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xMinds Logo - xMinds in teal and dark blue where the X looks like a person with an orange head; followed by the words Partnership for Extraordinary MindsImproving education for autistic students in Montgomery County, MD

Sibling Resources

Are you looking for ways for your typical and autistic children to get along better? Perhaps your sibling has an intellectual disability like autism? Are you looking for resources or just support, someone to talk to, or specific strategies to help them? Look no further.

In December xMinds hosted a virtual event with experts Caron Starobin & Bari Turkheimer, who will be interviewed by Sarah Wayland. Bari and Caron, two licensed clinical social workers, provided clear strategies to help siblings navigate the challenges and emotions.

Register here

Starobin Counseling offers a Siblings Together Support Group for siblings, ages 8-13 —- the next one starts in February 2025 with Bari facilitating —- AND a new Siblings Together Teen Night facilitated by Rikia Ancar, LCMFT.   These are fee for service programs. 

Resources

Autistic Siblings

  • Organization for Autism Research (OAR) offers several programs:
  • The Autism Sibling Support initiative offers guidance for young children, teenagers, and parents on how to productively address the ups and downs that may arise for individuals who have a brother or sister with autism.
      • Autism, My Sibling, and Me is a fun and engaging workbook for children between the ages of 5 and 10. A host of colorful cartoon characters accompany these siblings as they learn about what autism means for their brother or sister – and handle potentially stressful issues.
      • Kit for Kids offers an illustrated booklet for elementary and middle school students, called “What’s up with Nick?” and “Autism, my sibling, and me
  • Boston Medical Center: The Sibling Resource Packet includes a parent information brochure, which features helpful tips to parents on how to support all of their children, including siblings of the child with ASD, as well as a sibling resources list, ranging from informational websites and interactive sibling packets to sibling support groups.
  • Grand Valley State U: The Sibling Box is an all-in-one set of materials for families to use with siblings. The box, available in both printable and electronic versions, includes conversation starters, kid-friendly recipes, activities and games.

  • At the Marcus Center, you can learn how a positive sibling relationship benefits children with autism.

  • The National Autism Association created its free ASD & Siblings toolkit to help parents address challenges experienced by children with an autistic sibling. 

General Disability

  • The Arc has information and resources to help people make informed decisions – whatever their involvement with their disabled sibling.

  • The Sibling Center – Learn more about materials for young siblings, a podcast for older siblings and parents, and hands-on programs and trainings for siblings, parents, families and service providers.

  • Sibling Resources is focused specifically on siblings of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Maryland Resources

Montgomery County

  • Sibshops is a national program hosted locally by the Arc Montgomery County just for brothers and sisters of kids with special needs.  Children ages 8-13 can connect with peers who have similar family situations.

 Books



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