Siblings of Children with Special Needs - Children with Special Needs

Written by Sarah-Jayne Bass

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Siblings Groups

One of the ways of supporting siblings that has been developing recently is group work. Many groups are started by local professionals working together with the support of parents. They tend to be run on a similar format:

about 8 children or young people take part within a narrow age range, e.g. 9 to 11, 12 to 14
the group meets weekly for 2 hours over 6 to 8 weeks, plus reunions
the adults running the group come from several different agencies and professional backgrounds, e.g. teaching, child care , psychology, youth work
groups offer a mixture of recreation, socialising, discussion and activities such as games and role play; the emphasis is on self expression and enjoyment
transport is often provided and can offer an extra opportunity for talking
confidentiality within the group is emphasised
the group is encouraged to feel the group is theirs, deciding on rules and activities

Those who work with groups of siblings often comment that they learn a great deal from the youngsters taking part. The benefits to siblings include meeting others in a similar position, sharing ideas about coping with difficult situations and having a good time.

"It helped to know that I'm not alone with a disabled brother or sister"
"I liked the trip we had - I'd never been on a train before"

Not all siblings will want to join a group or have the chance to do so, and sometimes supporting a young person individually will be necessary as well as or instead of group work. Projects for young carers often also include siblings in their work and usually offer a mixture of individual and group support.

Siblings and the Law

The Children Act 1989 is the framework for the support offered to children "in need", including those with disabilities. The approach of this legislation is to emphasise the child as part of their family. As well as one or two parents, this might include brothers and sisters, grand parents or other relatives, who are often important figures in any child's life. The Guidance and Regulations of the Children Act, which refers to children with disabilities [2], states that "the needs of brothers and sisters should not be overlooked and they should be provided for as part of a package of services for the child with a disability". So siblings should now be on the agenda of agencies that aim to support families where a child has special needs.

Sometimes brothers and sisters who provide a substantial amount of care are described as young carers. Under the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act, which comes into force in April 1996, carers, including those under 18, are entitled to their own assessment. When the needs of the person being cared for are reviewed. However at present there is no requirement for services to support young carers to be provided.