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Siblings and Autism
What is it like to grow up with a sibling on the autism spectrum? What kind of relationship do such siblings have? How does that relationship change as the siblings get older?
In this moving collection of beautifully-written personal accounts, siblings from a variety of backgrounds, and in different circumstances, share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with autism. Despite their many differences, their stories show that certain things are common to the “sibling experience”: the emotional terrain of looking on or being overlooked; the confusion of accommodating resentment, love, and helplessness; and above all the yearning to connect across neurological difference.
Siblings and Autism is a thought-provoking book that will appeal to anyone with a personal or professional interest in autism, including parents of siblings of children on the spectrum, teachers, counsellors, and psychologists.
In this moving collection of beautifully-written personal accounts, siblings from a variety of backgrounds, and in different circumstances, share their experiences of growing up with a brother or sister with autism. Despite their many differences, their stories show that certain things are common to the “sibling experience”: the emotional terrain of looking on or being overlooked; the confusion of accommodating resentment, love, and helplessness; and above all the yearning to connect across neurological difference.
Siblings and Autism is a thought-provoking book that will appeal to anyone with a personal or professional interest in autism, including parents of siblings of children on the spectrum, teachers, counsellors, and psychologists.
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Reviews
It has something for everyone... It's the academia to xenophobia of autistic tales The book uses siblings of children with autism as sources of these tales, who are incredibly diverse in terms of their professions, approaches to the storytelling, and cultural perspectives. While themes vary from story to story, they are never over serious or over pious. The collection is here to remind us of the multiple faces of autism... as a description of sibling experience and role in autism, autism development, and intervention, and these are "things" I needed to know.
Siblings and Autism: Stories Spanning Generalisations and Cultures is the collected tales written by siblings of children with autism, told now by those siblings in their adulthood. It has something for everyone, including tales of institutionalisation as seen from the outside (Visiting Becky), to culture clashes (Life with Runi), to blood oxygenation (Autism Connects Us). It's the academia to xenophobia of autistic tales. The book uses siblings of children with autism as sources of these tales, who are incredibly diverse in terms of their professions, approaches to the storytelling, and cultural perspectives. While themes vary from story to story, they are never over serious or over pious. The collection is here to remind us of the multiple faces of autism.
It is very readable, the different approaches to story telling is like unwrapping a sweet and never knowing what will be inside, but knowing you will like it nonetheless.
There is much to recommend and to learn in this important collection of voices.
Moving and true-to-life, the essays are troubling and yearning, full of fear and also hope and in many cases, full of love and understanding too. A book for the whole family.
Editors Debra Cumberland and Bruce Mills have compiled a moving collection of sixteen narratives by authors growing up with siblings who have autism... There is much to recommend and to learn in this important collection of voices. In "This Night Will Pass," Thomas Caramagno poetically reflects upon the development of his brother, whose family sought effective intervention and support: "Joe David has blossomed. As I look back over the years, I realize he had been slowly blossoming all along. It was I who underestimated him, and myself, for the capacity to find solace simply in being oneself." May this memorable set of stories help others do likewise.
I really appreciate that this book addresses the siblings of Autistic kids. They are often overlooked and they need support in their unique role. I love that this book acknowledges that their lives ARE different from many of their friends. Having a sibling with Autism certainly changes the dynamic of a family. I enjoyed reading from the many different perspectives and seeing the unique ways in which various people coped with their Autistic siblings. I thought the book was well written and easy to understand.