SIBS : A Sibshops Program

For the adults who plan them and the agencies that sponsor them, Sibshops are best described as opportunities for siblings of children with health, mental health, and developmental needs to obtain peer support and education within a recreational context. They can reflect an agency’s commitment to the well-being of the family member most likely to have the longest-lasting relationship with the person who has support needs.

However, for the young people who attend them and the energetic people who run them, Sibshops are best described as events. Sibshops are lively, pedal-to-the-metal celebrations of the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of kids with support needs. Sibshops acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with support needs is for some a good thing, for others a not-so-good thing, and for many something in between. They reflect a belief that siblings have much to offer one another - if they are given a chance. They Sibshop model intersperses information and discussion activities with games (designated to be unique, upbeat, and appealing to a wide ability range), cooking and craft activities, and special guests who may teach participants how to mime, how to juggle, or, in the case of one guest artist who has cerebral palsy, how to paint by holding a toothbrush in your mouth. Sibshops are as fun and rewarding for the people who host them as they are for the participants.

Sibshops seek to provide siblings with opportunities for peer support. Because Sibshops are designated (primarily) for school-age children, peer support is provided within a lively, recreational context that emphasizes a kids’-eye view. Sibshops are not therapy, group or otherwise, although their effect may be therapeutic for some children. Sibshops acknowledge that most brothers and sisters of people with support needs, like their parents, are doing well, despite the challenges posed by a family member’s illness or disability. Consequently, although Sibshop facilitators always keep an eye open for participants who may need additional services, the Sibshop model takes a wellness approach that encourages children to recognize and build on their skills, talents, and strengths.