Siblings Perspective - Meet Braylee Vicari & Dawson

By Erin Boaz

Braylee and Dawson Vicari have a very special bond that started 15 years ago. She brings a beautiful perspective of what it is like to be a sibling of a special needs brother. Did you know that in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) wrote that one in 54 children are diagnosed with Autism? This data was collected in 2016. I think we can safely say that most people recognize the different dynamics autism can bring to a family.

This month we are featuring the sibling perspective of Braylee Vicari and how her life has changed for the better because of her special needs brother, Dawson. It will highlight the impact Dawson has had on Braylee, the fun memories shared, challenges that have been overcome and the best part of being a sister to a child with special needs.

Braylee is 15 years old and a tenth grader at Hamilton Southeastern High School (HSE). Dawson, 17 years old, is her big brother. He also attends HSE and is a senior this year. Dawson was diagnosed with Autism and Epilepsy around the age of 5. To complete their family, they have two younger siblings, Jeryn and LaNia. Jeryn, 13 years old, and LaNia, 12 years old, both attend Hamilton Intermediate High School. They live in Hamilton County and call iTown their home church.

Dawson is also nonverbal, which for most people, makes it hard to connect or communicate. Not for Braylee. She explains that because of their special bond, they are able to communicate without words. How many 15-year-olds get to experience that type of relationship where words aren’t needed? Braylee shares that it doesn’t come without its challenges though. She is inspired by how he deals with the obstacles he is faced with and considers his greatest difficulties to be are communication and social interaction. One way Dawson’s way of being has impacted her life, especially during her high school years, is showing her how to be her true, authentic self. High school comes with different types of peer pressure. Dawson is a humbling example of what it means to be your true self. He has this ability to not be bothered by what other people think. He doesn’t react to the comments or opinions of others like typical teenagers do. He seems at peace with who he is.

Braylee also highlights that Dawson is one of the hardest working teenagers she has ever seen. He has taught her that when she doesn’t have the option to change a situation, the one thing she can control is how she responds to it. Dawson has inspired her to make the best of what she is given, no matter the circumstance.

Even though Braylee is only 15 years old, she is full of love and wisdom. When asked to share what advice she would have for other siblings of those with special needs, her immediate response was “please don’t ever be ashamed or embarrassed and always advocate for them.” She considers it an honor to watch after him and to communicate for him. She does this to help increase social interaction and Dawson also gets to be seen and heard in his own way because of Braylee. She concludes by saying, “love your sibling through the struggles because some they can’t control.”

When asked about her favorite memory with Dawson, Braylee didn’t know where to start because there are so many. She enjoys spending time at the beach with him, going swimming, playing unified kickball together and having Friday night dates at Texas Roadhouse. Her parents love telling the story of when Braylee was a 1-year-old, she was told she could no longer go to Dawson’s speech therapy because she was saying his flashcards for him.

In fourth grade, Braylee used “Cardinal School Dollars” towards Show ‘n Tell at school. She wanted to share Dawson’s gifts to the class so they could better understand what it means to have autism. She had Dawson show her classmates how he used sign language and his iPad to communicate. He stole the show with his jokes and the class was full of fun and laughter.

A story Braylee can laugh at now, but wasn’t so funny at the time, was when she was in second grade. Dawson sweetly came to sit next to Braylee to give her a hug. As she leaned into him, Dawson swiftly pulled out a pair of scissors and cut her bangs. They also enjoy making fun TikTok videos together.

The characteristic Braylee loves most about Dawson is his brave spirit. Naturally, he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, so Dawson always finds a creative way to overcome any challenge. He’s so positive and Braylee shares that it inspires her to show up in her life with courage and optimism.

A challenge for Braylee is that even though she is the younger sister, she has taken on the role to help and watch over him. She doesn’t really view it as a challenge though because she feels it has shaped her into the person she is today. She explains, “growing up with Dawson has given me the ability to connect on a deeper level with people. This is one of the reasons why I volunteer in the Special Needs ministry at church. I enjoy being around him and the special needs community.”

Do you have a sibling with special needs and would like to share your

story & perspective in an upcoming issue of Special Needs Living? Email us at SpecialNeedsLivingIndy@n2pub.com.