PARENTAL ADVICE
Thoughtful Advice for Parenting
the Neurotypical Sibling
By Audrey S PARK
Having a sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is very different than having
a child with it. It’s something that often makes us stronger, more patient, and more
mature than others, but it can also be a struggle.
W
hile parents might have read a lot about
how to treat their diagnosed child, they
might overlook the fact that there are spe-
cial conditions created for siblings without
the disorder as well. I have put together a
list with tips for parents on things they can do and
think about concerning their children who don’t
have the diagnosis, to help them better understand
us siblings and our roles in the family.
1. Talk to us about our sibling’s
disorder
This might sound obvious and very simple, but,
many parents avoid talking to us neurotypical chil-
dren about our siblings’ diagnoses, updates on it, and
hardships with it, thinking they don’t want to bother
us. You don’t have to tell us every detail, but it’s im-
portant to be open and to talk to us. We spend just
as much time with our siblings as parents do, and we
want to understand our siblings’ disorder better so
that we can be the best siblings we can be. If a child
in a family has a disability, it affects all family mem-
bers, and because the sibling is affected, he/she also
needs to be educated and prepared. And yes, talking
about our siblings’ autism can be emotional, and it
might be hard, but that is why it is important not to
let it become a stigmatized topic.
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 72 |
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