This is the story of Brian, who is Charlie's brother. He wishes Charlie, his special-needs brother, could just be "normal" and thinks it's not fair for Charlie to have so many problems. He feels frustrated because everything seems to be about Charlie. Brian wishes his family could do things like most families do. When the decision is made for Charlie to live in a Residential Center, Brian attempts to understand his confusing feelings. Is it my fault because I complained? Will the same thing happen to me? With the help of his family, Brian starts to understand his feelings and accepts that it is all right for Charlie to be himself, and he is also proud to be "Charlie's Brother". When a family is living with a child with a physical or developmental disability, or perhaps a chronic disease, there are numerous issues which surround their "normal" siblings. Charlie's Brother fittingly describes many of these issues. However difficult the challenges are, there are many effective approaches for helping the family.
Authors: Margaret M. Holmes
Pages: 27