A Phone Call with My Autistic Brother

Every evening around 5pm, Milo calls. It’s a rhythm as familiar as the streets of Paris he walks while on the phone. In this episode, I share one of those calls. It might sound like a simple sibling exchange, full of repeated phrases, reminders, and offbeat transitions, but listen closely, and you’ll hear something much deeper.

This isn’t just a phone call. It’s a window into neurodivergent communication, into the rituals that bring comfort, connection, and meaning for my autistic brother. It’s also a reminder that a person's behaviors, however repetitive or "different", don’t limit their capacity for independence, love, or joy.

I recorded this conversation not because it was extraordinary, but because it was ordinary. Because it reflects a truth I want every parent, sibling, and loved one of an autistic person to understand: your child, your sibling, your person can live a rich, connected, meaningful life. Even if they repeat things. Even if the way they engage looks different.

Let this episode be a small invitation to listen differently, love more fully, and believe in what’s possible.

 

Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for resources on how best to support your neurodivergent child or loved one.