siblings perspective By: Erin Baoz
Meet Tyler Ashby & His Brother, Caleb
Tyler Ashby, 16, is excited at this opportunity to share what it’s like to have a sibling with special needs. Tyler is a sophomore at Noblesville High School. His brother, Caleb, is 12 years old and attends Noblesville West Middle School. Caleb was born with a genetic disorder, Down Syndrome, which is caused by abnormal cell division that results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. The extra material is what brings about the developmental and physical features of Down Syndrome. Tyler shares that being a sibling to a person with special needs has made him more kind to others regardless of who they are. Every day Tyler sees people
22 Special Needs Living • February 2021
who decide to disrespect other people for the simple reason that they are different than them. When he witnesses how it affects the families and people with disabilities, it has taught him the importance of kindness. As Tyler reflects on how Caleb has motivated him, he can honestly say that he is inspired to try and make the world a better place. If it weren’t for Caleb, I wouldn’t see the injustice in the world
