Autism & Asperger Brothers & Sisters Reviews

Coulter Video Manners Social Skills

Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome

Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, University of Kansas, Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence “Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome” is brilliant! It helps siblings from 4 through adulthood truly under AS. In this DVD, Coulter Video presents four programs geared toward siblings of different ages. Siblings describe their brother or sister with AS, providing examples that are excellent, down-to-earth and real world. The video presents the challenges and joys of living with a sibling with AS, showing respect toward neurotypical siblings and those with AS. Every parent support group and sibling group should have this essential video in their libraries. “Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome” is another excellent product by Coulter Video!

Mary Grace Flaherty, School Library Journal

'''...The interviews are interspersed with narrative segments that offer encouragement and insights. The siblings interviewed are articulate and candid about the challenges and joys of living with their autistic siblings. The DVD offers practical advice and support and stresses positive reinforcement and patience as effective tools...."

Susan Moreno, M.A.A.B.S., founder and president of MAAP Services for the Autism Spectrum Let me just come right out and say this: I’m really mad at Dan and Julie Coulter! How dare they be younger than I and not have this video available when my two daughters were still living with me! Seriously, this video will be a God-send to families, siblings, schools and peers. It is divided into segments: The first segment is 7 minutes long and addresses brothers and sisters of ASD’s who are between the ages of 4 and 7. The next segment (23 minutes) is for brothers and sisters ages 7 to 12. The third segment is for 12 to adult and is 33 minutes in length. The final segment is for the parents and is 46 minutes long. The first three segments are narrated by Dan and Julie Coulter’s daughter. She is a natural presenter… so articulate and pretty and calm. These segments are composed of brothers and sisters within the specified ages on the segment talking about the challenges and the pluses of having a brother or sister with Asperger Syndrome. Photos of the NS brother or sister with their AS sibling are interspersed with each interview. The last segment is interviews with the parents of the people in the previous three sections talking about the pluses and minuses of their lives and those of their children. This DVD allows us an intimate glimpse into the lives of very special families. Interesting facts are shared, as well. Did you know that siblings of people with disabilities are (on the whole) more independent, mature and patient at college age than those without special siblings?

I think this video will help brothers and sisters of AS kids and adults feel less weird or isolated. I think it will provide valuable advice to parents as well. Equally important, I think this video will provide an excellent tool to school peers of the siblings for understanding why they need friends who really care. If I won the lottery, I would give a copy of this video to every AS household and to every primary, secondary and post secondary school in the nation.

Teresa Bolick, Psychologist and Author

The Coulters have created yet another wonderful video to guide our understanding of autism spectrum disorders. Their latest production, “Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome,” follows the model of the original video for siblings of children with autism. Providing different programs for siblings of different ages, these videos describe experiences that resonate with the viewers. Each program provides a balanced view—highlighting the trials as well as the tribulations of having a sibling with AS. The interviewees describe the annoying aspects of their siblings, but also “own” their own feelings. Again and again, the young people emphasize the importance of patience. I have shown scenes from the video to mixed audiences of parents, professionals, and paraprofessionals in my workshops. Without exception, the audience reactions are enthusiastic. In fact, though the video was made for siblings, it is a valuable addition to the library of any adult who lives or works with a young person with Asperger Syndrome.

Robert Naseef, Ph.D., Psychologist, author Special Children, Challenged Parents,
co-editor Voices from the Spectrum, parent of an adult child with autism. Parents worry about the voices they have trouble hearing - the voices of the other child. These videos bring those voices to life with interviews of siblings of various ages. Listen to these brothers and sisters - refreshingly honest, compassionate, and embracing the full emotional range of reactions to a life that is different and challenging. Extremely valuable for families and professionals who serve them. (Covers both Asperger Syndrome and autism DVDs.)

Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Autism

Corey Seeman, Library Journal

This program is a great resource for families who have children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and siblings who are neurotypical (NT). The DVD is divided into four programs, three geared toward children of various ages and one for parents. The filmmakers brilliantly use interviews with NT siblings and parents to document the issues that exist among family members...The programs geared toward children provide excellent modeling behavior… interviewees show maturity beyond their years and provide pointers and coping mechanisms that will help viewers better understand their siblings...strongly recommended for all libraries... (Excerpts from the review, which is available on the Library Journal’s website at: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6529613.html?q=autism.)

Teresa Bolick, Psychologist and Author Thanks so much for sending me a copy of “Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum.” I just finished watching the whole DVD. In a word, “WOW!” During each segment, I found myself saying, “This is the best part.” Then, I’d feel the same way in the next segment! Some specific strengths:

ü Each program is sensitive to the developmental level of the target audience without “talking down.”

ü The siblings did an admirable job of presenting balanced viewpoints: identifying the strengths of their brothers or sisters, while also acknowledging problems.

ü The parents were equally candid. Each portrayed the individual needs of all of their children.

ü The narration provided by Jessie and Dan helped to frame the attention of the viewer. Both did a nice job of alerting the viewer about what to look and listen for and then re-capping key points.

ü The focus on communication, with or without outside support, came through loud and clear. This is such an important message, especially for families that are often “just too exhausted to talk about one more problem.”

ü The entire video instills hope, but the last segment with the parents was especially optimistic.

I cannot wait to begin sharing this with the families and professionals I know. Thank you so much for creating such a valuable resource for all of us.

Gena P. Barnhill, Ph.D., Author of Right Address…Wrong Planet: Children with Asperger Syndrome Becoming Adults, Assistant Professor of Special Education at Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA, and parent of an adult son with AS. Once again, Coulter Video created another outstanding DVD resource entitled, Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum. This DVD contains three programs that parents can choose from to best meet the needs of their child’s age and developmental level. Program Four is 35 minutes in length and is designed for parents. Many parents assume that their children know more about autism than they actually do. This program includes interviews of parents who have children on the autism spectrum and suggests that parents focus on what the family can do together as a team. Program One is seven minutes in length, features puppets, and is most appropriate for siblings from ages 4 – 7 years. It reassures young children that you cannot give someone autism and you cannot “catch it.” Program Two (ages 7-12 years) and Program Three (12 years through adult) are 25 and 27 minutes in length and include narration and interviews with siblings. The siblings provide candid comments on their experiences living with one or more siblings with ASD. They describe what bothers them about their sibling(s) and also they explain their siblings’ strengths. The interviewees also suggested that brothers and sisters need to realize that their sibling with ASD is not doing things just to annoy them. This 4-program DVD provides many different perspectives that would help all families understand and better cope with autism spectrum disorders.

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