Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome

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Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD -- School Library Journal, 4/10/2008

Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome. DVD. 1:49 hrs. Coulter Video. 2007. $39.99.

Gr all levels–Each segment of this innovative program addresses a different age audience, but they all focus on the same issue: the challenges of having a sibling with Asperger Syndrome and the techniques that young people can use to get along better. Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism, affects how people process information and behave, and can often cause difficulty in understanding the feelings of others—which can lead to conflicts between siblings. This DVD is truly a family affair—three segments are hosted by Jessie Coulter, the adult sibling of a brother with Asperger Syndrome, and the fourth part is hosted by producer Dan Coulter, Jessie’s father. The first seven-minute segment is geared to siblings ages 4 to 7, and uses puppets and very simple explanations to demystify Asperger Syndrome. The second part (23 min.) is for siblings ages 7 to 12. Part 3, for ages 12 to adult (33 min.) is the most personalized, as Jessie shares home movies and stories from her own experiences. Both parts 2 and 3 feature multiple interviews with siblings in the target age ranges, and address the challenges of and strategies for dealing with Asperger Syndrome. The final segment (46 min.), for parents, features interviews with parents that address not only the challenges of having a child with Asperger Syndrome, but also the challenges of keeping family life fair for non-Asperger siblings. The Coulters have created a terrific resource for family members of all ages.