What's on this website for siblings?

Having a person with autism (including Asperger syndrome) in your family has an impact on everyone, not just parents.

Younger people who have a sibling with autism might experience teasing from other children, a lack of privacy, disruption of their home life and a feeling of resentment that the whole focus of the family is always on the person with autism.

Older siblings may worry about whether they are going to have to look after their brother or sister after their parents have died.

However, being a sibling of a person with autism is not necessarily all bad. Research has suggested that, although it can be a stressful experience at times, it does not necessarily have a negative effect in the long run. Lots of brothers and sisters say that learning to see the world through the eyes of their sibling has taught them to become more tolerant of people's differences.

You may also find these two articles useful:

• Asperger syndrome: broaching the subject  
  You may believe that someone you know has undiagnosed Asperger syndrome. How do you broach the subject with them?
• Real life stories  
  Personal accounts including stories about growing up with a brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder.

Quick link to this page: www.autism.org.uk/16720