ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the results of a preliminary study which investigated, among other things, whether there were particular developmental periods in which siblings felt most or least vulnerable. The ages nominated for difficult and easy times were tallied and represented in a frequency histogram. The special needs of siblings of disabled children have been emphasised by the recent proliferation of groups designed for them. Adolescents could find themselves in moral turmoil because of these constraints on separation and individuation. They felt resentful and blamed their disabled sibling, but also felt guilty because such feelings were perceived by these fundamentally caring brothers and sisters as wrong. The pleasures are seen specifically as arising from growing older and learning to appreciate, or at least adjusting to, the disabled sibling. Adults concurrently became aware of developing what they saw as a special tolerance and compassion for others, a generosity of spirit that they attributed to life with a disabled sibling.
