My Brother, My Self: An Autoethnography of Siblinghood and Disability

Abstract

An autoenthography exploring siblinghood and disability. The work presents being an older sister to two siblings - one sister born when the author was three years old, and one brother born when the author was nine and a half years old - and the close relationship with both siblings. However, the author's brother has been labeled with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The author speaks to her experience as a sibling of an individual with autism. The author describes her strong attachment and emotional investment in her brother as a motivation for her writing.