All About Sibshops!Julia Chalker, Stacy Crowe, & Colleen Kugler

Frisco ISDTexas Transition Conference

February 2013

What are Sibshops?Sibshops are opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with disabilities or special health care needs to obtain peer support and education within a recreational context.

Model intervention for sibling support, learning, and fun!

Sibshop – How Does ThisRelate to Transition?

Provides siblings, and subsequently families, with support

Helps siblings deal with fear and uncertainty about the future

Helps better equip the person who might someday be caregiver and/or guardian of the person with special needs

Sibshops – The HistorySibling Support Project

Don Meyer, M.Ed., pioneer in sibling movement – forefront for more than 25 years

Kindering Center – parent organization – family-centered services

Sibshops are . . .Events - lively, pedal to the metal

celebrations

Place to acknowledge that being a brother or sister of a person with special needs can be a good thing, a not-so-good thing, and for many something in between!

Reflect a belief that sibs have much to offer one another -- opportunities for peer support

Sibshops are . . .Fun and rewarding for participants and

hosts

Lively, recreational context that emphasizes kids’-eye view

Not therapy, but effect may be therapeutic

Goals of SibshopOpportunity to meet other siblings

Discuss common joys and concerns

Learn how to handle different situations common to sibs

Goals of Sibshop

Learn more about implications of their siblings’ special needs

Provide professionals & parents an opportunity to learn more of siblings’ concerns

Unusual Concerns for Siblings

Overidentification

Embarrassment

Guilt

Shame

Unusual Concerns for Siblings

Isolation, Loneliness, and Loss

Resentment

Increased Responsibilities

Pressure to Achieve

Unique, Significant, and Often Unexpected Awards of Being a SibMaturitySocial CompetenceInsightTolerancePrideVocational OpportunitiesAdvocacyLoyalty

Who Attends Sibshops?Developed for 8-13 year old siblings of

children with developmental disabilitiesCan be adapted for younger or older age

groupsHas been adapted for brothers and

sisters of children with other special needs, including cancer and other health impairments, hearing loss, and mental health concerns.

Leaders/ParticipantsDesired leader-to-participant ratio 1:5

Leaders consist of trained facilitators and volunteers

Older sibs make great volunteers

Who Runs Sibshops?Service providers – Special Education teachers,

social workers, psychologists, therapists, etc.

Adult siblings

Anyone with knowledge of disabilities

Must have sense of humor and play

Must respect the siblings’ expertise

When are Sibshops offered?

Most common model – Saturday, 10-2

MonthlyQuarterlyWeeklyYearlySeries (like a class)Stand alone events

Sibshop Activities

Trickle in - while participants arriving

Introductory – participants get to know each other

Sibshop Activities

Recreation – promotes informal sharing and friendships among participants, can encourage them to return

Food – sharing and informal support occurs during snack

Sibshop Activities

Discussion/Peer Support – occurs throughout the workshop – allows siblings to discuss their lives with others who share similar experiences

Guest speakers – such as OT, PT, and others

Funding/SponsorsAny agency or group funding children with

special needs can sponsor a Sibshop – sometimes done collaboratively by more than one agency

Scholarships for training

Grants

Can charge small fee for attendance – can add “value”

Items to Consider

Training to be Sibshop Facilitator

Promotion of Sibshop

Evaluation of Sibshop

The Frisco Sibshop StoryPersonal experience Saw the needSought scholarship from NAA-NTWent to Sibshop trainingPartnered with school district/parent trainingWon grant to help pay expenses and start Sib

Library

My Sib VideoHow the video came about – R word video

Sibs hit all the pertinent issues without prompting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyOixKJJeXY

What the Research ShowsSibshops increase the chances that brothers

and sisters will elect to remain lovingly involved as adults (study showed that 75% said that Sibshops had an impact on their adult lives)

Gives siblings a chance to meet and learn from others who are helping siblings with disabilities as adults

Creates bonds of support and friendship for sibs that can last into adulthood

For more information:

Sibling Support Project information

Frisco ISD SibshopJulia Chalker, Transition Specialist,

chalkerj@friscoisd.orgStacy Crowe, Parent, slhcrowe@yahoo.comColleen Kugler, In-Home Parent Trainer,

kuglerc@friscoisd.org