title: Snapshots reflecting the lives of siblings of children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Past research focused on the effects of raising a child with autism spectrum disorder on families. However, most research examined parents' perspectives rather than siblings' perspectives. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive design was to use photo elicitation to capture perspectives of siblings living with a child with autism spectrum disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen siblings (nine male) of 13 children with autism spectrum disorder received disposable cameras with 24-27 colour exposures, and were asked to photograph what was important to them within 2 weeks. After developing snapshots, investigators interviewed siblings about their photographs, and used open, axial and selective coding to determine photograph categories and subcategories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two major categories were found: people (family members, non-family members) and non-people (personal items/objects, animals, buildings, scenery). Interviews about photographs reflected experiences siblings had with people/non-people in the snapshots and their normal everyday activities. Most photographs revealed family life and activities any sibling would experience whether or not they lived in a family raising a child with autism spectrum disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photo elicitation facilitates communication between children and health-care professionals, and provides information about living with a child with autism spectrum disorder from the sibling's perspective. This information contributes to our knowledge base and allows development of specific intervention plans for siblings of these children.
authors: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Latta
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Rampton
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Rosemann
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Peterson
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Mandleco
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Dyches
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Roper
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D012801:Sibling Relations; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013561:Symbolism
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; qualitative; siblings