3 / 12
[
I
]
Special Siblinghood
Summary
This publication relates to programs for brothers and sisters of
children with developmental disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy
(CP), autism, intellectual disabilities, various syndromes, etc.
Background
1.
Special siblinghood in the familial space
The birth of a child with disabilities is experienced by families as
a crisis, forcing them to face difficulties and challenges that
require each family member to rearrange many areas of their
lives. Parenthood, as imagined before the birth of the child with
disability, changes. Doubts, unfamiliar situations and fears are
part of the experience of special parenthood.
Parenthood and siblinghood are interwoven and influence each
other to a great degree. The presence of a sibling with a
developmental disability influences the development of each
child in the family. This influence may be a source of difficulty
and distress, as much as it can be positive and encouraging of
growth (Seligman, 1991; Nixon & Cummings, 1999). Research
in this field yields inconsistent and sometimes contradictory
results. In recent years, prevalent approaches, which are based
on theories of personal growth and growth resulting from crisis,
point to the fact that siblings of children with intellectual
disabilities report of growth more than siblings of children
without intellectual disabilities (Vardi, 2005).
As a child with disabilities enters a family, the siblings respond
to her and to her needs. Their interaction with their parents
changes. In addition, the relationships within the sibling sub-
system may also change. For example, the chronological order
of birth loses its significance as a younger sibling