Brothers & Sisters —

A Special Part of Exceptional Families, Second Edition

By Thomas Powell, Ed.D. & Peggy Ahrenhold Gallagher, Ph.D.

Paperback,320 pages/ 6 x 9, 2005

Praise for the first edition:

"fills a void too long neglected . . . essential for all professionals who provide services for children with disabilities and . . . their families . . . an invaluable guide for parents as well as their older children who must cope with the continuing challenge of relating to disabled siblings." —Mental Retardation

"sensitive, easily read, and highly recommended for parents and service providers" —Hearing Rehabilitation Quarterly

Siblings experience a bond unique to their relationship. A brother or sister is usually the first close friend and playmate a child has, and that relationship often outlasts all others. Brothers & Sisters — A Special Part of Exceptional Families, Second Edition, explores this affinity from the perspective of siblings with a brother or sister who has a disability.

Rich with personal testimonies, this compelling book shares the joys and sorrows so familiar to exceptional families. Siblings speak openly about the challenges they encounter in day-to-day interactions with their brother or sister and discuss how these interactions affect them not only at home, but also at school, in the community, and in their adult lives.

With the help of this book, professionals and families can explore such vital issues as

how to listen effectively to siblings
the factors that contribute to siblings' adjustment patterns
the positive and negative effects of a special relationship
family-oriented services available to siblings
siblings' special concerns and unique needs

Brimming with practical advice, this guide also includes a list of 30 parent strategies and 20 sibling strategies suggested by a panel of siblings.

Written with candor and optimism, Brothers & Sisters — A Special Part of Exceptional Families offers reliable research mingled with the perceptive wisdom of siblings of all ages to encourage a better understanding of the dynamics of family relationships.

Section I:  Families & Siblings

   1. Listening to Siblings

        * Some Final Thoughts on Listening

   2. Siblings — A Special Relationship

        * The Importance of Siblings
        * Siblings within the Family System
        * Research on Sibling Relationships
        * Summary

   3. Special Brothers & Sisters in the Family System

        * The Family: A Social System
        * Siblings: Effects of a Special Relationship
        * Factors Contributing to the Siblings' Adjustment Patterns
        * Sibling Interactions
        * Support for Families
        * Summary & Future Directions

   4. Special Concerns & Unique Needs

        * Sibling's Special Concerns
        * Siblings' Unique Needs
        * Summary

Section II: Strategies to Help Siblings

   5. Providing Information

        * The Need for Information
        * Talking with Siblings — The Keys to Effective Communication
        * Innovative Approaches to Information Sharing
        * Establishing Programs to Provide Information
        * Providing Information Through Books & Other Sources
        * Summary

   6. Counseling Siblings

        * Siblings & Their Feelings
        * What Is Counseling?
        * Who Are Counselors?
        * The Counseling Process
        * Group Counseling
        * Final Considerations
        * Summary

   7. Social Interaction

        * The Importance of Social Interaction
        * Social Interaction Between Brothers and Sisters
        * A Review of Methods to Facilitate Social Interaction
        * Encouraging Sibling Social Interaction
        * Typical Social Interaction Problems
        * A Final Note

   8. Siblings as Teachers

        * Formal Teaching Programs
        * A Review of Training Efforts
        * Establishing a Sibling Teaching Program
        * Should Siblings Be Involved with Discipline & Behavior Management?
        * Capitalizing on Informal Teaching
        * Final Considerations

   9. Siblings at School

        * Special Problems Related to School
        * School-Based Strategies
        * Summary

  10. Siblings as Adults

        * Genetics
        * Providing for Long-Term Care
        * Ensuring a Quality Life
        * Summary

  11. Capstone — Strategies for Parents & Siblings

        * Thirty Strategies for Parents
        * Twenty Strategies for Siblings

Appendix A: Literature for Brothers & Sisters
Appendix B: Information & Service Sources for Siblings & Parents

Brothers & Sisters —

A Special Part of Exceptional Families, Second Edition

Table of Contents