Siblings
Raising a child with autism places some extraordinary demands on parents as individuals and on the family as a whole. Prime among these
demands is the lack of enough hours in the day to do all one wishes. The time involved in meeting the needs of a family member with autism may leave parents with little time for their other
children.
Many parents indicate that even as they do all they can for their child with autism, they are always struggling with how best to respond to
the needs of the family as a whole. They say that although their own life as an individual may be put "on hold" and a couple may share an understanding of the need to make sacrifices on behalf of
their child with autism, few parents are willing to make that same demand of other children in the family. As a result, there is a continual tension between the needs of the child with autism and the
other children.
This section offers suggestions to parents about ways to help the other children in the family cope gracefully and effectively with the
experience of having a brother or sister with autism. Research indicates that the majority of brothers and sisters of children with autism cope well with their experiences. That does not mean,
however, that they do not encounter special challenges in learning how to deal with a sibling who has autism or a related disorder.
There are special demands on siblings, and learning how to manage these demands will make their childhood easier and will teach them skills
that will make them more effective and resilient adults. The most important teachers of these coping skills are a child's mother and father. The gifts you give to your youngsters in childhood will
serve them immediately, and in all the years ahead.
Sources of Stress for Siblings
There are also potential sources of stress for siblings. Not all siblings will experience these issues, but here are some to be aware
of:
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Embarrassment around peers; jealousy regarding amount of time parents spend with their brother/sister
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Frustration over not being able to engage or get a response from their brother/sister
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Being the target of aggressive behaviors
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Trying to make up for the deficits of their brother/sister
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Concern regarding their parents stress and grief
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Concern over their role in future caregiving
Many of the suggestions provided here are things that parents can do within the family to help a child understand what autism is all about, to improve the
interactions among the children in the family, and to ensure that brothers and sisters grow up feeling they have benefited from the love and attention we all need.
Explaining Autism to Children
Common sense tells us and research supports the idea that children need to understand what autism is all about. The rule of thumb: Do it early and do it often! It
is important that your children know about autism and that the information you give them is appropriate for their developmental age. From early childhood, they need explanations that help them
understand the behaviors that are of concern to them. For the preschool, child this may be as simple as "Rick doesn't know how to talk," while for the adolescent, it may involve a conversation about
the possible genetics of autism.
The key is to remember to adjust your information to your child's age and understanding. For example, very young children are mostly concerned about unusual
behaviors that may frighten or puzzle them. An older child will have concerns of a more interpersonal nature, such as how to explain autism to his or her friends. For the adolescent, these concerns
may shift to the long-range needs of their sibling with autism and the role they will play in future care. Every age has its needs, and your task is to listen carefully to your child's immediate
concerns.
Another key to success is to remember that children need to be told about autism again and again as they grow up. Young children may use the words they hear us
use, but not understand the full meaning of those words until they are much older. Don't be misled by a young child's vocabulary of words like "autism" or "discrete trial." That does not mean the
terms have real meaning for him or her. Just as you would not expect an early conversation about the obvious physical differences between boys and girls to constitute a sufficient sex education for
children 5 or 10 years later, similarly, you must explain again and again, in increasingly mature terms, what autism is all about.
Helping Your Children Form a Relationship
Because of the nature of autism, it is usually difficult for a young child to form a satisfying relationship with a brother or sister who has the disorder. For
example, your child's attempts to play with his/her brother are probably rebuffed by his ignoring her, fall flat because of his lack of play skills, or end abruptly because his tantrums are
frightening. How many of us would keep trying to form a friendship with someone who turned her back when we spoke to her or, even worse, seemed angry when we approached? It is not surprising that
young children may become discouraged by the reactions they encounter and seek their playmates elsewhere.
The good news is that young children can be taught simple skills that will enable them to engage their brother or sister in playful interactions. Research has
shown that siblings can learn basic teaching strategies to engage their brother or sister with autism. These skills include things like making sure they have their brother's attention, giving simple
instructions, and praising good play. One research study showed that videotapes made before and after the children learned these skills showed in a very touching manner that, after training, they
played together more and seemed much happier than they had been prior to training.
Special Times
Along with ensuring that the child with autism is a fully integrated member of the family; it is important to remember that other children in a family need their
times to be special. Families are often urged to find some regular, separate time for the children in their family who do not have autism. It may be one evening a week, a Saturday morning, or even a
few minutes at bedtime each night. If your child with autism has a home-based program or exhibits serious management problems, you will have neither the stamina nor the energy to give your other
child exactly the same amount of attention. It is not necessary that everything in childhood be exactly the same. What is important is the opportunity to feel special to your parents and to feel that
there is an overall atmosphere of equity in your home.
Not Everything as a Family
There are activities that should be shared by the entire family and times that should not. Along with having regularly scheduled special times for each child, it
is also important to remember that there will be some events when one child in the family deserves to be the focus of everyone's attention. Children have told us that it is sometimes frustrating to
have to do everything with their brother or sister with autism. In fact, there may be times when it may not be fair to insist that he or she be included. For example, if your child with autism cannot
sit still for a school play, then it may be better if he or she stayed home when your other child performs.
Adult Siblings
Being the brother or sister of a person with autism does not end with childhood. These are lifetime relationships that mature and grow over the years. The concerns
of an adult sibling will be different from those of children. For the young adult, questions may focus on his/her own plans to have children and concern about whether there is a genetic component in
the autism of their sibling. In some cases, young adults may also feel a keen sense of responsibility for their brother or sister with autism that makes it difficult for them to leave home and begin
an independent life.
It is important that parents discuss with their adult children the expectations they have in caring for the person with autism, as well as reassuring them about
the legitimacy of their assuming their own role as adults.
The questions of the role of the adult child become most acute as parents age and begin to anticipate the point when they will no longer have the stamina to
continue to care for their child with autism. If the person with autism is not already living outside of the home, this may be a time when placement in a group home or supervised apartment becomes
important. In those families where such care is necessary, adult children and parents must together address the question of who will assume guardianship for the person with autism when the parents
die.
It is not easy for any of us to talk about our own death, and both you and your child may shy away from the conversation. Nonetheless, your adult children need to
understand the financial plans you have made, the care arrangements in place, and your own expectations for them. Having these difficult conversations will ultimately be a gift to your adult children
who will know that they can honor your wishes.
Sibling Groups and Other Resources
A problem frequently reported to clinicians by siblings is a sense of isolation. An ideal means of combating this isolation is to help the sibling connect with
other siblings of children with autism. Peer support groups for siblings of children with autism and related disorders are becoming more available.
The Sibling Support Project of The Arc of the United States, based in Seattle, Washington, is one example. They offer a range of information on siblings of children with disabilities, including: reading lists for children and adults,
information on local sibling group meetings, information on facilitating sibling discussion groups, or online resources.
Several online resources are also available.For example, a chat room for siblings of children with disabilities, called "SibChat," meets periodically.
A final resource to consider for siblings, particularly for those who are experiencing difficulty in adapting to the disability, would be individual
counseling.
Most Siblings Cope Very Well
While growing up as the sibling of someone with autism can certainly be trying, most siblings cope very well. It is important to remember that while having a sibling with autism or any other
disability is a challenge to a child, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. Most children handle the challenge effectively, and many of them respond with love, grace and humor far beyond their
years.
Note: The previous section was provided by Sandra Harris, Ph.D., professor and dean at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology and Executive Director of the Douglass
Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University.
Last updated: 21 June 2009
Resource : http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/siblings.html