Challenges of Siblings

(Part 3 of 3)

How the Church Ministry Can Help Siblings
of Special-Needs Kids

Would you like to minister to the siblings of a special-needs family but don’t know where to start? The Internet has plenty of great resources for help in researching and shaping an outreach ministry at your church that’s tailored to their needs. Here are a few:

 

Sibling Support in the United States

Sibshops is the most significant organization for supporting special-needs siblings. This international sibling support organization desires to increase the number of programs and helps to special-needs siblings, to make others aware of  sibling needs and to provide specific information for local programs and parent groups. This is an invaluable resource for church ministries. Find it online at http://www.siblingsupport.org 

Disability Scoop was developed by professional journalists who saw the need for a central, reliable source of information within the special-needs community. And as the sister of an adult with autism, Michelle Diament, cofounder of Disability Scoop, knows firsthand the issues that families, caregivers, and people with disabilities face every day. At Disability Scoop, www.disabilityscoop.com, you will find articles gathered from across the Web as well as original content.

Across the United States, chapters of The Arc work tirelessly on behalf of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Committed to families’ concerns, The Arc can provide you with support and information on how to help siblings of special-needs children lead a dignified life. The Arc can also connect you with excellent programs such as Sibling Support network, SibNet, Sibling Support Project, and the Sibshops group. Connect with these at http://www.thearc.org/siblingsupport 

New Horizon Kids Quest is another fantastic organization designed to help siblings and families. Located at New Horizon Kids Quest, 16355 36th Avenue North, Suite #700, Plymouth, Minnesota 55446 1-800-941-1007 or 763-557-1111, they offer programming, personal training, legal expertise, and much more.

Family Village: An international community directed as a Disability-Related Resource, this organization offers a comprehensive Web site (www.familyvillage.wisc.edu) that “integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support.”

The Sibling Connection targets siblings who have experienced the death of a brother or sister. Find them online at http://www.counselingstlouis.net 

Band-Aides and Blackboards offers empathy and advice for kids who have medical problems—and for their siblings. Visit http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides 

 

Sibling Support Efforts outside the United States

• Sibsupport.nz—New Zealand
• Siblings Australia, Inc. (www.siblingsaustralia.org.au)
• Sibs—United Kingdom (www.sibs.org.uk)
• Yasuko Arima’s Web page about sibling support in Japan
• Italian Sibling Group (www.siblings.it)

Comments

[Jolene Philo]

Dear Colleen,

Thank you so much for this wonderful blog and for addressing the needs of siblings. I am adding your link to the resource page of my blog for parents of kids with special needs.

After our son was born in 1982 with a life-threatening birth defect that required years of corrective surgeries and procedures, I couldn't find any resource to bolster my faith during that difficult time. Finally, God provided the opportunity to write and publish a book for other parents. By God's grace "A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically or Chronically Ill Children" was released by Discovery House Publishers (DHP) in September of 2009. The first chapter is available for download at DifferentDream.com, or you can take a peek inside the book on Amazon.

Currently, I am writing a second book for DHP, "Different Dream Parenting: Raising a Child with Special Needs."

If you or your readers are interested in contributing expertise for the new book, please contact me via DifferentDream.com or email.

Blessings to you,
Jolene

[Colleen Thompson]

Excellent, Jolene. I'm so delighted for you. I do plan to read the chapter-personal publications press in close to my heart. Thanks so much for sending a note and adding this to your encouragement entities.
Have a very encouraging day today.
Blessings,
Colleen

[Colleen Thompson]

Ooops, BTW, do you have other recomendations for Sib stuff from your research? I would greatly appreciate receiving suggestions; all believe all of us are looking for great tips! It will encourage so may of us all.
Thanks

[Yasuko Arima]

Dear Colleen,

I happend to find out you linked my website. Thank you so much. I feel honored. I have to update English pages!

A sib, Yasuko Arima