• Parent Support Groups
• Resources for Information, Training, Advocacy and Empowerment
• Resources to Support Siblings
• Selected State Resources for Information, Training, Advocacy & Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities & Their Families
• Students on the Spectrum Club at Indiana University
• The Arc of Indiana

Selected Resources for Understanding and Supporting Siblings

Contributed by Marci Wheeler & Siegal Eli

The following articles, books, and other resources provide a sampling of materials which describe and support the experiences of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders. Selected items may be available at your local library. Many may be borrowed by Indiana residents from the Library of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, 2853 East Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47408-2696, (800) 437- 7924 (toll free in Indiana; voice/TT); (812) 855-9396 (Bloomington, voice/TT).

Celiberti, D. R., & Harris, S. L. (1993). Behavioral intervention for siblings of children with autism: A focus on skills to enhance play. Behavior Therapy, 24(4), 573-599.

Gold, N. (1993). Depression and social adjustment in siblings of boys with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23(1), 147- 163.

Harris, S. (1994). Siblings of children with autism: A guide for families. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Howlin, P. (1988). Living with impairment: The effects on children of having an autistic sibling. Child: Care, Health and Development, 14, 395-408.

Klein, S. D., & Schleifer, M. J. (Eds.). (1993). It isn't fair! Siblings of children with disabilities. Wesport, CT: Bergin & Garvey Press.

Lobato, D. (1990). Brothers, sisters and special needs. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.

Meyer, D., & Vadasy, P. (1994). Sibshops: Workshops for siblings of children with special needs. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.

Meyer, D., & Vadasy, P. (1996). Living with a brother or sister with special needs: A book for sibs (2nd ed.). Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

Powell, T., & Gallagher, P. (1993). Brothers and sisters: A special part of exceptional families (2nd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.

Siegel, B., & Silverstein, S. C. (1994). What about me? Growing up with a developmentally disabled sibling. New York, NY: Plenum Publishing Corporation.

Stoneman, L., & Berman P. (1993). The effects of mental retardation, disability and illness on sibling relationships. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company.

Books for Siblings and Peers (Specific to Autism)

Amenta, C. (1992). Russell is extra special: A book about autism for children. New York, NY: Magination Press.

Bodenheimer, C. (1979). Everybody is a person: A book for brothers and sisters of autistic kids. Syracuse, NY: Jowonio: The Learning Place.

Cullen, D. T. (1999). Trevor Trevor. Higganum, CT: Starfish Specialty Press.

Dalrymple, N. (1979). Learning together. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, Institute for the Study of Developmental Disabilities.

Edwards, B., & Armitage, D. (1999). My brother Sammy. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press.

Gagnon, E., & Myles, B. S. (1999). This is Asperger syndrome. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Publishing Company.

Katz, I., & Ritvo, E. (1993). Joey and Sam. Northridge, CA: Real Life Storybooks.

Landalf, H. (1998). The secret night world of cats. Lyme, NH: Smith and Kraus.

Lears, L. (1998). Ian's walk: A story about autism. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and Company.

Martin, A. (1990). The babysitters club: Kristy and the secret of Susan. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Martin, A. (1984). Inside out. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.

Messner, A. W. (1995). Captain Tommy. Stratham, NH: Potential Unlimited Publishing.

Nolette, C. (1986). Having a brother like David. Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Children's Medical Center Program for Autism and Other Exceptional Children.

Simmons, K. (1997). Little rainman: Autism through the eyes of a child. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.

Sprecher, J. (1997). Jeffery and the despondent dragon. Muskego, WI: Special Kids Company.

Thompson, M. (1992). My brother, Matthew. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Thompson, M. (1996). Andy and his yellow frisbee. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Watson, E. (1996). Talking to angels. San Diego, CA: Harcourt and Brace Company.

Selected Resources by and for Siblings and Peers

Family Resource Associates, Inc.
35 Haddon Avenue
Shrewsbury, NJ 07701
Phone: (732) 747-5310
Quarterly newsletters: For Siblings Only (ages 4-9) and Sibling Forum (ages 10 & up).
http://frainc.org/techconnection/
Email: teconn@aol.com

The Sibling Information Network
The University of Connecticut
A.J. Pappanikou Center
249 Glenbrook Road
Storns, CT 06269-2964
Phone: (203) 648-1205
Quarterly newsletter subscription, and specific newsletter SIBPAGE (ages 5- 15) 1 year subscription $8.50.
http://parenting.ivillage.com/

The Sibling Support Project, CL-09
Children's Hospital and Medical Center
4800 Sand Point Way, N.E.
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: (206) 368-4911
Fax: (206) 368-4816
www.chmc.org/departmt/sibsupp
Email: dmeyer@chmc.org
(The NASP Newsletter)

Videos:

Just Call Him Matthew. (1992). VHS format; 26 minutes. Produced by Mountain Productions, New Mexico; (505) 291-9284. Young brothers and sisters of children with autism speak openly about their feelings and experiences.

Brothers and Sisters on Siblings with Developmental Disabilities. (1989). VHS format; 20 minutes. Produced by YARC Sibling Support, Waisman Center, Madison, Wisconsin. Older siblings discuss their experiences, joys, and disappointments concerning their brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Brothers and Sisters-Siblings. (1995). VHS format; 21 minutes. Society of British Columbia. Narrated by a teenage sister. Visits with a variety of siblings and their families who discuss the challenges and rewards of having a brother or sister with autism.

Sense of Belonging: Including Students with Autism in their School Community. (1997). VHS format; 19:34 minutes. Distributed by Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Illustrates the value of inclusion and importance it plays for the future of all students.

Being Friends (1991). VHS format; 8:08 minutes. Produced by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and WTIU. For use with young children and peers.

Straight Talk About Autism: Adolescent Issues (1999). VHS format; 38 minutes. An Attainment Production, P.O. Box 930160 Verona, WI 53593- 0160. Phone: (800) 327-4269; Fax: (800) 942-3865. Adolescents with autism and their parents discuss openly their feelings and insights about social experiences that are both rewarding and challenging.

Booklets:

Brothers and Sisters Talk with PACER. (1987). Produced by Parent Advocacy Coalition for Education Rights (PACER), Minneapolis, MN; (612) 827-2966. Cost is $4.00. Booklet with accounts based on interviews conducted with siblings of children and young adults with disabilities.

Views from Our Shoes. (1997). By Donald Meyer. Published by Woodbine House, Bethesda, MD; (800) 843-7323.

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Wheeler, M. (2004). Selected resources for understanding and supporting siblings. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Resource Center for Autism.