Evaluate what you know about ASD and your sibling(s): ASD looks different in every individual. Identify what you already know about your sibling, how they experience ASD, and whether there is anything that you need help understanding. A caregiver, your sibling’s treatment provider, an internet search, or your sibling can help expand your knowledge.

Join them in activities they enjoy: Engaging in activities your sibling enjoys can be a great way to spend time together, especially if they do not prefer or are unable to converse. Activities can include watching a favorite movie, playing a video game, or spending time outside. You can also include them in your favorite activities they might enjoy.

Use technology to check in: As adults, finding time that overlaps with your sibling’s availability may be challenging. See if there is a regular time when you can check in by phone or video, even for a few minutes. If your sibling lives with a relative, they may be able to pop on a call with your family. If your sibling plays online games, you might be able to play with them even while you are apart. Texting or e-mail allow both of you to respond at your convenience, and can incorporate different forms of communication, such as pictures or funny videos, that may be comfortable or preferred for your sibling.

Identifying a college program (e.g., RCAAS-College Support Program) that will best support the student and resources to guide the transition will be the first steps in the parent’s process. To prepare for the transition to college, parents, students, and university faculty and staff must work together. Parents can help their children by making a list of key contacts, including academic advisors, health services, and student services, that their child can access readily. Rather than contacting university faculty and staff directly, parents should have a conversation with their child to identify questions and concerns, and encourage them to contact the appropriate individuals on campus to get the correct information. Role playing conversations may help the student prepare for these new types of social interactions.

Nishi Kadakia, MAP

Classroom Assistant, DDDC

When an adult with autism nears aging out of the educational system, parents may wonder “What happens next?” Programs such as Easterseals and Interactive Autism Network can provide various options for families on the next best step, from finding a job to independent living.

Finding the right job can be tough in any situation, but for individuals on the autism spectrum, there may be many other factors to consider. Parents can help their loved ones Prepare for Employment Success through these guidelines from Autism New Jersey.

Autism Parenting Magazine lists The Best Suited Jobs for Individuals with Autism, which breaks down the options based on different needs and skill sets.

Parents should utilize the skills we shared in our Mental Health and Problem Solving issues of OTSIA to cope with stressors and challenges that they encounter. Strategies that are especially helpful for parents who are caring for individuals with ASD of any age, from diagnosis to adulthood, can be found here.

Parents who need to connect with other parents who have raised individuals with disabilities or find referrals for mental health resources can visit Mom2Mom, a helpline program for parents of special needs children and adults. 

The sibling of an individual with ASD faces many unique challenges that affect both their personal life and family relationships. Hearing from others who may have similar experiences could provide support. Web-based articles and personal stories provide perspectives on the changes that come as the sibling relationship moves into adulthood and how some cope with challenges that arise. Life as an Autism Sibling provides a guide for teenagers and Growing Together is a pamphlet that describes how individuals can communicate and understand their teenage or adult siblings.

Support groups are also a great way for siblings to meet others who may be facing the same challenges. The Sibling Support Project is a national program that hosts workshops and online groups for people who have a sibling with disabilities. They have published multiple books and created Sibshops in each state to allow siblings to get together and share their stories. SibTeen Facebook Group is a virtual social media group that posts relevant information for teenage siblings of those with disabilities and allows a community to form through shared experiences, stories, and resources.

As siblings grow older and begin their own journeys toward college or employment, they may see the financial strain that may result from their families caring for an individual with autism. Siblings of Autism is a program that provides information for scholarship funds, respite funds, and outreach programs. They allow siblings to apply for various financial grants or opportunities that can help them attend summer camps, college, job training, and more.

Dr. Vanessa Bal, Karmazin and Lillard Chair in Adult Autism and Associate Professor at GSAPP, is recruiting autistic adults for a research study to evaluate a brief telehealth intervention designed to support coping with negative emotions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For more info check out their flyer.

we can do so much.” 

What an impactful and dynamic presentation last week! Four adults on the autism spectrum joined Dr. Christopher Manente, RCAAS' Executive Director, during “The Stigma of Autism: The Dangers of Equating Neuro-differences with Disability” session of GSAPP’s Beautiful Mind Summit. They are Amy Gravino, Genya Vasilov, Zach Deinzer and Zach Sanborn. We are so grateful for their participation and candor in sharing their perspectives on the stigma of ASD and how the pandemic has impacted their ability to maintain mental health these past few months. We will post the recording on our Facebook page as soon as it’s available. Thank you to all those who tuned in and for the many thoughtful questions and comments!