Aidil Ahmad Faizi, 25, has autism, and when he gets anxious, he tends to flap his hands and sometimes, repeat phrases. His older sister, bank executive Nur Sabrina Ahmad Faizi, 26, understands that this behaviour, known as stimming, helps people with autism manage their emotions.

“Sometimes, people look and stare, but I don’t mind. They might not be familiar with autism, so I take the opportunity to explain to them about his condition. Over the years, I have noticed that awareness of conditions like autism, Down syndrome (DS) and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) has grown. When I explain his situation, people are often more understanding and empathetic,” says Nur Sabrina during an interview in Petaling Jaya, Selangor recently.