National Siblings Day
Autism and Siblings. Happy National Siblings Day! Having an autistic sibling can bring both unique challenges and positive experiences.
Autism and Siblings – Positives
Having an autistic sibling can help people to develop deep empathy and understanding and acceptance of differences. This is really important for society and many people with family experience of neurodivergence go on to become advocates or even to work professionally in this area.
Having an autistic sibling can also lead to excellent communication skills, related to experiences of developing understanding in relation to different forms of communication. Neurodivergent families often report strong emotional bonds with each other, perhaps related to unique shared experiences.
Often siblings of autistic individuals demonstrate excellent creative problem-solving skills, following from their experiences. Autistic individuals often offer unique viewpoints, enriching their sibling’s understanding of the world and fostering open-mindedness. Many people find joy in their relationships with their autistic siblings, reporting close and mutually beneficial relationships.
Autism and Siblings – Challenges
We also understand and acknowledge that having an autistic sibling can bring challenges too. It can be stressful and worrying to think about an autistic siblings wellbeing and future.
Coping with meltdowns, communication challenges and other behaviours can be tricky too and sometimes siblings can find themselves in the role of a young carer, which can cause stress. Balancing the needs of all family members can be challenging, with siblings sometimes feeling overlooked.
For siblings who are struggling with aspects of this, it could be helpful to speak to the National Autistic Society, school and local charities and community groups for support.
Safe Space
It is important that everybody has a safe space to express their emotions, and open communication should be encouraged. Learning more about autism can help to develop understanding and ensuring that there are opportunities for the sibling to have quality time with their parents will help them to feel valued and heard.
Making sure that all children have time for their hobbies and enjoyable activities is also protective.
Of course, these experiences vary greatly among families and both the positives and the challenges contribute to the unique fabric of family life, offering opportunities for growth, understanding and deep connection.
Contact
If you have any questions please do get in touch