Nearly one in eighty eight children in The United States are
diagnoses with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The rate of Autism has been growing.
Just last week Darrell Issa the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform had a hearing on how the federal government can respond
better to the startling rise in autism. Amidst all this, the siblings of
Autistic are overlooked. Within the past four years, only four studies have
been reported on siblings of Autistic children. However interviews have show
that children who have autistic siblings have pain, the grit, and endurance
like children who have a family member with a chronic disease. These children will talk about some of the
odd things their autistic siblings will do. But a striking quality in the interview
children was their fierce devotion to their sibling. These children have show
very protective instincts when their sibling is in possible danger and
sacrifice because they cannot “abandon” their sibling. Unfortunately, these
siblings feel a bit jilted sometimes. Parents need to take care of their
special needs child and sometimes have to sacrifice time with their other
children. The kids also sometimes desire a companion that can function the way
they do. At times children feel the whole family revolves around their autistic
sibling. Autism affects whole families. But despite some negative effects,
there are many positive effects to children having an autistic sibling.
Children with autistic siblings displayed sacrifice and maturity beyond their years.
The author of this article was Barbara Cain. This article informs
and sheds some light on the siblings of autistic children as well as the trials
some of these children face. The author uses many examples of children she has
interviewed. One example is of a girl whose brother wandered off and was described
as being, as vigilant as a tiger mom and created an
invisible tether connecting each to the other.” The author also uses vivid
language to engage readers. Cain also references the very few studies done by Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
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