Reaching Out To Siblings In The Shadow Of Autism

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 04 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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With one out of every 150 people at risk of getting autism, it has become the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S.* For every child who is treated for autism, there are often many more who have to learn to deal with it. They are the brothers and sisters of autistic children. A new program is designed specifically to help them learn to cope with a condition that demands so much from their families.

Ten year old Emily Carder relishes quiet times like these with her sister. Six year old Anna has autism, and interactions like these often turn contentious or even aggressive. Because of that, Anna spends 45 hours each week either in special classes or working with therapists.

"If she has down time, she's doing something inappropriate. The whole idea with kids with autism, with having the intensive therapy that many hours a week, is changing the behavior," says Angie Carder, Anna's mom.

In most cases, changing that behavior takes a lot of resources - time, money and attention - which often leaves less for siblings like Emily. An innovative program at Nationwide Children's Hospital is helping, by focusing on the "other" kids who are dealing with autism. They are the siblings who often learn to cope quietly.

"These kids are not spending every day talking about these issues and a lot of time they haven't even spent a lot of time thinking about the issues, but it hits them every day," says Jacquie Wynn, Ph.D., at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

That's where programs like this come in. It's different than most. Because this program is ongoing, it allows children to get to know others who are facing the same issues and learn together how to adjust.

"It is fun, and active, but it also allows for honest, open discussions about the issues of having a sibling with autism," says Wynn.

Emily has been coming for weeks, and in that time, she has learned to focus less on what frustrates her about her sister, and more on the things she loves about her.

"She's really improving, she's giving lots of kisses and hugs. I think my sister is the best autistic kid there could ever be," says Emily Carder, Anna's sister.

Experts hope this program will be a model for others around the country. Without this type of help, researchers say siblings can feel secluded, guilty or even become depressed. Studies have shown that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism is between three and five million dollars.*

*Autism Fact Sheet, Autism Society of America, retrieved February 2008

Ohio State University Medical Center