Siblings of children with disabilities play important roles in their families, and often experience similar concerns and opportunities as parents. This interactive session will present some common issues that siblings experience and share a handful of simple, practical strategies for parents, teachers, and other professionals to help minimize sibling concerns and maximize opportunities to build close bonds between siblings.
Emily Holl is the Director of The Sibling Support Project, the first national program dedicated to supporting siblings of people with support needs. Emily is a sibling and social worker who has written about her experiences in blogs, magazines and books such as “Thicker than Water.” She was a co-editor of “The Sibling Survival Guide: Indispensable Information for Adult Brothers and Sisters of People with Disabilities.” Emily earned a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, a MFA from Columbia University, and a MSW from Hunter College at the City University of New York.
Age Group Addressed:
All age groups
Audience:
All
Core Competency Area:
Families and Community Partnerships
Skill Level:
Fundamental
Presentation Outcomes:
This presentation will empower participants to understand diverse sibling experiences and learn practical, everyday strategies for supporting siblings in small ways that have a big impact.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the experiences and themes commonly encountered by young siblings of children with developmental and health concerns.
Explore how cultural considerations may impact a sibling’s experience of disability in the family and access to support.
Describe at least five strategies that parents, teachers, and professionals may utilize to acknowledge young siblings and address their concerns.
Explain how supporting siblings strengthens the entire family.
Expertise
Knowledge of family systems theory may be helpful but is by no means necessary. Personal and/or professional experience with siblings will lend to a rich experience of this session.
