RT Journal
A1 McMahon C, Stone WL, Yoder PJ
T1 PArental availability in families affected by autism—reply
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2007
FD November 1
VO 161
IS 11
SP 1107
OP 1108
DO 10.1001/archpedi.161.11.1107-b
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.161.11.1107-b
AB 
We appreciate Dr Reed's thoughtful comments regarding the many everyday stressors experienced by families who have a child with autism. We agree that there are myriad family factors—including parenting stress, social support, and availability of emotional, financial, and other resources—that may affect the development of younger siblings of children with autism or other developmental disorders. Our intent was not to downplay the impact of family influences on the development of later-born siblings of children with autism—as it is clear that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences in children's learning and development—but rather to highlight the importance of monitoring the development of this group of children.