Brothers, Sisters, and Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Siblings
Posted on November 20, 2024
Relationships matter! Sibling dynamics are both complex and meaningful. Brothers and sisters often form strong connections that last a lifetime. Siblings are play partners, supporters, and advocates. These relationships can also sometimes lead to feelings of frustration or stress that affect the family. The following resources offer helpful tips and ideas for parents to support all their children, including siblings.
The Organization for Autism Research provides a comprehensive resource titled Brothers, Sisters, and Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Siblings. This guide is designed to assist families in discussing autism with their other children. It offers practical strategies to address the feelings and concerns of siblings, while also emphasizing the importance of nurturing relationships and preserving family balance. The guide outlines various resources that enable families to create opportunities for one-on-one attention and special time together, along with ways to maintain a normal family life.
Additional Sibling Resources:
- Sibling Resource Packet from The Autism Center at Boston Medical Center
- Sam’s Sibs Stick Together: Offers a webinar series, virtual sibling groups, sibling resources and research
- START Sibling Box: Includes printable, fun activities to do with siblings: recipes, games, and conversation starters
- Sibling Perspectives: Guidelines for Parents from the Autism Society: This brief article discusses the 12 needs of siblings and offers tips to address those needs
- Sibling Support Project: Find sibling support groups near you
- Siblings and Autism from the Organization for Autism Research: Offers two additional downloadable guides to support siblings, one for young children and one for teens
- Support for Parents and Siblings from the Autism Science Foundation
- A Sibling’s Guide to Autism, Autism Toolkit from Autism Speaks
- Video: 2 brothers in the car
- Podcast: Uniquely Human podcast (Episode 107 Supporting Siblings of Children and Family Members with Disabilities: A Discussion with Emily Holl)