My oldest son is in spec ed. My youngest sometimes mimics his brother's behavior, but all in all, they are very close. My little guy just started pre-school, and he loves it. We put a lot of time into both our children's education, but often it takes more effort w/ my older son. So far, we don't see a negative effect on our younger son. In fact, he seems to pick up on things a lot quicker than my oldest does, so sometimes there's a bit of competition between them. Other than that, they are very loving boys, each w/ their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. They play together well, they fight, they cuddle, they get in trouble...all the things that normal little boys do. We try our best to normalize their lives as much as possible, despite my older son's disability. I hope this gives you more insight into our family. Best of luck to you w/ your class.