Helping to Facilitate the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Community Settings
The
Community Connections Communicator
June 2006
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 or 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.
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Tip Sheets: |
| Tips and Strategies
to Support Siblings This tip sheet has great information to assist siblings themselves in creating wonderful relationships with their brother or sister who has a disability. To view the full tip sheet, click on the following link: http://www.uwsp.edu/education/pshaw/Portfolios/Heather Dorn/Brochures/siblings.pdf |
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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 |
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| 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 |
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Spotlights of the Month: |
| Sib shops: | |
| The Arc of Montgomery
County 301-984-5792 ext 280 |
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Sibshops
of Maryland |
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| The Arc of Howard
County 410-730-0638 |
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| Book Resources: | |
| Riding the
Bus with My Sister http://mentalhelp.net/books/books.php?type=de&id=2074 |
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| 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 |
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| Upcoming Event: | |
| It's A Family
Affair: A Great Time For the Whole Family:June 4, 2005 For additional information or to learn how to become and exhibitor or sponsor contact www.acshoco.org or (410) 313-1940. |
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Recommended Websites: |
| The SibKids
Listserv http://www.thearc.org/siblingsupport/sibkids-listserv |
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| Siblings Resources http://disabilitydirectory.lovebyrd.com/Family_Resources/Siblings/Siblings.html |
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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 Sheets
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
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© 2004 University of Maryland. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated on
December 20, 2006
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