An excellent article exploring the complex and typically wonderful relationships between individuals with autism and their siblings. As Laber-Warren points out, so much of the research has been around the rates of autism with multiple siblings, while the siblings themselves that don’t have autism have been ignored. The result is an incomplete understanding of how the family acts as a unit to support the individual with autism through childhood and beyond.
“The relationship can have upsides for both the typical and autistic siblings. A typical child may develop qualities such as maturity, patience, resilience and empathy. And for a child with autism who finds socializing challenging, the banter and bickering of siblinghood may provide a meaningful experience of friendship.
“Although having an autistic sibling can be difficult at times, many typical children feel protective of their autistic brother or sister and invested in their sibling’s success. They may act as translators if their sibling’s speech sounds garbled to strangers, and they may understand their brother or sister’s needs and abilities even better than their parents do. ‘For many siblings, diversity training begins before breakfast, 365 days a year, and starts at a very, very young age,’ says Emily Holl, director of the Sibling Support Project, a nonprofit organization based in Bellevue, Washington.”
Source: How autism shapes sibling relationships | Spectrum | Autism Research News
Proven Behavior Solutions is a group of specialized professionals committed to improving the lives of children and adolescents affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the South Shore and Upper Cape Cod regions of Massachusetts.
If you would like more information about our services, please contact us using the fields below or send us an e-mail ([email protected]). A representative will respond to you within 2 business days.