For my brother Joey
My name is Nicholas Lombardi and I have a younger brother, Joey. He's a great little kid; he's sweet, he's loving and he's very funny. Joey also can't talk yet: He has autism. I wish he could talk, I wish he could communicate like a typical kid. Maybe someday, it's so frustrating sometimes, because I know he has a lot to say.
What frustrates me even more is the way people look at him sometimes, because they don't understand. They think he's just misbehaving.
How did I think of a button? I was in a mall with my mom and Joey. Joey was doing what he does sometimes – making funny noises, going down to the floor so he could feel the ground. And people were looking at him like he was just some brat, not listening to his Mom. Joey had taken off his shoes and starting running. My Mom and I were yelling his name. He was confused and upset, but all the other people saw was a kid who was misbehaving.
As the people stared I found my self very angry. Not at him, not really at them, but maybe at autism. I wished there could be a way… to have people understand. A voice.
And that was it. In my head, I saw a button, one that could speak for Joey. I turned to my mom and said: Ma, I really wish there was a button that said I'm not misbehaving, I have autism, please be understanding. It would be a voice for Joey. We should create one.
At first I thought we could use the money for Joey, for his therapy, for his needs. There are many. But then I thought of other kids. I can help other kids with autism too, that would be the best! I thought it would be great to donate 1 dollar from each button to Autism Speaks. My Mom agreed and said she would help. Now my buttons not only help Joey, but help other kids too.
I'm so happy that my dream of a voice for my brother and other kids has come true. With my button, people won't think a kid with autism is misbehaving, they will now think oh, that kid has autism, they'll wonder, and want to learn more and that will help kids like my brother be understood. And that's good, because Joey is a good kid and not misbehaving.
Hopefully, with so many wearing the button, more understanding and tolerance for autism can spread. This would make a lot of families happy. I'm lucky to have Joey he teaches me so many things.
What frustrates me even more is the way people look at him sometimes, because they don't understand. They think he's just misbehaving.
How did I think of a button? I was in a mall with my mom and Joey. Joey was doing what he does sometimes – making funny noises, going down to the floor so he could feel the ground. And people were looking at him like he was just some brat, not listening to his Mom. Joey had taken off his shoes and starting running. My Mom and I were yelling his name. He was confused and upset, but all the other people saw was a kid who was misbehaving.
As the people stared I found my self very angry. Not at him, not really at them, but maybe at autism. I wished there could be a way… to have people understand. A voice.
And that was it. In my head, I saw a button, one that could speak for Joey. I turned to my mom and said: Ma, I really wish there was a button that said I'm not misbehaving, I have autism, please be understanding. It would be a voice for Joey. We should create one.
At first I thought we could use the money for Joey, for his therapy, for his needs. There are many. But then I thought of other kids. I can help other kids with autism too, that would be the best! I thought it would be great to donate 1 dollar from each button to Autism Speaks. My Mom agreed and said she would help. Now my buttons not only help Joey, but help other kids too.
I'm so happy that my dream of a voice for my brother and other kids has come true. With my button, people won't think a kid with autism is misbehaving, they will now think oh, that kid has autism, they'll wonder, and want to learn more and that will help kids like my brother be understood. And that's good, because Joey is a good kid and not misbehaving.
Hopefully, with so many wearing the button, more understanding and tolerance for autism can spread. This would make a lot of families happy. I'm lucky to have Joey he teaches me so many things.
Join my Facebook Group
