Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to understand how siblings with and without a mild intellectual disability (MID) perceive their different roles in supporting each other. The research set out to further identify and describe the siblings’ challenges in terms of support and inclusion as experienced in the family and at school and to suggest strategies that families and schools can use to provide adequate support to both siblings. Previous studies that have been conducted only focused on one sibling in their study, either the sibling with the disability or the sibling without the disability. A disability affects both siblings. Using qualitative research, four families and six School-Based Support Team (SBST) members, who were willing to participate, were purposefully selected to be a part of the current study. In each family, two participants were chosen, a sibling with a MID and a sibling without a MID. Semi-structured interviews with eight siblings and focus group interviews with the SBST were conducted on separate occasions. Interviews were conducted after school without interfering with school activities.
Findings revealed that siblings understand their roles of support and inclusion by assisting each other with house chores and schoolwork. They indicated the importance of taking care of each other, protecting each other, respecting and helping each other. The challenges of support and inclusion experienced at school include bad behaviour and bullying, lack of parental support, overcrowding and the school only having one occupational therapist and reading and writing. It is recommended that schools could have programmes or workshops addressing curriculum support which involve all family members in providing strategies of supporting and including both siblings with a MID and those without. Teacher development should be prioritised in the special school especially for those educators who have not received any training with working with learners with a MID. Families and schools should ensure that both siblings receive the support that they need and that they are included.
Keywords: Sibling; mild intellectual disability; inclusion; experiences and support.