Qualitative Study of Neurotypical Siblings with Special Needs Siblings

While families are a critical source of support for individuals living with disabilities, even these family members require external support to cope with the various added responsibility that comes with having a family member with a disability. Although support systems and interventions exist for parents of individuals with special needs, limited research has been conducted and little attention has been given towards the support and interventions that the siblings of individuals with special needs require. While parents bear the majority of the responsibility of raising a child with special needs, once they get older or pass away, neurotypical siblings often become their primary caretakers, making this the longest familial relationship. The aim of this paper is to explore the experiences of neurotypical individuals who grew up with a sibling with special needs and determine how, if at all, these experiences affected their psychosocial wellbeing and overall mental health. The research question that this study seeks to answer is: what psychosocial impact does growing up with a sibling with special needs have on a neurotypical individual?