Autism Sibling Issues Hit NPR

Yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered, I heard this powerful story by a girl who has a younger brother on the autism spectrum. She is the oldest of 4 siblings, and she has long been in charge of them when both of their parents have to work, which means a lot of taking care of her brother with autism. In addition, she serves as a translator for her parents for almost all public events, such as school meetings and doctor's appointments, because they do not speak English, and she serves as an ear for their worries about their son's future. She talks about how these burdens effect her, and how she is learning to cope better. I urge everyone with an interest in sibling issues and/or bilingual family issues to listen.

Sibling issues are truly a big topic, and several new resources have come out recently. One, Brotherly Feelings, we've talked about here before, which offers honest views of the emotions experienced from a sibling's point of view.

Another fantastic resource that we just added to the store is the new DVD, Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum. This is from the always wonderful and highly recommended Coulter Video series, and offers 4 different explanatory programs for siblings. Program one features puppets and explains autism to siblings who are ages 4 to 7. Program two includes interviews with siblings and additional narration, and is appropriate for siblings ages 7-12. Program three includes sibling interviews as well as narration, and is aimed at siblings age 12 through adulthood. Program four includes interviews with parents of children on the autism spectrum, and is designed specifically for parent viewing.

To see our entire list of sibling-related resources, check out our Sibling Issues page.