Descriptive analysis of the sibling relationships for families with a child with autism spectrum disorders

The present study examined mothers' and sisters' perceptions of the sibling relationship for children who have a sibling with autism. The study occurred within the context of a strengths-based computer workshop called the iStar SketchUp Workshops. The siblings were involved in the workshops along with their brothers. Seven siblings and 6 parents were interviewed to see how they perceived the sibling relationship within the context of everyday life and within the context of the workshops. Using thematic coding, themes from the interviews were identified. The themes highlighted differences in the way that the siblings and parents framed the sibling relationship within everyday life activities versus within the workshops. Within the context of everyday life activities, the siblings focused on helping their brothers and playing with one another. The siblings also described how they had a sense of duty to their brothers because they were family. On the contrary, the mothers focused on the challenges of the sibling relationship, which they attributed to differences in learning style, which ultimately led to their perceptions of siblings engaging in separate activities. In contrast, both the siblings and parents perceived their brothers and sons differently in the context of the workshops. In the context of the workshops, they saw them as boys who possessed amazing skills and fit in with their peers. The sisters had a sense of pride for their brothers' accomplishments and the mothers spoke more positively about their children's relationships. Implications for interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders are discussed.