Community Connections: April 2005 Newsletter

The Community Connections Communicator April 2005

In this Issue:

The theme of this month’s issue is Growing Up Together – Including, Empowering and Nurturing Siblings of Children with Disabilities. Siblings of children with disabilities are a part of a unique family. They have opportunities to view the world with a more compassionate and respectful attitude because of their experiences with their sister or brother who has a disability. However, some feel confused, left out and fearful because of their sibling’s disability. Today’s newsletter will help families, teachers and community leaders include, empower and nurture these siblings. You will also find information geared toward the siblings themselves. They will learn how to reflect on their own feelings and enhance the bond between themselves and their brothers/sisters. Take a look at the abundance of resources to help sisters and brothers of children with disabilities enhance their wonderful relationships while growing up together.

	Tip Sheet: Tips and Strategies to Support Siblings
	This tip sheet has great information to assist families, educators and community leaders in supporting siblings of children with disabilities. To view the full tip sheet, click on the following link: http://www.mntafs.com/pdf/siblings.pdf...
	Articles:
	Siblings of Children with Special Health and Developmental Needs: Programs, Services and Considerations Check out this article published by the ARCH National Resource Center for Crisis Nurseries and Respite Care Services, which provides an extensive overview of the needs of siblings of children with disabilities. You will also find ways to create programs and enhance relationships. To view the entire article, click on the link below: http://www.archrespite.org/archfs23.htm
	Children with Disabilities: Understanding Sibling Issues This article will help families understand the issues relating to siblings of children with disabilities. It also gives suggestions on how to strengthen their relationships. The link will provide the full article: http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/disabsibling.html
	Spotlights of the Month:
	Sib shops:
		The Arc of Montgomery County 301-984-5792 ext 280
		Sibshops of Maryland 1-800-999-9442 x5169
		The Arc of Howard County 410-730-0638
	Two books:
		Riding the Bus with My Sister http://mentalhelp.net/books/books.php?type=de&id=2074
		The Sibling Slam Book: What It’s Really Like to Have a Brother or Sister with Special Needs http://www.woodbinehouse.com/synopsis.asp_Q_product_id_E_1-890627-52-6_A_.asp
	Upcoming Event: June 4, 2005
	It’s A Family Affair: A Great Time For the Whole Family For additional information or to learn how to become and exhibitor or sponsor contact www.acshoco.org or (410) 313-1940.
	Recommended Websites:
	The SibKids Listserv http://www.thearc.org/siblingsupport/sibkids-listserv
	Siblings Resources http://disabilitydirectory.lovebyrd.com/Family_Resources/Siblings/Siblings.html
	Spotlight a Welcoming Business:
	Community Connections would like to “Spotlight” businesses who are welcoming to children with disabilities and their families. If you would like to spotlight a business, please click on this link and we will post it free of charge on our website. Thank you.

Tip Sheet: Tips and Strategies to Support Siblings

This tip sheet has an abundance of information to help parents, educators and community leaders with siblings of children with disabilities. Provided by the Minnesota Technical Assistance for Family Support project, it gives great ideas on how to share information, keep the lines of communication open, limit care giving and provide time and attention to the sibling. You will also find helpful information to deal with stressful situations and inappropriate behavior. To assist professionals, this article provides tips in the areas of developing group opportunities, providing one to one support, and gathering information to assist the sibling. There is also a list of red flags provided to help you notice if the sibling is experiencing some difficulties relating to their brother or sister with disabilities. Further you will find an abundance of related books and websites on this topic. To check out the full tip sheet, please click on the link below: http://www.mntafs.com/pdf/siblings.pdf...

Articles:

Siblings of Children with Special Health and Developmental Needs: Programs, Services and Considerations

This article is great for families, community programs and teachers. Are you interested in finding out the concerns of siblings of children with disabilities? Would you like your organization to start programs geared towards nurturing and empowering them? If so, the article Siblings of Children with Special Health and Developmental Needs: Programs, Services and Considerations, is essential in your venture. Provided by the ARCH National Resource Center for Crisis Nurseries and Respite Care Services this article gives a background and an extensive overview regarding siblings of children with disabilities and their concerns of feeling loss, having pressure placed on them, and needing information. The authors also discuss ways siblings of children with disabilities can meet and talk with other siblings like them. Starting support groups, having play dates, and holding workshops are suggestions detailed in this article to help siblings on their unique journey. An example of a workshop schedule and ideas are also included. You will also find an extensive checklist for agencies considering how to include siblings of children with disabilities. The article also provides numerous resources such as books, websites and research references. To view the article in full, click on the following link:
http://www.archrespite.org/archfs23.htm

Children with Disabilities: Understanding Sibling Issues

Enhancing sibling relationships requires effort for parents of all children. Siblings argue, compete, and sometimes even fight. In raising children with disabilities, families face these same types of issues and sometimes more. In the article Children with Disabilities: Understanding Sibling Issues, families will find ways to help siblings strengthen their bonds. The authors discuss sibling reactions to their brother’s or sister’s disability. They also talk about the type of stress families may encounter. Further they mention why it’s important to share information with the sibling regarding their brother’s or sister’s needs. Planning for the future is also discussed. Two wonderful stories written by siblings regarding their experiences are included. You will also find resources for families to help in this sibling’s unique journey. To view the article provided by the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities in full, click on the following link:
http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/disabsibling.html

Spotlights of the Month!

