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12 Apr 2010 | Press Release
Zoe Brealy, 14 and from Denbury, Newton Abbot, told the Herald Express what is was like to live with her older brother Matt, 19, who suffers from autism.
Zoe said: "It has made me quite shy because I waited for mum ail the time while she was with Matty.
"I have had to explain autism a lot to people because they thought Matty was strange and not that he had a problem."
World Autism Day helps to raise awareness and understanding of the condition.
"It's very important because the day helps people to understand them as a person and not just see them as having a disability," Zoe said.
Zoe's mum Jackie, who has written a book about her experiences of autism, said Zoe has found it difficult because Matt gets so frustrated.
Zoe also has two more older brothers, Paul 22, and Ben, 25.
All three have written about their experiences in the book. Ben is quoted as saying: "You have to tell Matt about 70 times to do something.
"When he was young it was hard because he was up all night shouting and doing things and I found it hard to cope with."
The book, How to Help Your Autistic Spectrum Child: Practical Ways to Make Family Life Run More Smoothly by Jackie Brealy and Beverly Davies, is available on Amazon.
Medikidz, a company which produces graphic novels/comics for children which explain the impact of illnesses, diseases or conditions is also about to launch their book on autism, which approaches the subject through a sibling's point of view.