Photo credit Jill Kristin Aguilar
Part IV in Sibling Panel Series
In the first post, we shared our adult Sib Panel’s personal insights at growing up with a special needs sibling. Earnestly and honestly, they shared their struggles as well as blessings gained.
In the second post, we highlighted practical recommendations how parents and families can help support Sibs.
In the third post, we shared research provided by Debbie Lillo from Joni and Friends.
In this fourth post, we conclude our series with a list of resources parents and churches can review with Sibs. The articles, movies, books and websites listed below are both faith-based and secular, and can help serve as age-appropriate conversation starters.
Online Articles:
Explaining Special Needs to Your Child: 15 Great Children’s Books
Autism’s Invisible Victims: The Siblings
The Special Relationships Special Needs Siblings Have
The Special Relationship Special-Needs Siblings Can Have
Helping Special Needs Siblings Feel Special, Too
Siblings In A Special Needs Family
Siblings of Kids With Special Needs: Do Their Lives Change?
A hair-dryer kid in a toaster-brained world
Joni and Friends: A Sister’s Role
Siblings tanks on added responsibilities for disabled brothers or sisters
Dodgers prospect Joc Pederson inspired by older brother’s perseverance
Picture Books:
Living with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs: A Book for Sibs, Donald Meyer, Patricia Vadasy
Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With Special Needs, Donald Meyer
Brothers and Sisters, Donald Meyer
In Jessie’s Shoes, Beverly Lewis
You Are Special, Max Lucado
You Are Mine, Max Lucado
If Only I Had A Green Nose, Max Lucado
My Friend Has Autism (Friends With Disabilities), Amanda Doering Tourville
My Brother Charlie, Holly Robinson Peete
All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, Kathy Hoopman
All Dogs Have ADHD, Kathy Hoopman
All Kinds of Friends, Even Green! Ellen B. Senisi (spina bifida)
My Friend Isabelle, Eliza Woloson (Down Syndrome)
Shelly The Hyperactive Turtle, Deborah M. Moss (ADHD)
Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book, Celeste Shally and David Harrington (autism)
We’ll Pain The Octopus Red, Stephanie Stuve-Boden (Down Syndrome)
Don’t Call Me Special, Pat Thomas (physical disabilities)
Enrique speaks with his hands, Benjamin Fudge (sign language)
My Brother Matthew, Mary Thompson (nonspecific disabilities)
My Brother is Very Special, Amy May (apraxia)
The Alphabet War, Diane Burton Robb (dyslexia)
What’s Wrong With Timmy? Maria Shriver
Keep Your Ear on the Ball, Genevieve Petrillo (blindness)
Rules, Cynthia Lord (autism)
Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes, Jennifer Elder
When My Worries Get Too Big! Kari Dunn Buron (anxiety)
The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone With Autism, Ellen Sabin
My Friend With Autism, Beverly Bishop
Books/Novels:
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2011/08/16/12-amazing-special-needs-stories-you-need-to-read/
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2011/09/14/11-special-needs-novels-that-will-touch-your-heart/
Thicker than Water: Essays by Adult Siblings of People with Disabilities, Donald Meyer
Boy Alone: A Brother’s Memoir, Karl Taro Greenfeld (autism)
Videos:
Arthur episodes on Aspergers Syndrome, “When Carl Met George”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsmjwHW40ps&feature=youtube
http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2010/04/22/watch-the-arthur-aspergers-episode-online.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq-VhfVwqp4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9eATBV-_lg
Faith Jegede: What I’ve learned From My Autistic Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZAi7DlVN2g
Long Brothers (Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year 2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Lax4zFFoA
Tobias writes to local Oklahoma news on behalf of his older brother Titus
http://www.news9.com/story/23543509/young-boy-reaches-out-to-news-9-for-help
Movies/Films:
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2011/10/06/the-15-top-special-needs-documentaries/
Websites:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/kids-corner/
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/family-support-tool-kits#siblings
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sibling.leadership.network/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SibNet/
Where Can I Borrow Materials?
Aside from purchasing new, parents can inquire with your local SELPA, Special Education department, or public library for borrowing.
County libraries can request materials to be transferred from another local branch. Or, you can also place a request for your library to purchase an item if they don’t have it in circulation already.
Other local lending libraries include:
- Parents Helping Parents, San Jose, CA
- Children’s Health Council, Palo Alto, CA
- Support for Families, San Francisco, CA
- Community Gatepath, Redwood City, CA
Do you know other good resources to recommend? Please share in the Comments section below, so we can keep adding to this list.
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