NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A former elementary school teacher and mother of two is making a difference in the lives of siblings, those who are living with a brother or sister who has autism.
Amy McCoy has just written her first book called “Little BIG Sister,” a book about her own children and is written about the thoughts of her daughter whose older brother has autism. It expresses what she is feeling and the questions she is asking about all the differences. McCoy says it has helped her daughter explain her story to others her age.
“I would say that it’s written for 7 to 12, those are the children that are reading it in my life whom I know that are reading it, my children’s friends, cousins people who have commented on my Facebook page or my website. It’s about a second or third grade reading level. It’s a great read-a-loud for parents to read to their children or together. I have friends who have children who are just getting diagnosed and they are so thankful for this book because they’re reading it with their older siblings where the younger one is getting a diagnosis and it’s opening conversations for their family that are difficult to have otherwise,” said McCoy.
McCoy says “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”
“I think for any family who is receiving a new diagnosis or just accepting a diagnosis that was given to a child is learning how to dance in the rain, there’s tears that go along with it, you have to really wrap your head around it, what does this really mean for my family long term, what does this mean for the siblings like in the book,” she said.
McCoy is already gathering stories for her second book, again written through the life of her daughter as she matures. You can find out more about the book here.
