Siblings of People with Disabilities:

The Next Generation of SupportersPat Carver

TODAYAt 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 VotingNational Forum on

Disability IssuesSABE and SLN

◦Voter Registration◦SABE 2012 Elections

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

Key Legislative PoliciesThe 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 SLNPartnerships:

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 internetSibParent: a listserv where parents of kids with

disabilities can talk about their “other” kidsSibNet: 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 siblingsLearn about the sibling relationshipEngage siblings early in the conversationSeek out sibling inputIdentify sibling support programsFocus on the family as whole in service

planning

Why should siblings get involved?Siblings as

advocatesSiblings enhancing

self-determinationSiblings as

professionals

SIGN-IN SHEEThttp://

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

TRUE COLORS