Siblings of children with Down syndrome

Siblings of children with Down syndrome (or other special needs) don’t typically see their brothers and sisters as disabled. They see them as brothers and sisters.

That’s not to say that it’s always easy for siblings.

Here are a few resources to help those relationships:

A Wish Came Clear, a community of parents, friends, siblings, and caregivers of people with disabilities who celebrate things that others overlook.

The International Down Syndrome Coalition for Life has a Sibs Facebook group

20 Things siblings of kids with special needs would like parents and service providers to know from About.com

An article I wrote for Chicago Parents Magazine highlighting tips for balancing parenting between or typically developing kids, and children with special needs.

What is it like/has been like for you as a parent or a sibling with this sort of family dynamic?

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6 comments found

gracesgrist says:

August 9, 2012 at 4:21 pm

you KNOW this is soooo true! 🙂

1. Gillian Marchenko says:
  
  August 9, 2012 at 5:33 pm
  
  🙂
  
Jane McBride says:

August 10, 2012 at 12:35 am

My older son has fairly severe (yet high functioning) autism. His brother (younger by 5 years) has barely noticable Asperger’s. The 6 year old has surpassed the 11 year old in maturlty. He tries to take care of his brother and they are best friends. I have had some simple talks with him about “taking care” of his brother, although I don’t give him the responsibility for that. I have told him that his brother will probably always need to be taken care of and that part of that job would be his. He takes it very seriously, but other than that, I don’t think he sees his brother as anything than that. He is just his brother.

1. Gillian Marchenko says:
  
  August 10, 2012 at 4:49 am
  
  Great that you guys are talking about his feelings, Jane. I try to talk about the future with my girls too. I want them to know their sisters are our responsibility, and they need to be great sisters, and we’ll figure it out as we go.
  
JustMe says:

November 10, 2014 at 1:30 pm

My sister with Down Syndrome died this May at 57 years old. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. I miss her so much.
.

1. Gillian Marchenko says:
  
  November 10, 2014 at 3:26 pm
  
  Just Me, I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story with us…