How to support Siblings of Children with special needs

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How to support Siblings of Children with special
needs

• Kellie Strong

Welcome Parents and Educators!
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SIBLING Statistics

• An estimated seven million "typically developing"
  American children have siblings with
  disabilities, according to the Arc of the United
  States, a leading advocacy group for adults with
  developmental disabilities (Cook, 2006).

Siblings of children with special needs have
special needs themselves.
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Presentation Overview

• Explore typical behaviors and feelings of
  siblings of children with disabilities.
• Discuss how to support and nurture a healthy
  relationship between siblings.
• Check out resources available in your area!

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-patience -kindness and
supportiveness -acceptance of differences -compa
ssion and helpfulness -Feeling of pride about
accomplishments of disabled sibling
-empathy for others and insight into coping
with challenges -dependability and loyalty
that may come from standing up for their
brother or sister.
Having a sibling with a disability can provide
opportunities to develop many good qualities
including
Boyse, K. (July 2009). Siblings of Kids with
Special Needs. University of Michigan Health
System. Retrieved from http//www.med.umich.edu/
yourchild/topics/specneed.htm
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- resentfulness of having to explain,
support, and take care of their sibling -
embarrassment of their siblings differences -
pressure to be or do what their sibling cannot -
unusual worries - longing and jealousy for the
attention given to their sibling - Guilt for
the negative feelings they have towards their
sibling - guilt for not having the same
difficulties of their sibling, or being
spared a disability - care giving, especially
if it conflicts with social plans
Siblings may express these common concerns or
feelings
Boyse, K. (July 2009). Siblings of Kids with
Special Needs. University of Michigan Health
System. Retrieved from http//www.med.umich.edu
/yourchild/topics/specneed.htm
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Considerations for Support

• Maintain constant and honest dialogue about their
  siblings disability (Schubert, 2004).

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Considerations for Support

• Plan for the future of your special needs child,
  and share this with your unaffected child.
• Express to your child your permission and
  blessing for him/her to pursue his/her dreams.
  This way any future involvement with siblings is
  a choice and not an obligation (Schubert, 2004).

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Considerations for Support

• Avoid using siblings as caregivers. Treat your
  unaffected child as a child, not another adult
  caretaker. Dont expect her to take on
  responsibilities for which she is unprepared
  (Schubert, 2004).

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Considerations for Support

• Give siblings choices and involve
• them in decision making. Discuss family matters
  with your children, especially if it affects them
  personally. Ask and value their opinion
  (Fiedler, Simpson, and Clark, 2007).

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Considerations for Support
Try to provide as many opportunities for your
child to interact with other siblings of children
with disabilities so that they can relate to
others and see that they are not alone in their
experiences and feelings (Fiedler, Simpson, and
Clark, 2007).
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Considerations for Support

• Advances in technology have allowed online
  networking, blogs, and professional support and
  advisement available to access from home
  (Fiedler, Simpson, and Clark, 2007).
• There are many recreation events created to
  provide opportunities for siblings with common
  experiences to interact.

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Popular workshops

• Sibshops are lively, pedal-to-the-metal
  celebrations of the many contributions made by
  brothers and sisters of kids with special needs
  (SIBS, 2012).
• These events are a great place for siblings to
  meet other siblings and gain peer support.
• http//www.siblingsupport.org/

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Popular Books to share with your child
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Popular Books for Parents
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Resources for Parents

• Newsletters
• National Association of Sibling Programs (NASP)
• The Sibling Information Network Newsletter
• Websites/Organizations
• Sibling Support Project http//www.siblingsupport
  .org/
• Sibs-for brothers and sisters http//www.sibs.org.
  uk/\
• Films Featuring Sibling Issues
• Tru Confessions (Disney Channel Movie)
• Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (PG-13)

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References
Arledge, R. (Writer). (2005, July 25). Sister
Has Bond with Autistic Brother Television Series
Episode. ABC News 20/20. United States
Mobile Video Productions Inc. Boyse, K. (July
2009). Siblings of Kids with Special Needs.
University of Michigan Health System. Retrieved
from http//www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/sp
ecneed.htm Cook, G. (2006). Siblings of
Disabled Have Their Own Troubles. The New York
Times. Retrieved from http//www.nytimes.com/200
6/04/04/health/04sibs.html Fielder, Craig R.,
Simpson, Richard L., Clark, Denise M.
(2007). Parents and families of children with
disabilities. Upper Saddle River, NJ Merrill
Prentice Hall. Meyer, D. (Director). (Date).
Special Siblings, Special Love Motion Picture.
United States King County Developmental
Disabilities Division Early Intervention
Program. Schubert, D. (2004). Siblings of
Your Special Needs Child. The Siblings Support
Project of the ARC of the United
States. Schwartzberg, N. (October 2006).
Parenting Siblings of Children with Disabilities.
Parents Magazine. Retrieved from
http//www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/
teaching-tolerance/parenting- siblings-of-children
-with-disabilities/?page1 SIBS (2012).
Understanding Disability or Illness. Sibs- For
Brothers and Sisters. Retrieved from
http//sibs.org.uk/young-siblings/young-sibs-webs
ite/young-sibs-website-page-1