Sibling Support
Siblings of people with autism and other developmental disabilities have unique experiences, responsibilities, concerns and family planning to think about.
On this page, you can find resources and support networks to help you navigate your way to positive outcomes for both you and your loved ones.
WEBINAR SERIES PART 1: SIBLINGS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
Siblings Across the Lifespan: CLICK HERE for Slide Handouts
WEBINAR SERIES PART 2: FAMILY FUTURE PLANNING
Family Future Planning: CLICK HERE for Slide Handouts
Additional Resources Courtesy of the Sibling Support Project:
ARTICLES, BOOKS AND FILMS
The Sibling Survival Guide: Indispensable Information for Brothers and Sisters of Adults
with Disabilities
Thicker Than Water: Essays by Adult Siblings of People with Disabilities
New York Times Parenting article on siblings: https://nyti.ms/2SXvYiR
Spectrum News article on siblings: https://bit.ly/39CI6wL
Vanier Family Institute article: Strength in Diversity: Positive Impacts of Children with
Disabilities https://vanierinstitute.ca/children-disability-positive-impacts-children-family/
Poem: Welcome to Holland – often cited by parents of children with disabilities
https://www.dsasc.ca/uploads/8/5/3/9/8539131/welcome_to_holland.pdf
Who Will Love Me by Kaleen Marshall – a book for caregivers. https://www.kaleenmarshall.com/who-will-love-me.
Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon
My Dog Is As Smelly As Dirty Socks: And Other Funny Family Portraits – activity book
to use with children https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Smelly-Dirty-SocksPortraits/dp/0307930890
The Good Egg by Jory John
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062866001/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2KIKX0DER&psc=1. Read aloud on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXwQQqHwajs.
For more children’s book recommendations from Sibshop Facilitators from across the
U.S. and Canada, visit https://siblingsupport.org/publications/ click on “Other Books for
Young Readers” and then click on at the bottom our “recommended reading list for
young siblings.”
FUTURE PLANNING RESOURCES
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning, including free online tools for siblings and families
to create a future plan: https://futureplanning.thearc.org/
Charting the Life Course free online tools for people with disabilities and families in
multiple languages: https://www.lifecoursetools.com/
Sibling Support Project https://siblingsupport.org/
Sibling Leadership Network https://siblingleadership.org/
Siblings with a Mission http://www.siblingswithamission.org/
SibStrong https://www.sibstrong.org/
National Black Disability Coalition https://www.facebook.com/black.disability
Sibling Collaborative (Canada) https://sibcollab.ca/
Sibs (UK) https://www.sibs.org.uk/
Siblings Australia http://siblingsaustralia.org.au/
PODCASTS
“Constant Chaos” pod focuses on siblings: https://siblingsupport.org/constant-chaospodcast-explores-supporting-siblings/
Sibling Support on the Better Behavior Show with Dr. Nicole Beurkens:
https://siblingsupport.org/sibling-support-featured-on-the-better-behavior-show-with-drnicole-beurkens/.
“Once Upon a Gene” siblings edition: https://apple.co/2TxHDWC
“Live from Sibshops!” podcast from “A Piece of Hope” series produced by Appleseeds
Behavioral Center in Georgia http://bit.ly/2oDvW3q
“Live from Sibshops!” podcast from “A Piece of Hope” series produced by Appleseeds
Behavioral Center in Georgia http://bit.ly/2oDvW3q
RESEARCH
Several major sibling studies can be found, courtesy of the Sibling Leadership Network,
at: https://siblingleadership.org/resources-for-researchers/
RESOURCES FOR GRIEVING SIBLINGS
Safe Crossings Foundation (to help children – see “get help” for activities to use with
kids): http://safecrossingsfoundation.org/
The Dougy Center – Supporting Grieving Siblings: https://www.dougy.org/griefresources/tip-sheets/supporting_grieving_siblings/1631
Armfuls of Time: The Psychological Experience of the Child With a Life-Threatening
Illness by Barbara M. Sourkes (For parents/professionals)
Annie’s Hope Center for Grieving Kids http://annieshope.org/
FB group: https://www.facebook.com/TCFUSA
Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7.https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/ Text HOME to 741741 to reach a Crisis
Counselor
Sibling Leadership Network grief info: https://siblingleadership.org/2020/07/16/newgrief-loss-resources/ and Sib Grief Webinar by Shruti Tekwani from September 2019
LOCAL SIBLING RESOURCES: NY
sibsNY www.sibsny.org
Sibling Resources from the NY State DDPC https://www.siblingresources.org/.
OTHER RESOURCES
Conversation Starter Cards (free, available in English and Spanish):
https://health.mo.gov/living/families/connectwithme/cards.php
Sibling Resources for families and providers (variety, created by the NY State DD
Council, the Sibling Leadership Network, and sibsNY): https://siblingresources.org/
Alateen for adolescents who have been affected by someone else’s drinking: https://alanon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen/
VIDEOS
Meet the Sibling Support Project https://youtu.be/_mYxPORJkN4
Meet Anya: https://youtu.be/qyz5Ds1m0q4
Alicia Arenas TedX San Antonio talk: Recognizing Glass Children
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSwqo-g2Tbk