A 6-year-old UK girl’s handwritten response to a classmate who called her brother “weird” has gone viral, helping to raise awareness about autism.
Lex Camilleri’s mother, Sophie, said her daughter came home “very upset” after a classmate told her, “Your brother is weird.” Lex had tried to explain to the boy that her brother has autism, but he didn’t know what that was, Camilleri wrote.
When Lex got home, she decided to do something about the way she was feeling — she wrote down her thoughts so she could bring up disability awareness at the next school council meeting, according to her mom.
Lex wrote:
“My brother has autism and is not weird. I would like it if we could learn about all disabilities in schools so that everybody understands that some people are different. I would like it if we could learn about all disabilities in school so that everybody understands that some people are different, but we should all be treated the same.”
Camilleri took a photo of the letter and posted it on Facebook, where it has been shared more than 29,000 times. The National Autistic Society shared it as well, thanking Lex and her mother.
The post inspired thousands of positive comments.
One person wrote, “I also have autism and this melts my caramel heart. this sister is so cool. I really hate when people talk about if its an sickness or mental disability. Its just something the makes you you. I am happy how my life goes and where it is today”
Another left this comment about the 6-year-old’s call for awareness, “Lexi, I would like to say you’re are on your way to being a hero, but I would be wrong…You already are a hero!”
