My Sib

“We’re pleased to announce the second annual Sibs in the City for adults who have siblings with disabilities.

This unique event is organized for siblings and their guests from Illinois and Wisconsin by SIBS (Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters) and FVSSN (Fox Valley Sibling Support Network). We’re excited that siblings from Michigan will be joining us this year.”

When:
Saturday July 21, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM CDT

Read the details here…

Dear all –

Last week, I was on a whirlwind trip to the east coast for workshops on sibling issues and Sibshop trainings. Here are a few highlights from my trip:

• In DC, I presented at the United Cerebral Palsy national conference at the invitation of UCP staff person and sister Allyson Dohrety.  Allyson has been championing sibling issues at UCP and they are undertaking a major national sibling initiative.  UCP, like ARC national and Easter Seals national, are increasingly appreciating the roles that brothers and sisters play in the lives of people who have disabilities!  Allyson and I hope to work together in the days to come.

• In NYC, on the upper west side of Manhattan, I did a Sibshop training in a 100 year old synagogue.  This was the second training in two years sponsored by OHEL, a social service agency serving people with disabilities and their families from the orthodox community.  Sibshops have become hugely popular with OHEL and the families they serve, largely because of Batsheva Gutwirth’s passion and hard work.  If you’d like to see what kind of impact Batsheva’s Sibshops are having on the kids she serves, see these comments by on Sibshop participant: http://tinyurl.com/bogruxq

• I also presented at YAI in Manhattan at their big and impressive annual conference.  My presentation was proceeded by a sibling panel moderated by the wonderful Emily Holl.  Emily works for YAI and wrote eloquently about her brother Peter in Thicker than Water.  The day of sibling workshops was followed by YAI’s annual Sibling Dinner.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend as I had to hop a train to Philadelphia.

• In Philly, I did my second Sibshop training in less than a week at the Kinney Center for Autism at St. Joseph’s University. Besides students and staff from St. Joe’s, we were joined by trainees from PA, FL, MD, NH, MO, other states I can’t remember, and Hawaii and Ireland.  Theresa Gill and her Kinney Center colleagues did a wonderful job coordinating the event.

I am home for a bit before I take off again at the end of the month for a Sibshop training in Guam.  Where’s Guam you might ask?  Well, the closest major land mass appears to the be the Philippines and the shortest way to get to Guam is to fly to Japan and fly back.  Guam, as you may know, is a US territory and the home to several US military bases.  I doubt that you will wish to travel to Guam for the training but if you do, please let me know and I will ask the organizers if you can attend!

Regarding upcoming trainings, there will very likely be a Sibshop training near Milwaukee in late August and another training in the Boston area in late October.  I am ironing out details with the host agencies.  Stay tuned!  

Finally, if you’d like to explore arranging a Sibshop training in your community, drop me a line at donmeyer@siblingsupport.org  While there are costs involved, training hosts tell me that they’ve been able to cover them with registration fees.  

Best, as always,

Don

Don Meyer
Director, Sibling Support Project
A Kindering Center program
6512 23rd Ave NW, #322
Seattle, WA 98117 USA
            206-297-6368      
donmeyer@siblingsupport.org
Sibling Support Project Website

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New! SibTeen!

Our brothers, our sisters, ourselves

Ranging in age from 2 to 27, they are his playmates, his protectors, his teachers and his advocates.

They taught him to talk, but they speak for him when he doesn’t have the words.

And they all dread the possible phone call bearing the news that something awful has happened to him.

Matt’s a middle child; he’s 16, and he has autism.

Read the rest here…

Saturday, May 12, 2012
11am-3pm
Hoover Public Library
200 Municipal Drive
Hoover, Alabama 35216
www.hooverlibrary.org

• Do you wonder what will happen to your sibling when your parent(s) die or are too feeble to care for them?Do you have concerns about a Guardianship or Power of Attorney?
  • Where will they live?
  • Who will provide their care?
  • How will their care be paid for?
• Do you know about Special Needs Trusts – Designed to protect their government benefits?
• Are your future plans for your sibling the same as your parents and/or other siblings?

Join us for this very informative meeting! You will not want to miss this opportunity to meet other siblings of individuals with disabilities who, no doubt, are just as excited to meet you! Together we can explore, learn, share, and discuss the differences and similarities of our siblings and ourselves . . . . and most importantly, our future plans!

Contact information 
Karen Driver, LGSW, The Arc of Shelby County,
203 Amphitheater Road,
Pelham, Alabama 35124
(205) 664-9313-Ext 1109
kdriver@thearcofshelby.org

AL-ASIBS is an affiliate of the national Sibling Leadership Network

A special THANK YOU to The Arc of Shelby County for sponsoring this event!

Find out more here…

“I do not have [the insurance] because at the time it was offered [through my company], I could not afford it and take care of my mother at the same time,” said Hunter, a member of one of three families being profiled by NPR in a series called Family Matters: The Money Squeeze.

“I think it was close to $400 a month,” Hunter said. “That’s a lot of money when you are caring for somebody else.”

Read the rest here…

Christine feels a wide range of emotions that are hard to describe. She is disappointed in her siblings and feels like the burden of caring for their mother is squarely on her shoulders. Moreover, it is increasingly difficult to balance parenting and work in addition to care for their aging mother. She wants to avoid any negative or counterproductive behavior that might further cause pain in her family.”

Read the rest here…

While one sibling may be appointed as the primary caregiver for an aging parent, it is vital that the other siblings support caregiving efforts and participate in the overall process. This support will promote emotional and physical well-being for all involved caregivers.  However, gaining the support of siblings can be one of the most challenging aspects of bringing together an efficient caregiving team. Below we outline four tips to help unify your siblings in providing the best possible care for elderly parents…”

Read the rest here…

This report emerged from group of diverse national and state disability leaders who met at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin, in January 2011. The conference goal was to develop public policies and other strategies at the state and federal level for building an infrastructure for supporting families of people with developmental and other disabilities…

Read the report here…