Meet Francesca & William

Francesca Smith is a junior at Mansfield High school who participates in Field Hockey and the Spring Track team.  She is also an active member of student council serving on both the student advisory council and a student rep. She is a valued member of her community known for her affability and  but also an excellent younger sister. She shares her story with the Siblings in Stride community with her older brother William, who has autism. Frankie writes: "Hi! My name is Francesca Smith and I have one older brother, William (19). In the two years where Will was alive and I was not yet born, my parents noticed that he wasn’t developing in language and showed various other symptoms of Autism which led to his diagnosis shortly after I was born. Since then, Will has remained non-verbal and cannot write, read, or complete many tasks which requires him to need full-time care. Yet with all of these setbacks, he still manages to have the biggest personality I’ve ever seen. He loves old rap music, good food, blankets, and car rides (especially when I’m driving). Being a younger sister growing up with him, it was strange to watch him struggle with tasks that came so easily to me. I remember watching him in lessons where they would teach him basic tasks like folding clothes, putting on shoes, and using silverware. When I was in fourth grade, he got accepted into the residential program at New England Center for Children, located about 45 minutes away from where we lived. Not living full time with my brother has been one of the hardest things my family has ever gone through, and basically becoming an only child was a tough transition for me as I wasn’t used to being the one who got all the attention. I often wonder about how different my life would be if my brother didn’t have Autism, but I always find that I wouldn’t change anything if I could. Not many people know that I have a brother with Autism, but I am proud to say that he truly has made me ten times the person I am and our relationship is something I am grateful for every day. "

Thank you Francesca for sharing your story!