An Eight Year Old Girl Talks About What Life Is Like With Her Autistic Brother

[00:00:00]Um, >> so Quinn is Cole's little sister. She's eight, turning nine soon in 51 days, right?

[00:00:11]>> Mhm. She keeps track. Um, so for those of you who don't know, Cole is 10 years old. He's a level two diagnosed with level two autism spectrum disorder.

[00:00:27]Um, >> he was diagnosed at one day after his fourth birthday. And life has had its hard times. We've had our good times, but we've managed to pull through them all. Right, Quinn?

[00:00:43]>> My breath smells stinky. Awesome.

[00:00:45]Thanks, Quinn.

[00:00:47]>> Great. Gotta love an unfiltered child.

[00:00:50]Um, Miss Adrienne says, "Hi."

[00:00:53]>> Hi, Miss Adrian. So, if you guys have any questions about life with a sibling on the spectrum. [crying] >> Oh, wow. Weird. Chase is crying.

[00:01:09]>> She's crying. He got hurt. All right.

[00:01:11]Um, please ask away. Um, I want to start first. So, Quinn, what is your favorite thing about Cole?

[00:01:21]that he's lovable, caring, and sweet.

[00:01:25]>> He is lovable and caring and sweet. You know who else is?

[00:01:28]>> You.

[00:01:31]>> And how what is what's your favorite thing about your brother? Oh, Miss Adrian just asked us the same question. Um, what is your favorite thing to do with your brother?

[00:01:46]>> My favorite thing to do is probably puzzle with him and watch a movie with him and eat popcorn and candy and um >> play with him, ride scooters.

[00:02:01]>> Mhm.

[00:02:03]>> You guys love to ride scooters, huh?

[00:02:06]>> Yep.

[00:02:08]What else? What's one thing that you wish you could do with Cole?

[00:02:15]>> I wish um >> I wish We could just like go to um together.

[00:02:27]>> I think you go to lots of amateur parks together. Don't you guys go to Canopy together and he rides all the roller coasters with you?

[00:02:35]>> Well, what I do want to do with him is I always wanted to go and um take a nature walk with him. Just me and him.

[00:02:46]>> Just the two of you.

[00:02:48]>> I know. So, it's really hard to take in nature work just just the two of you.

[00:02:51]You're still a little young, right?

[00:02:53]>> Mhm.

[00:02:53]>> You're a little young to be hold that responsibility.

[00:02:57]Um, but do you guys go for scooter rides by yourself?

[00:03:01]>> Yes.

[00:03:02]>> You do? No adults, right?

[00:03:06]>> No adults.

[00:03:06]>> No adults. And is that fun?

[00:03:09]>> Yes. And what's your favorite? Do you know what a trait is when somebody has a character trait? Like what's your favorite trait about Cole?

[00:03:22]>> Happiness.

[00:03:24]>> Happy. He is. He's happy. Happy. Happy.

[00:03:26]>> But not when he slaps.

[00:03:28]>> Not when he slaps. No. No. But does he ever hit hard or does he just do a just a um Let's see. I should have had way more questions. I should have been way more prepared for this. But, you know, working mom. What can I say? Um, what what do you wish Cole could do?

[00:03:54]>> Well, I do wish that Cole could >> um I do wish that Cole could stop hitting and I also do wish he could do gymnastics like me.

[00:04:09]>> You wish you could do gymnastics like you?

[00:04:11]Uh, Miss Shayla wants to know, "What's the hardest part of having Cole for a brother?"

[00:04:16]>> The hardest part is when I'm sleeping, he's like always talking and and the hardest part too is like he kind of screams and it takes me a while to cheer on.

[00:04:31]>> So, sometimes Cole will sit in his room at bedtime and and script things, right?

[00:04:36]Like >> yes, >> he will talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and he will just go pick a movie and start from the beginning and script the whole thing, right? Go to the end.

[00:04:55]Quinn is watching her friends ride bikes right now, so she's a little distracted right now.

[00:05:02]What else, Quinn?

[00:05:05]So, so the Yeah. So, the scripting thing can be hard when you're trying to sleep.

[00:05:09]Luckily, we have noise machines, right, to kind of cancel that out sometimes, right?

[00:05:17]What how do you feel when people make fun of others with disabilities?

[00:05:28]>> What does that mean?

[00:05:29]>> Like Cole, like when somebody would make fun of someone like Cole, >> I would I would be sad and I punched them in and I kicked them in the little little private spot.

[00:05:49]That's my girl. Um, wasn't expecting that answer for her to kick them in the private spot. Um, okay. We could also just, you know, work on using our words and, you know, um, teaching people.

[00:06:10][laughter] Oh, you got me on that one, Quinn. You got me on that one. Um, but that's good.

[00:06:18]So, you you would I mean, she's not wrong. No, she's not wrong. So, what you're saying is >> I'd also punch them in the face and and I'll give them a bruise and I don't care if I get in trouble. Still, you wouldn't either.

