IN the lead-up to Fragile X Awareness Month kicking off next week, Cleveland twins Sean and Bruce Flynn are showing that they will not let the rare genetic condition hold them back.
People with Fragile X syndrome - which is caused by a gene mutation - can exhibit behavioural and developmental signs including anxiety, autistic-type behaviours, speech, communication and co-ordination difficulties and delayed development.
Sean and Bruce are determined to live their most productive lives, having recently started taking cooking classes.
Their goal of learning to cook has seen them become more social and develop friendships along the way.
Every week Sean and Bruce attend classes familiarising themselves with kitchen equipment and techniques and cooking hearty meals, with their mother Barbara reaping the benefits.
"It's a lovely surprise each week having the boys come home with a meal they cooked themselves," she said.
She said Sean was often non-verbal and unwilling to speak unless necessary, however after every cooking class he was excited to share his story.
"He loves to talk to me about what he has done that day in cooking," she said.
"It is difficult to understand what he is saying but he is so excited about cooking and what he has done he just has to tell me."
The brothers also brush up on their cooking skills by borrowing books from their local library.
When they are not cooking, Sean and Bruce can be found going out with an NDIS-funded support worker and a group of friends to South Bank, and recently attended the Queensland Museum.
Fragile X Awareness Month is July.
