"He can't really play": An ethnographic study of sibling acceptance and interaction

This article reports the findings of a case study of sibling interaction be tween a young man with Dawn syndrome and his three brothers. The case study was conducted as part of a larger study of the social relationships of 10 students with moderate to severe disabilities. Data were collected by ethno graphic interviews with family members and key personnel in the student's s chool and community, and by participant observation of a range of home, sch ool, and community activities. Data from the case study of sibling relation ships are compared to data on the target student's interactions with nonfam ily peers. Findings indicate that within the family context, a range of sib ling roles and of activities for the target student seemed to compensate fo r the target student's limited participation in sibling play activities. Ou tside of the family, the need for peer facilitation and advocacy was essent ial for the target student to be included successfully. The discussion offe rs a consideration of how schools can foster a sense of belonging that will encourage peer accommodations without creating unrealistic demands on stud ents, both with and without disabilities.