characteristics that make him so incredibly easy to love, but one thing in particular often stands out more then others, he’s autistic. He is just like you, me, and the next person. He goes to school, has a job, hangs out with his housemates, and even has a girlfriend.

James is different because of the way he sometimes acts and thinks. He realizes he isn’t what society considers to be “normal”. He will ask every now and again “Why did God have to make me different?” and it’s always heartbreaking to hear. James will usually ask after hearing someone in public make a comment about the way he was behaving. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to have to bite my tongue (sometimes I can’t) and ignore those comments because our society is so stuck on the “norm”.

The letter the Begley family received is absolutely disgusting. Reading that letter pulled on my heart strings, because absolutely no child or family should ever have to receive a piece of mail like that. I hope and pray that they find out who committed such a horrible act.

-Emily