More Than a Sister: Emily Hanlon on Guilt, Growth and the Power of Advocacy

Hi everyone, What happens when you’re five years old, and your baby brother is diagnosed with autism? In this episode of Wine with Wita, I sat down with Emily Hanlon, a Clinical Psychologist, mum of three, and the proud big sister of Richard, who was diagnosed with autism as a baby.Emily shares her powerful story of growing up as a sibling to someone with high support needs, from the guilt she carried for decades, to the deep love and responsibility she still feels today.Her honesty is raw, her humour refreshing, and her message clear: we cannot support autistic children without supporting the village around them. What we covered:🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 What it’s really like growing up with an autistic sibling 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 The emotional toll on families that no one sees 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Why siblings need just as much support as the child 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 How her family helped her brother build his own businessThis episode is a powerful reminder that behind every child with a diagnosis, there’s a family learning how to cope, support, and survive.Emily’s honesty will resonate with any parent wondering how to balance their time, emotions, and energy between multiple children – especially when the support needs are different.Resources mentioned in this episode: 🍫 Emily’s brother’s chocolate business: Freckly Faces 📘 Sibling support resource: Understanding & Supporting Siblings of Neurodivergent Children📸 Follow Emily on Instagram at @theplayfulpsychologistLots of love, Rita P.S. Follow me on Instagram for more tips, insights and updates. Disclaimer: the purpose of this podcast is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this podcast as an alternative to speech and language therapy. YYou must always consult with a Speech Pathologist, GP and/or paediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's communication and/development.