Siblings of People with Disabilities:

The Next Generation of SupportersPat Carver

TODAY

At this session, we will share current sibling research and national Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) efforts underway that advance self-determination with and for our brothers and sisters. We will also examine how to organize siblings in Virginia.

BackgroundSiblings have longest

relationshipAs parents age,

siblings provide more support

The sibling experience is varied and important

The Sibling Movement

Siblings have insights

Club sandwich generation

Support to families – “Family support”

Siblings need information

Research: What do we know about Sibling Relationships?

Research: What do we know about Future Planning?

Siblings Rule PSAs: Supporting the Employment

of Your Brother or Sister with a disability

Future Planning Resources

www.rrtcadd.org www.lookiris.com

Resource: Adult Sibling Experience

Essay collection, thirty-nine adult siblings (ages 20 to 70) reflect on how their lives have been indelibly shaped by their relationship with a brother or sister with special needs

www.siblingleadership.org Mission: To provide siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Pc1CUf2DgOQ

State Chapters

also… New Hampshire and Utah

Background: Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)

Founded in 1990SABE BOD Member on

SLN Board of DirectorsModel for SLN Eric McVay SABE

Representative SLN

2012 Elections and Voting

National Forum on Disability Issues

SABE and SLN

◦Voter Registration◦SABE 2012 Elections

Educated network about how siblings can support their brothers/sisters to vote

Key Legislative Policies

The Family Medical Inclusion Leave Act (FMILA)

The Lifespan Respite Care Act The Achieving a Better Life Experience

(ABLE) Act The Convention on the Rights of Persons

with Disabilities (CRPD)

Key Collaborations of the SLN

Partnerships:

Grants

MI SIBS activities

www.siblingsupport.orgSibshops: gatherings for sibs to obtain peer

support and education within a recreational setting

SibKids: young siblings connect over the internet

SibParent: a listserv where parents of kids with disabilities can talk about their “other” kids

SibNet: Listserv for adult siblings

website: www.misibs.org www.Facebook.com/MISIBS

Sibling Story

Why SIBS in VIRGINIA?Connect siblingsProvide information &

resources Promote advocacyDevelop sibling leadershipHonor & celebrate the

sibling relationship

Engage adult siblings

Learn about the sibling relationship

Engage siblings early in the conversation

Seek out sibling input

Identify sibling support programs

Focus on the family as whole in service planning

Why should siblings get involved?

Siblings as advocates

Siblings enhancing self-determination

Siblings as professionals

SIGN-IN SHEET

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

TRUE COLORS