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Siblings and multiples

A key question is how to work with siblings and the other multiples in a family where one or more multiples is disabled, especially given the issue of comorbidity. Most issues are general to all children in the family, although more intense with the comultiples. They can be summarised as

• rejection by peers
• discomfort or difficulty in explaining to peers about multiple with disability
• less time/resources to engage in out-of-home activities
• less contact with friends
• increased teasing
• peers afraid or uneasy around multiple with disability
• child assumes "Brother's Keeper" role at school
• having to "achieve for two or more"

And it's not just serious medical conditions

Other conditions apparently not nearly as significant as cerebral palsy can impact upon the family. One of our students Megan McDougall has been studying what it is like to be the cotwin or the sibling of a child with ADHD. The cotwins had many more problems with both general anxiety and also separation anxiety-not wanting to go to school. There were some issues for other siblings, but not nearly as bad. This does make sense. Who would want to be in the same class or even the same school year as your twin who was going to embarrass you yet again today with their behaviour? One very interesting result was that these cotwins would have to be the biggest fans of stimulant medication. Almost without exception and with absolutely no prompting, these twins would volunteer how much better life was when their twin was when taking his medication (and they were almost all boys). They could play together and their was no worry about their homework being damaged or their time at home otherwise disrupted.