Interest in sibling conflict prompted Avigail Ram and Hildy Ross to investigate how 32 sibling peers shared information with each other in order to reduce conflicts of interest. The investigators set up a situation in which they asked sibling pairs to divide a set of five toys. Half of the pairs were asked to share information to their brother or…

The parent of the child with autism is faced with many home management challenges, not the least of which is the achievement of intra-family harmony among siblings. Sibling rivalry occurs in all families. However, the presence of a child with autism may, in some instances, intensify this rivalry. In this article, the author provides tips for…

At 28, Sarah Carter already has an impressive resume--she has worked as a professional cellist, is a pre-med Harvard alumna working at Boston Children's Hospital in the intensive care unit, and is currently applying to medical schools with hopes to enter this fall. But before she does, Sarah has another lofty goal: she is preparing to summit Mt.…

In this article, the authors present an interview with Don Meyer, an advocate for the siblings of children with disabilities. Don Meyer has conducted "SibShops," a peer support and information for school-age siblings of children with disabilities, and written extensively on the difficult situation of children in this underserved demographic. Here,…

Dying and death have become more and more complicated for everyone. Technology and the patient autonomy movement have come together to create a host of possible end of life treatment dilemmas. The introduction of advance directives in medical decision-making has raised further issues about projecting treatment wishes into future, unknowable…

A majority of parents who have a child who is deaf are hearing and usually have had no experience with deafness. The impact on the parents can unequivocally alter their lives. The professional advice given to the parent regarding their child is often accepted as irrefutable fact, and can lead to the emotional, social, linguistic, and educational…

Children with autism may sometimes appear to be living in their own world and show very little interest in others. They may be socially unaware, avoiding eye contact and showing limited attachment to others. But when a child is able to express and communicate thoughts, desires, and needs, they are much more likely to seek out social interactions.…

In this article, the author describes the Sports, Habilitation, and Recreation Program (SHARP), a program of the Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, Arizona. The SHARP program aims to help children, who have visual impairments, achieve goals, develop independence, and make friends. One of the unique features of the SHARP program is that it…

The younger sister of Down's Syndrome girl describes her guilt from growing up with a family that did not encourage open discussion of feelings. She eventualy learned from other siblings how to deal with her negative feelings. (CL)

The Mother of Daniel, a severely handicapped child, helped the classmates of her nonhandicapped children understand about disabilities by bringing Daniel to school and answering questions. She and the teachers stressed Daniel's similarities with young children. The experiences helped Daniel's brother and sister deal with their own feelings toward…

A case history describes the effects on a family of a child whose cleft palate required frequent medical attention. Adjustments required by a completion of surgery are noted to have unsettling effects on the 10-year-old brother and his mother and father. (CL)

The case study examines the problems of a 15-year-old younger sibling of a handicapped young man. The boy's problems in school and with his parents, brother, and the family counseling process are considered. (DB)

A case study of a family with an eight-year-old Downs Syndrome son describes the parents' reactions to an outburst by their adolescent daughter who felt she bore too much responsibility caring for her disabled sibling. A counselor's analysis of the family's difficulties and solutions discovered through family meetings are included. (VW)

The mother of a Down Syndrome boy describes her feelings regarding her younger nonhandicapped son and the need to understand and meet his needs for information and attention. (CL)

A mother gives guidlines from her own experience in encouraging harmony between a normal daughter and a retarded daughter. (DB)