A Literature Review and Case Study on the Strengths and Struggles of Typically Developing Siblings of Persons With Disabilities

Abstract

Many counselors may recognize the importance of providing treatment to a person with a disability and that person’s primary caregiver due to the strain placed on the family. However, counselors may be less aware of issues concerning nondisabled sibling(s) in such families. Siblings of persons with disabilities (SPDs) may be forgotten in the counseling process, despite the increased stressors they experience. Therefore, in this article, we (a) provide a review of the literature on typically developing SPDs, (b) highlight the positive effects of having a sibling with a disability, and (c) describe a clear approach for counseling with this population and provide a case illustration.