“When You're Dating and You Have a Sibling with Special Needs”
By Staci Lawson, Chairman of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Group
First, I want to point out that no two siblings are alike! This is just my experience and advice for how to bring home a boyfriend or girlfriend and introduce them to the most important person in your world: your sibling.
Step 1) Slowly introduce your sibling to your boyfriend or girlfriend. This the best way as you do not want to overwhelm your sibling and make him or her lash out. Try talking to your sibling before he or she meets your boyfriend or girlfriend. If your sibling is nonverbal, then just tell him or her that you have met a really nice person and that you would like them to meet.
Step 2) Talk to your boyfriend or girlfriend and be brutally honest about your sibling. Explain your sibling’s diagnosis to your partner. If he or she is not willing to accept or understand people with disabilities, then it is better you know up front rather than finding out when it’s too late.
Step 3) When you do decide to introduce your boyfriend or girlfriend to your sibling, try to do something like watch a movie or play a board game so your sib feels like he or she is included as well.
Step 4) Try to have a night at least once a month when you and your partner decide to do something with your sibling. It will be good for you as a couple and it will be good for your sibling to see that he or she still matters to you.
We hope these tips help! If you have more questions, feel free to ask them during video conferences or on our Facebook Chat and Forum
Siblings with a Mission is an international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with special needs. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for education purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
By Staci Lawson, Chairman of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Group
First, I want to point out that no two siblings are alike! This is just my experience and advice for how to bring home a boyfriend or girlfriend and introduce them to the most important person in your world: your sibling.
Step 1) Slowly introduce your sibling to your boyfriend or girlfriend. This the best way as you do not want to overwhelm your sibling and make him or her lash out. Try talking to your sibling before he or she meets your boyfriend or girlfriend. If your sibling is nonverbal, then just tell him or her that you have met a really nice person and that you would like them to meet.
Step 2) Talk to your boyfriend or girlfriend and be brutally honest about your sibling. Explain your sibling’s diagnosis to your partner. If he or she is not willing to accept or understand people with disabilities, then it is better you know up front rather than finding out when it’s too late.
Step 3) When you do decide to introduce your boyfriend or girlfriend to your sibling, try to do something like watch a movie or play a board game so your sib feels like he or she is included as well.
Step 4) Try to have a night at least once a month when you and your partner decide to do something with your sibling. It will be good for you as a couple and it will be good for your sibling to see that he or she still matters to you.
We hope these tips help! If you have more questions, feel free to ask them during video conferences or on our Facebook Chat and Forum
Siblings with a Mission is an international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with special needs. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for education purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
