Laura Green is currently working to a PhD at RMIT University in Australia.

Green writes “The Autism Siblings Project is hoping to learn more about the well-being of siblings and about the teenage experience in general. Hopefully this will support our promotion of siblings as an important part of the autism family intervention and their need for support programs and groups as well.

We are searching for 13 and 14 year old siblings! If you are (or you have) a teen who has at least one brother or sister, we want to hear from you. We are looking for teens with sibs who have autism and teens who have only typically-developing siblings. We hope to identify the siblings most at-risk for problems. This requires a comparison group of typically-developing children growing up without autism in their family and we’d love if you got involved!

https://rmit.asia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cTlh5ebtyFbsbul

For the children to be eligible to participate, all they need is to be 13 or 14 years old and have a brother or sister. This also means that we will have great insights into the typical adolescent experience, not just the disability experience. The study involves a questionnaire package for both the teen and their parent/guardian to fill out. You get an ID code so that your name is not linked with your answers – they are completely anonymous! The questionnaires ask simple questions about the family’s emotions, thoughts and behaviours.

If you would like to get involved, please follow the link to leave your contact details with us and we can send you a questionnaire package via email or post. You will be taken through an informed consent process before filling in the questionnaire; you will therefore have the opportunity to learn more about the study before agreeing to participate. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Laura Green on 0400 679 353 or s3267184@student.rmit.edu.au or Principal supervisor: susana.gavidia-payne@rmit.edu.au. Research approved by RMIT Ethics Committee [ID 30/12]. Phone RMIT Human Research Ethics Committee with your concerns. (03) 9925 2251.

https://rmit.asia.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cTlh5ebtyFbsbul

If you want to follow the project you can “like” the Facebook page, but remember that your identity is not private. https://www.facebook.com/AutismSiblingsProject“