Right to a Safe Environment

"Some siblings live with brothers and sisters who have challenging behaviors. Other siblings assume responsibilities for themselves and their siblings that go beyond their age level and place all parties in vulnerable situations. Siblings deserve to have their own personal safety given as much importance as the family member who has special needs." from Don Meyer's article What Siblings Would Like Parents and Service Providers to Know.

This is an extremely important thing to both my husband and me.   We have never wanted Cooper to feel unsafe in his home so we have worked hard with Bailey to teach him to not physical assault others, specific Cooper. When Bailey was younger we had to restrain him so he would not hurt Cooper but that changed as he got older.  Though positive reinforcement we were able  to teach Bailey how to express his anger and how to treat Cooper.   Bailey will still scream and yell which Cooper can not stand but Cooper does feel safe in his own home.This has helped the boys to develop a sibling relationship that may not have been there if Bailey was physically aggressive towards Cooper.