Learn about our groundbreaking new Siblings Study
by Rachel
I just love infographics. I’m a visual learner, so I’d much rather see information than plough through a lengthy document. That’s why we thought this infographic would be a fun, colorful way to share Easter Seals’ Siblings Study, which was just released today!
The Study was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs (an independent research firm) and will help us better understand the challenges adults who have siblings with disabilities face, and compare the perceptions of these adult sibling relationships with those of the general public.
You might remember the post I wrote about Joseph and his sister, Mary and how much joy she brings to his life — siblings who care for their sibling with a disability who responded to our study said their sibling has had a positive impact on their quality of life, helping them develop patience, understanding, compassion and providing perspective. These sorts of feelings were reported more by people who had siblings with a disability than respondents from the general public.
The number of adult siblings who reported to the study and said they are already the primary caregiver for their sibling with a disability is 23 percent. That’s a shocking statistic, especially when many primary caregivers report they don’t get emotional, physical or financial help from friends and family. Nearly a third of Study respondents who were not already the primary caregiver said they expect to assume this role in the future.
Sibling relationships are our longest-lasting relationships, so we hope that this new infographic and the Siblings Study will arm sibling caregivers with the information they need and will encourage others to self-identify as a caregiver to help them start thinking about their sibling’s future.
Study sponsor and Easter Seals corporate partner MassMutual can help with financial planning when it comes to caring for a loved one with a disability. MassMutual is committed to serving people living with disabilities through its exclusive SpecialCare program, an innovative solution that gives families with individuals with special needs access to information, specialists, and financial strategies that can help improve their quality of life.
Easter Seals will use these findings to raise awareness of and advocate for the life-long services and supports families and caregivers desperately need. Siblings can link to the study to find various resources and support groups available to them — supports that can help them better care for their sibling while juggling their own needs and those of other family members. Be sure to check out the findings of the Study to find out where you can go if you need services and supports. And if someone you know is caring for a loved one with a disability, please share the infographic with them, too.
December 18th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
This is such a useful study for caregivers and others who provide support. Too often, siblings of children with disabilities feel neglected and are resentful of the extra attention their brother or sister is receiving. These thoughts and feelings are often not noticed until too late to easily correct, presenting families and caregivers with other issues to manage.