Unseen Care, Unequal Worlds: Photovoice Narratives of Siblings Supporting Deafblind Adolescents in Indonesia

<ns7:p>Background Deafblindness is a rare and complex condition that is often accompanied by additional intellectual and mental disabilities. Research on adolescents with deafblindness during the post-school transition remains limited, with existing studies primarily focusing on parental perspectives. Sibling voices, particularly in Indonesia, where services are scarce and family-based care is the dominant approach, are underexplored. Aim This study examined how siblings in rural and urban Indonesia manage caregiving and roles during the transition of adolescents with deaf-blindness from school to family. Methods Using a participatory Photovoice approach, eight siblings (aged 15–25) documented their daily realities through photographs, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions over a 12-week period. Data were thematically analyzed. Results Six themes emerged: invisible care work, emotional strain, rural–urban divides, social relationships and stigma, temporal transitions, and bridging advocacy. Urban siblings reported tension between education, employment, and caregiving, whereas rural siblings encountered stigma and limited services, but experienced stronger kinship support. Across various contexts, siblings often act as hidden caregivers and advocates, yet their contributions remain undervalued. Conclusions Supporting siblings requires addressing the intersecting dynamics of geographic area, culture, and disability care. Social work professionals must recognize both their challenges and their resilience, which helps them balance caregiving and personal development in the transition phase. Longitudinal research is needed to capture evolving sibling roles across the deafblind transition landscape.</ns7:p>