What their Brothers and Sisters say
"When he Was at Home Life was Very Hard and a Big Struggle"
My Big Brother
"When he was at home life was very hard and a big struggle"
"My name is Gaby and I am 12 , and my brother Matthew is 15. When he was at home life was very hard and a big struggle, he would constantly lash out at me and it was very scary. Considering that he is 3 years older than me, he was very strong so i wasn't capable of defending myself and would get hurt - it made me feel like he didn't love me . If something upset or bothered Matthew he wouldn't communicate it to me - he would just pull my hair, punch me, whack me or kick me to show these emotions. This made me scared of my own brother. Also, his carers were always in and out of the house which was wrecking my privacy."
"Matthew would always come home from school with something bad that he had done that day - there was never really a perfect day. The day my mum and dad told me that he was coming to Eagle house, I was lost for words because I was happy on one side but heart broken on the other as I have grown up with Matthew and have never known anything different. Its been a hard time and still is with Matthew coming to Eagle House School but when we come to see Matthew we realise how much happier he is and his cheeks are all bright and rosy. He has also lost so much weight which he needed to. Matthew's frustration is better though he has lashed out at me a few times - I am totally used to it. Matthew's autism has really shaped his personality, and I don't know anything different. Eagle House School was the right step for Matthew and he is now living a better life. I think Eagle House School is the best place for Matthew."
Gaby (aged 12)
My Little Sister
"She found growing up a struggle and being a teenager is hard on everyone but harder still when you have autism."
"My little sister came to Eagle House School two years ago. At that point things were hard for us all, and especially for my little sister. She found growing up a struggle and being a teenager is hard on everyone but harder still when you have autism. So we were all very tired and worried when she couldn't stay at her local school anymore as she was so unhappy and getting more and more challenging in her behaviour. I was very fed up with her outbursts and often got the brunt of her attacks which usually hurt. I had no peace, my mum was so tired and fed up all the time and everything revolved around my sister. It wasn't easy getting my sister a new school and Mum spent hours and hours on the phone and the computer trying to get help. It was a really awful time."
"Norfolk seemed such a way from home but the journey there wasn't too long. Even though there had been no peace for me, I missed her a lot and knew my parents did too. But that has all changed. My sister is one very happy bunny now! She isn't anxious anymore and I really enjoy going to see her at weekends, even though she insists on dragging me in to all the clothes shops....like all girls she is addicted to shopping for clothes and makeup etc!! She talks a lot more now and we have the funny side of her back. We always have a laugh now at the funny things she says and frequently does. I am so happy that she likes her school and love the fact that we call her each night....and she talks to us on the phone, something she could never have done before."