ERIC Number: EJ685447
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Dec
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 41
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0952-3383
Invisible Children: The Need for Support Groups for Siblings of Disabled Children
Naylor, Angie; Prescott, Phil
British Journal of Special Education, v31 n4 p199-206 Dec 2004
Previous research and first-hand experience suggest that a child with a disability can have a profound effect on family life. Although the need for sibling support has been acknowledged in legislation, the implications for non-disabled siblings remain unclear. In this article, Angie Naylor, lecturer in psychology, and Phil Prescott, senior lecturer in childhood and youth studies, both based at Edge Hill, review a number of key themes emerging from the literature on sibling support. They go on to report the findings from an in-depth study of one sibling support group. The work was carried out in partnership with Barnardo's in the north-west of England and involved setting up a sibling support group, in response to an analysis of local need, and evaluating its impact. This research indicates a clear need for further service provision to meet the needs of the siblings of disabled children who attended the scheme. Angie Naylor and Phil Prescott argue for a reinvigorated debate about the needs of such children and champion the importance of listening to children and valuing what they have to say. The results of this small-scale evaluation project have clear implications for future research and, potentially, for policy and practice.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Social Support Groups, Siblings, Family Life, Sibling Relationship, Disabilities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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