9169 Siblings Speak Out: Processing Autism in the Family

Thursday, July 14, 2016: 4:00 PM-5:15 PM

Studio 6 (New Orleans Marriott)

As the 13-year-old sister of an older brother on the spectrum, Anna has identified with autism all her life. Though her normal was anything but to most of her friends, she eventually met other super siblings and learned a lot about how kids and families process autism.

There are many interventions for school-age students with autism spectrum disorder. And for parents of children with ASD, there are support groups, both online and, in many communities, in person. Even networking and resources for grandparents are emerging. But what kind of attention is anyone paying to the school-aged siblings of the roughly 1.1 million children on the spectrum in the U.S.? Considering that most of those 1.1 million children have at least one brother or sister, these “super siblings” must have a voice of their own. Equally important as having their individual social-emotional needs acknowledged is having a fellowship of children who understand what their life is like.

Denise Schamens saw this need in her own daughter, and was glad to become a Sibshop facilitator in 2013. By participating in these fun, high-energy recreational opportunities monthly during the school year for several years, Anna has been able to connect with peers who understand what it’s like to do life with a brother or sister with a brain-based disability.

Emotions and attitudes about having a sibling with autism run the gamut, and are rarely unchanging. Sometimes the super sib’s feelings are ignored by their parents, who are often caught up in the dynamics of raising a child with ASD. But what we know is that doing so is detrimental not only to the super sib’s immediate well-being, but to the relationships between them and other family members.

And really, the longest-lasting relationship between the person with autism and any other family member is likely to be with the sibling.

So Anna will take participants on a video journey into the hearts of Sibshop participants and their parents. She’ll share insights from event moderators who are also Special Education teachers, and others who are adult super sib’s. These insights will prove helpful to classroom teachers, family therapists, guidance counselors, and social workers. In-home service providers, primary care doctors, and extended family members should all be able to take away lessons to improve their understanding of sibling needs.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the perspective of school-aged children who have a sibling on the spectrum.
Associate emotions and experiences influenced by autism in a healthy, honest way.
Recognize the importance of a specific focus on the neurotypical siblings for their comprehensive well-being.

Track: Lifespan 2 - School Age

Content Area: Family and Caregiver Support

Presenters:

Anna Schamens
Student

Anna Schamens is an actress, whose love of the stage has served her character well. An 8th grade student, she makes friends easily and enjoys the creative process. Having grown up with brothers with differently-wired brains, she’s a champion of social justice wherever she is.

Denise Schamens, B.S.
Good Friend, Inc.

Denise Schamens’ experiences as a mom to children with special needs gave rise to Good Friend, Inc., a charity dedicated to autism awareness, acceptance, and empathy. She serves some 5,000 people annually through GFI’s programs, edits and directs its films, and presents regularly at universities and conferences.

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