Special Siblings: Growing Up with Someone with a Disability, Revised Edition

In this absorbing and candid book, Mary McHugh reveals what she experienced as the sister of a man with cerebral palsy and mental retardation — and shares what others have learned about being and having a “special sibling.†Weaving a lifetime of memories and reflections with relevant research and interviews with more than 100 other siblings and experts, McHugh explores a spectrum of feelings — from anger and guilt to love and pride — and helps readers understand the issues siblings may encounter in

childhood — such as dealing with their own needs for attention and information, identifying with their parents’ grief, understanding their sibling’s disability, and coping with their own feelings

adolescence — such as participating in family discussions, fitting in with peers, searching for their own identity, and talking to a counselor or therapist

adulthood — such as building a support system, navigating adult relationships, deciding whether to have children, and planning for their sibling’s future care

Emotional and enlightening, this book is a must-read for teen and adult siblings — and all professionals who support people with disabilities and their families.

• Author
• Mary McHugh

• Format
• paperback

• Pages
• 272

• Publisher
• Brookes Publishing

• Language
• english

• ISBN
• 9781557666079

• Release date
• 2002