Should Children with Special Needs Attend the Same School as Their Siblings?

For every parent with a child with special needs (ABK), the journey of finding the right educational environment is often a long search filled with emotional considerations. A major question that frequently arises in families’ minds is whether it is necessary to enrol a child with special needs in an inclusive school environment alongside their siblings.

Can the presence of an older or younger sibling in the same school building truly provide the sense of security and support needed to face social and academic challenges? The togetherness and emotional bond between a child with special needs and their siblings is considered a crucial initial step in building early social relationships before the child ventures into the wider community.

Muthia Devita, an inclusive education expert from Sekolah Cikal and Coordinator Associate for Inclusive Education at Cikal, offers an in-depth perspective. According to her, attending school in the same inclusive school ecosystem for both children with special needs and their siblings has significant importance for optimising the child’s personal development.

Muthia views school not merely as a place to transfer knowledge, but as an ecosystem where children seek identity and acceptance. The presence of a sibling in the same environment acts as a powerful emotional “anchor” for the child with special needs.

“The presence of siblings within the same ecosystem can help children with special needs feel safe, accepted, and not alone in facing social and academic challenges,” stated Muthia in a written statement received by Republika on Friday (27 February 2026).