Support

Here are some organisations you can approach for advice, information and support. If you know of any other groups for siblings that are in operation, or any useful videos, books or software, please email the Web Editor.

  • Autism Helpline
    Our Autism Helpline is a telephone service for people with autism and their families, including their brothers and sisters, in the UK. The Helpline can tell you more about autism or Asperger syndrome and discuss any concerns you may have relating to your brother's or sister's condition. The Helpline also has information about groups for children and young people with disabled brothers and sisters.

You can call the Autism Helpline on 0808 800 4104 (minicom 0845 070 4003). The Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm.

  • Barnardo's
    Barnardo's runs a number of groups around the country for siblings of disabled children. Some of these groups are also mixed for both disabled children and their brothers and sisters. For more information about what's happening in your area, contact your local office:

    Northern Ireland - Tel: (028) 90672366
    London and South East England - Tel: (020) 8551 0011
    Midlands - Tel: (0121) 550 5271
    North East England - Tel: (0191) 281 5024
    Scotland - Tel: (0131) 334 9893
    North West England - Tel: (0151) 487 5313
    Wales and South West England - Tel: (029) 2049 3387
    Yorkshire - Tel: (0113) 258 2115
  • Contact a Family
    Contact a Family puts people in touch with support networks throughout the country. Contact a Family has an excellent factsheet for siblings. Further information is available from Contact a Family on 0808 808 3555.
  • Sibs
    Sibs is a UK charity for child and adult siblings of people with disabilities, that holds a list of sibling support groups in the UK.
  • The Den
    The Den is an interactive site from the Autism Education Trust full of videos, quizzes and information covering all sorts of topics which young people on the spectrum and their siblings might be anxious about or interested in.
  • Beat Bullying
    Beat Bullying is an award-winning charity that campaigns against all kinds of bullying and supports victims through programmes, mentoring and other resources.

Online support

  • SibsKids - for younger brothers and sisters of people with disabilities.
  • SibNet - for adult brothers and sisters of people with disabilities.
  • If you would like to chat to other siblings of people with autism on the internet, why not join a email list like autism_sibs, aspergers-teens or We the Siblings? All of these lists are for brothers and sisters of children or adults with autism. They discuss some of the issues of having a person with autism in the family, like growing up together and how to get along.