[00:06:31]>> So, let's move on to another question.

[00:06:34]So, you what you're saying is you'd stick up for your brother then, right?

[00:06:36]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:06:37]>> Good, good, good, good. Um, if anybody else has questions, I'm clearly extremely unprepared because I didn't write a list of questions for her. Um, usually we just we just chat. Um, do you remember ever not knowing that Cole was different or has he always been special and different to you?

[00:07:02]>> He always been special and different to me.

[00:07:04]>> He's always been special and different to you. And what do you do to try and help him when he's having a bad day?

[00:07:12]>> I would do whatever he likes to do. Go on the trampoline, make do puzzles with him, go ahead and help me get milkshakes.

[00:07:22]watch a movie sources.

[00:07:27]>> Yeah, you got that right. How does mom feel about someone who picks on someone with disabilities? I mean, she's cut from the same clock clearly. Um, so >> I kick them in the private room.

[00:07:40]>> Whoa. Okay, we got that. You' kick them in in the privates. At least you said privates. Um, so Miss Rachel wants to know, "What's your favorite place for a vacation?"

[00:07:49]>> My Favorite place for a vac is a Disneyland. Is that Disney World?

[00:07:54]>> I knew that.

[00:07:56]>> Disney World. And what's your favorite color?

[00:08:00]>> Purple.

[00:08:01]>> I thought it was pink.

[00:08:02]>> No, it's purple.

[00:08:03]>> It was pink.

[00:08:04]>> Mom, try to stop. Stop messing around.

[00:08:06]It's purple.

[00:08:07]>> I know it's purple. You don't really You're not a fan of pink, are you?

[00:08:10]>> I'm I'm actually I'm 0%.

[00:08:13]>> 0%.

[00:08:15]>> What's mom's favorite color?

[00:08:17]>> Black.

[00:08:19]Purple.

[00:08:20]>> Purple's up there. Um, >> black, purple, and blue. And >> definitely not white.

[00:08:29]>> I just don't like white. What? What?

[00:08:31]What don't I like that's in the color white?

[00:08:33]>> White shoes. White heels. White. White shoes. White.

[00:08:37]>> So, what's your favorite ride at Disney World?

[00:08:40]>> My favorite ride would probably be It's hard because all of them are actually favorite. And if I had to choose one, it would probably be the Star Wars one.

[00:09:00]>> Star Wars one.

[00:09:01]>> The one where um >> Oh, is that when you were the spy when they picked you to be the spy?

[00:09:08]>> That was a fun one. I think you I thought you really like the Avatar one.

[00:09:15]Is that the one with the boo?

[00:09:17]>> The what?

[00:09:18]>> Yeah.

[00:09:19]>> Or you like the ride at Animal Kingdom, too, with the safari.

[00:09:24]>> And you really liked Space Mountain.

[00:09:29]>> I want to go on roller coasters.

[00:09:31]>> That was Space Mountain. That's the one you liked.

[00:09:33]>> Um, so what can you say for those that are not completely on the spectrum, but are on the verge? I'm not sure what you mean by that because you either have a diagnosis or you don't. So, if you think they may be on the spectrum, I would No, no, I'm talking right now. So, I would say definitely seek an evaluation. Talk to your pediatrician about it. Um maybe a developmental No, this is your live.

[00:09:53]Um a developmental specialist, um a behavioral therapist. Um but yeah, I would definitely talk your concerns out with your pediatrician first. Um, so Miss Rachel says Henry would love Disney World and she hopes that we can be up there sometime. Wouldn't that be fun?

[00:10:13]>> Yeah.

[00:10:14]>> We'll go back when things are back to normal, right?

[00:10:17]>> Yeah. Which is that supposed to go off in the fall, but it was already fall and it should be >> No, we're hoping that it will be normal again at Disney by next year or some point, right? And you'll still be young enough to enjoy the magic of it.

[00:10:32]>> Yeah. But some will probably be closed.

[00:10:34]Done. Done.

[00:10:35]>> Well, I don't think the rides are closed. I think it's more of the character dinners and character lunches and character meet and greets and the constant wearing of a mask and really warm warm weather.

[00:10:47]>> Warm. Warm. So, you got to go to the pool then?

[00:10:51]>> Yeah, we could go to the pool for sure.

[00:10:53]>> I feel like my hair just got longer.

[00:10:55]>> Oh, did it totally just grow while we were doing your interview?

[00:10:59]>> Yeah.

[00:11:00]>> Now, which brother annoys you the most?

[00:11:04]That would be C H A S E.

[00:11:07]>> Yeah, baby Chase, right?

[00:11:09]>> He's always up in your business, right?

[00:11:11]>> I love it that he's >> Well, you are a pretty darn good sister.

[00:11:15]You know that, right? You are like the mother head. You're always caring.

[00:11:20]You're kind. You are the sweetest thing on the face of the planet. You really are. You are like an old soul. It's really cool. Um, so if anybody doesn't have any other questions for Quinn, um, what's your favorite sport to play?

