A Pilot Study of a Future Planning Program for Siblings of People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
A short sibling class lifts empowerment and service knowledge fast.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team ran a small group class called STEP for adult brothers and sisters of people with IDD. Classes met once a week for several weeks. Siblings learned how to plan for the future, talk with family, and find services.
Before and after the class, the siblings filled out short surveys about how ready they felt.
What they found
After STEP, siblings felt more empowered, closer to their brother or sister, and better at talking with parents. They also knew more about disability services. Attendance was high and people liked the class.
How this fits with other research
Faught et al. (2021) asked adult siblings how many future-planning tasks their families had finished. Most families had done only about half. STEP now shows a short class can move that needle.
Jackson et al. (2025) built a similar program for siblings of autistic adults but used online meetings. Their results were weaker, showing the in-person STEP style may work better for IDD.
Eldeniz-Çetin et al. (2026) interviewed siblings who felt high anxiety about lifelong care. STEP gives a ready-made tool to ease that worry.
Why it matters
If you help adults with IDD, invite their siblings to a short STEP-style workshop. One four-week series can boost family talk, service know-how, and sibling confidence. Run it before big transitions like moving out or guardianship planning.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Given the increased longevity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), future planning programs are becoming increasingly common. However, although siblings are likely to fulfill caregiving roles for people with IDD, siblings have not been included in future planning interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and feasibility of the Sibling Training for Early future Planning (STEP) program. Using quantitative and qualitative data, 18 siblings of individuals with IDD participated in the study. After completing the STEP program, participants demonstrated significantly improved feelings of empowerment, disability connectedness, family communication, and knowledge of adult disability services. The STEP program was also feasible given high attendance, low attrition rates, and high participant satisfaction. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1352/1934-9556-59.1.70