Book Review: Siblings of Children with Autism

Woodbine House sent me a surprise in the mail: Siblings of Children with Autism, third edition, by Sandra L. Harris, Ph.D & Beth A Glasberg, Ph.D., BCBA-D, from the "Topics in Autism" series. I was offered the book at no charge to me and this is not a paid review.

I have had the opportunity to attend two conferences for parents and sibs of children with disabilities featuring SibShops' Don Meyer, Mom and Advocate Jan Moss, and actress Geri Jewell, and already know a lot of the information in the book.

If you have children who are sibs of a child with autism, and you want to know more about the sibling side, Siblings of Children with Autism provides a lot of the same information as a conference, except you can read the book at home or in a waiting room instead of traveling to a conference.  Priced at $21.95, the book is a 164 page paperback that will fit in a lot of purses or tote bags for the reading autism moms do in waiting rooms when our kids are in occupational or some other therapy.

I find research on sibs to be both interesting and helpful.  I found comfort in learning that sibs often take one of two roles, the 'good' sib and the 'angry' sib (the one who acts out for attention), and not just in families living with autism.  If you've not done any research about siblings, about what they believe (a lot worry about catching autism) or about adult sibs, you may find this book really helpful. 

The press release summary of what Siblings of Children with Autism is worth sharing here:

*research findings comparing sibs in families where autism is absent vs present

*what a typically developing sib understands autism to be and how that perception changes as he ages

*how parents can explain autism to their NT children

*how to improve family communication

*how to strike a balance between inclusion and separateness within the family

*how to support play between children

*how having a sib with autism may affect roles and choices as an adult

The case studies and comments from other parents are helpful, too.  Knowing that others are going through similar situations is comforting to me. You will probably see yourself within the pages, too.