[00:11:41]>> That would be gymnastics and hockey.

[00:11:46]>> And soccer and all of them.

[00:11:50]>> So, gymnastics and hockey probably since those were What about lacrosse? I thought lacrosse was a >> I love all of them.

[00:11:56]>> Okay, you love all of them. Uh, my friend of mine is concerned because their test came back. No, they keep saying that they need to continue. Yeah, I would get a second opinion.

[00:12:06]>> I would get a second opinion. Um, for sure. There's if there's concerns enough for for your friend to initiate testing to begin with and they can't give any sort of diagnosis, um, mother's instinct. If she knows something's going on, something's going on. Um, me and Debbie are not far from me. So, we know we've got the best of the best in Boston. So, I would um I'd seek a sec tell her to seek a second opinion. So, yes, Miss Rachel, they are all great sports. They're a lot of fun.

[00:12:41]What is your favorite sports team?

[00:12:44]I'm not even going to whisper in your ear.

[00:12:50]>> Okay.

[00:12:52]>> How about your favorite football team?

[00:12:54]>> Patience.

[00:12:54]>> And who's your celebrity crush? John Cena.

[00:12:58]>> What did he do that?

[00:13:01]Huh? You love John Cena.

[00:13:03]>> Yeah. Weird because he's like my age and he was kind of my crush, too. Um, she so has your sass. Does she ever? And what color are we dying our hair for autism awareness next week?

[00:13:17]>> Purple.

[00:13:19]>> Blue.

[00:13:21]>> But um, yeah.

[00:13:24]>> I want purple.

[00:13:25]>> And you want purple. Well, I told you the very last day of school cuz you go to Catholic school, you cannot have >> funky hair color there. We are going to dye the lower tips of your hair purple and then chop that off before you go back. Right.

[00:13:38]>> I don't want to chop.

[00:13:40]>> Well, I'm not going to dye six inches of your hair purple. I'm going to dye that much of your hair purple.

[00:13:46]>> Okay. Short hair.

[00:13:48]>> No, because it will never be shorter than that. That maybe that. I'm just kidding. We won't do that much. So, if any Oh, we've got a new friend coming.

[00:13:59]Hi, Jackson.

[00:14:01]>> I'm telling you, this house is Grand Central Station for children. It's fine.

[00:14:05]It's fine. Um, >> so I guess that's it, huh?

[00:14:12]>> Maybe we can send everybody and show everybody some more video from when we go skiing, our last skiing trip, right?

[00:14:19]Or excuse me, you don't ski, do you?

[00:14:22]>> I snowboard. snowboards. Sorry.

[00:14:30]First she tells me my breath stinks.

[00:14:32]Then she's shoving her hand in my face.

[00:14:34]Oh my gosh. I birthed the little Hillary. This only she's a lot nicer than me.

[00:14:40]I She does a filter. I know.

[00:14:42]>> I don't have a filter. I think I'm pretty funny. First of all, >> I have a million filters and I >> Oh, you mean filters on your like on the iPad? I'm talking vocal filters. I don't have those.

[00:14:55]>> I do. I have a million of them.

[00:14:57]>> You do? I don't. Oops. So, anyway, I guess that's it, guys. Thank you for joining us.

[00:15:05]>> Yeah.

[00:15:06]>> Yeah. And um >> make sure to sub to my Make sure to like my Instagram.

[00:15:12]>> Oh. To follow you on Instagram.

[00:15:14]>> Yeah.

[00:15:15]>> Um Auntie says she really is a lot nicer. What's your Instagram handle?

[00:15:22]>> Mini Drama Quinn.

[00:15:23]>> Mini Drama Quinn.

[00:15:26]>> Cuz Mana Coochie and I'm not drama and my name is Quinn.

[00:15:30]>> Actually, when I created it, I was thinking of you were a drama queen and you're little. So, I did Mini Drama Quinn. That's kind of my play on words when I went with that. But >> mini means mini.

[00:15:48]I'm gonna go with mini as in little drama as in choose drama and queen instead of queen because I'm the one that made up your your name >> sass days. And Miss Adrian said, "Thank you for being such a great advocate. You are an awesome sister." Quinn I am.

[00:16:07]>> And auntie said that you're a lot nicer than me.

[00:16:10]>> Yeah, I am.

[00:16:12]>> That's right, Auntie.

[00:16:13]>> Really though. Is she really though?

[00:16:16]>> Am I really? I am.

[00:16:19]>> And Miss Lisa said, "Great job." So, um, yeah, I guess follow her on Instagram. I run it. It's private. Please send a request and I know you all accept it.

[00:16:29]Anyway, um, what do you say? Bye. Good night. Time for dinner.

[00:16:33]>> Bye-bye. Have a good dinner and have a good day tomorrow. I hope you do.

[00:16:38]>> Thank you so much all for joining us and stay tuned for some more updates from this week.

[00:16:45]>> Bye >> bye.