AUTISM Wessex is marking World Autism Awareness Day today by highlighting the services it offers to those affected.

Stanley Holes, 16, is a weekly boarder at the charity’s Portfield School and his younger brother Albie, 11, has made a video to show how his big brother’s condition affects their family.

Stanley, who has three younger siblings, Mabel, 15, Albie and seven-year-old Elsie, was diagnosed with the condition at the age of three.

His dad, Paul said: “Stanley is such a loveable boy and we treasure him but as he grew older it became necessary, due to his increasingly more challenging behaviour and very complex needs, to spend more time away from the family home.

“Choosing Portfield School and allowing Stanley to be a 52-week boarder was the obvious choice for him. Before Stanley was a residential student at Portfield his autism and his behaviour was impacting negatively on his siblings.

“Thanks to Autism Wessex we can now function more normally. I guess it’s the difference between living and existing.”

Paul said Stanley has flourished thanks to Autism Wessex and is becoming more independent. He said all four children are more outgoing than they used to be.

He added: “Stanley will never lead an independent life but the peace of mind we get from knowing we have found the very best lifelong support is the that as well as having a very special son we have found some very special people to help support us in giving Stanley the best quality of life.”

The video can be viewed at autismwessex.org.uk/news/view /my-brother-stanley and anyone who wishes to donate to the charity can do so at autismwessex.org. uk/donations.