Seeing strengths: Young adults and their siblings with autism or intellectual disability

Abstract

Background Understanding the positive qualities of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can provide a much‐needed counterpoint to deficit‐based depictions of disability. Method This study examined how 163 young adults (ages 18–30) viewed the strengths of their brothers and sisters with intellectual disability or autism using the Assessment Scale for Positive Character Traits‐Developmental Disabilities (Woodard, 2009). In addition, the authors examined factors that may shape their perspectives. Results Overall, siblings' ratings of strengths were moderate to high, indicating an overall portrait of strengths. The majority of brothers and sisters with disabilities was described as having multiple strengths and their profiles on this measure were highly individualized. Lower overall ratings were associated with several variables, including not using speech as a primary mode of communication, exhibiting challenging behaviours, having autism and not currently living together. Conclusions The authors offer recommendations for future research and practice related to supporting siblings with and without disabilities.

Examining cognitive accessibility of the VIA Inventory of Strengths for adults with intellectual disability

“…In a recent study, teachers endorsed ‘kindness’ as a top character strength for youth with autism (Mirenda et al, 2022). Likewise, when adult siblings reported the strengths of their siblings with autism and/or intellectual disability, kindness and humour were among the most commonly reported strengths (Carter et al, 2020). This aligns with our findings, in which participants described their performance as positive for >72% of Humour and Kindness items.…”

Beliefs About the World and Coping Strategies in Siblings of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: The Moderating Effect of Posttraumatic Growth

“…Research indicates the possibility of experiencing psychological growth in connection with being a brother or sister of a person with an intellectual disability (Findler & Vardi, 2009) . The stress and inconvenience of growing up with a sibling with a disability may lead to beneficial psychological changes expressed in noticing one's inner strength, developing one's strengths and competencies in coping with difficulties, greater empathy, appreciating simple activities that make up everyday life, understanding and accepting differences, and being more aware and responsible (Hodapp et al ., 2010;Carter et al ., 2020) . According to the functional-descriptive model of the PTG, positive changes in various areas are related to cognitive processing and rebuilding basic assumptions about the world, oneself, others, and life (Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2006;Henson et al ., 2021) .…”

Virtual care during the pandemic: Multi-family group sessions for Hong Kong Chinese families of adolescents with intellectual disabilities

“… Rhodes, 2002 ; Wilkins et al., 2010 ), and in recent years, a growing body of western literature has put forward strength-based assessments and intervention for children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (e.g. Carter et al, 2020 ) and for their families (e.g. Ferrer et al., 2017 ); however, there is a dearth of studies on family-based intervention using a strength-based approach in Chinese contexts and the provision of such kind of intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”