It's hard not to make assumptions, and we've all probably done our fair share of taking second glances at a kid having an outburt in the middle of the grocery store. With that in mind, The Huffington Post [1] asked siblings of those living with autism to reveal the biggest misconceptions they hear about their brothers or sisters. Their responses were as varied as the spectrum itself:

That my brother doesn't understand things.

That my brother has some type of gift, like a savant. Kind of the Rain Man thing.

That he misbehaves on purpose.

That he's going to do something or jump out or be volatile.

The siblings also shared the most challenging aspect of having a sibling with autism in their family dynamic, whether it be guilt for trying to live their own lives or feeling neglected by their parents for the sake of the other child.

The most moving message of all, however, was by a young girl who broke down in tears as she made clear what she wishes most: "I want the best for him."