Sib Shops are groups geared toward bringing siblings of children with disabilities together in a forum to help them discuss their joys, concerns, and fears. For further information on meeting dates please contact the following organizations:

The Arc of Montgomery County
1600 Nebel Street
Rockville, MD 20852
Joy Stein: 301-984-5792 ext 280

Sibshops of Maryland
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
1708 West Rogers Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209
Addison Beck: 1-800-999-9442 x5169
AddiBeck@aol.com

The Arc of Howard County
11735 Homewood Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-730-0638

Two additional spotlights this month are two books, which look at the concerns and joys of having a sibling with a disability. The books are Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon and The Sibling Slam Book: What It’s Really Like to Have a Brother or Sister with Special Needs by Donald J. Meyer. You can view a description of the books at the following links.

Riding the Bus with My Sister
http://mentalhelp.net/books/books.php?type=de&id=2074

The Sibling Slam Book: What It’s Really Like to Have a Brother or Sister with Special Needs
http://www.woodbinehouse.com/synopsis.asp_Q_product_id_E_1-890627-52-6_A_.asp

UPCOMING EVENT: JUNE 4, 2005

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR: A GREAT TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

With fun, food, exhibits, entertainment, demonstrations and more It’s a Family Affair June 4 at Oakland Mills High School is going to be a day to remember in Howard County. Starting at 10:00 a.m. and going until 3:00 p.m., visitors will enjoy a variety of activities indoors and out including WQXR’s Fast Jimi Roberts, (12-2 pm), Story Times, (English & Spanish), Kangaroo Kids, Wheel Chair Basketball, “Scales & Tails,” and a Moon Bounce. In addition, exhibitors from around the area will be on hand to talk about their programs, services and products. Musical entertainment will include the Bruce McCurdy’s Blue Grass Band, Cradlerock MS Band and the Cradlerock Jazz Band. Best of all the day is FREE.

During the day It’s a Family Affair will include a special emphasis on family safety, with a Child Safety Seat Inspection, Police Department Bicycle Safety, a K-9 Demo, Fire Department Safe House, and Krav Maga Family Self Defense. There will also be a Red Cross Blood Drive, and a flag disposal opportunity for those who have an old flag they wish to dispose of properly. In addition to a number of fun food vendors, the day will feature a bake sale to benefit the Cold Weather Shelter.

It’s a Family Affair is presented by the Association of Community Services of Howard County, the Local Children’s’ Board of Howard County, Howard County Department of Citizens Services, Howard County Recreation and Parks the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County. Sponsors include the Business Monthly, Comcast, Maryland Family Magazine, Athelas Institute, the Columbia Foundation, the Howard County Health Department, the Howard County Library, ARC of Human Services, and the Howard County Department of Social Services. For additional information or to learn how to become an exhibitor or sponsor contact www.acshoco.org or (410) 313-1940.

Recommended Websites

The SibKids Listserv
This listserv is for young brothers and sisters of people with special health concerns and developmental/emotional disabilities. Click on the following link to talk about special family needs, music, friends, school and everything that children love to talk about.
http://www.thearc.org/siblingsupport/sibkids-listserv

Siblings Resources
For an abundance of sibling resources, click on the following link.
http://disabilitydirectory.lovebyrd.com/Family_Resources/Siblings/Siblings.html

We currently offer training and technical consultation to businesses, churches, and other community organizations to help make them more welcoming to families and children with special needs. If you know of a business or other organization that would like to take advantage of these services, please e-mail us at: communityconnections@umd.edu
OR
If you know of a business that is already welcoming to children with special needs and their families and you would like to share this information with other families and professionals, please send us your name as well as the name and contact information for the business with a brief description of why you believe they are welcoming to families. If appropriate, we will post the business on our website and we may even feature it as a 'Spotlight if the Month'. E-mail your submissions to: communityconnections@umd.edu

*Questions or Suggestions about our newsletter? Have an idea you would like to submit? Please feel free to contact us at communityconnections@umd.edu

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Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, all referenced articles are available at no charge to you. Community Connections provides this for informational purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by linked sites. The opinions and views expressed at these web sites do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Community Connections. Any personal information requested by any of the web sites will be governed by the privacy policy at the site, and any questions you have related to the sites' use of information should be directed there. The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to make any offer or commitment to purchase, subscribe to, provide or sell any service or product or to provide any recommendations on which readers should rely.

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Helping to Facilitate the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Community Settings