Background

It has been observed that families of disabled individuals often bear considerable emotional and practical responsibilities owing to their reliance on informal caregiving systems. Often discussions around caregiving and support structures revolve around professional careers and parents, but caregiving roles are also taken up by siblings, which are mostly overlooked and under-supported. As per Carers UK, many such young carers face problems like heightened emotional stress and reduced social opportunities. They also experience difficulty in balancing caregiving responsibilities with their educational careers and overall personal well-being.

It is important to understand this gap in the context of disability support that is often provided by siblings in the form of being advocates, emotional anchors, and long-term support systems for disabled family members. While this role remains a critical feature of disability support, most who play these roles don’t have proper access to mental health resources, structured peer networks, or guidance about how to navigate caregiving responsibilities. Most systems of support fail to recognize the role played by siblings in the family structures in providing care and support. This can lead to such individuals experiencing emotional pressure and isolation, as also highlighted by research by Sibs. 

One of the major causes behind the limitations faced by specialist schools and caregiving institutions is the lack of proper funding and community-oriented support. In order to tackle these challenges, solutions need to address not just aspects of institutional assistance but also work towards acknowledging the experiences of siblings and caregivers. This can be done by way of emotional support systems, provision of accessible resources, and community-driven/community-oriented initiatives.