"Don’t you know, there are Autism Families?" – and Psychotic Children back in 1962
You might be thinking this post is going to be about how the whole family have symptoms of autism, or the cases when siblings without autism, have facial or other features that are associated with autism; it is not. If you prefer that subject, follow the link below. Siblings of autistic children may have distinct facial features This week I learnt a new term from Monty’s 1:1 school assistant, for when the family unit of a child with autism becomes dysfunctional and everyone is negatively affected. Those in the autism business call them “Autism Families”. Monty’s family, she went on tell me, is not an Autism Family (I guess we are a Family with Autism); “you have protected them” and Monty’s brother (his only sibling) is totally normal. We had been discussing how NT siblings can suffer and become maladapted themselves, due to the situation they live in at home. The rules at home can change; the rules for bringing friends home can change, the rules for going out change...