Sibshops provide young brothers and sisters peer support and information in a lively, recreational setting.

Saturday November 17, 10am-2pm

Pathway Enterprises, 1600 Sky Park Drive, Suite 105, Medford OR

Have Questions or need to RSVP: [email protected], 541-261-8357

For the adults who run them and for the agencies that sponsor them, Sibshops are evidence of their loving concern for the family member who will have the longest-lasting relationship with a person who experiences a disability.  

However, for the kids who attend them, Sibshops are lively, pedal-to-the-metal events where they will:

• Meet other sibs (usually for the first time);
• Have fun;
• Talk about the good and not-so-good parts of having a sib who experiences disability with others who “get it”;
• Play some great games;
• Learn how other brother and sisters handle sticky situations sometimes faced by brothers and sisters;
• Laugh;
• Learn about the services their brothers and sister receive; and
• Have some more fun!

The Sibshop curriculum is used throughout the United States and Canada and in Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, Iceland, Ireland, England, Italy, and Turkey.

Are Sibshops a form of therapy?  Sibshops may be “therapeutic” for kids to attend, but they’re not therapy.  The Sibshop model takes a wellness perspective.  They’re a celebration of the many lifelong contributions made by brothers and sisters of people with special health and developmental needs.

Who attends Sibshops?  Sibs, of course!  Most Sibshops are for sibs of kids with developmental concerns.  Increasingly, Sibshops are being offered for brothers and sisters of kids with health concerns (often at children’s hospitals) and we’re beginning to see Sibshops emerge for sibs of kids with mental health concerns.  While Sibshops were developed for sibs in the 8-13 year-old age range, Sibshops (depending on the community) are being offered for sibs as young as six and for teens as well.

Who sponsors Sibshops?   A wide range of agencies sponsor Sibshops: early intervention centers, school districts, children’s hospitals, chapters of the Arc, Easter Seals programs, autism societies, Down syndrome groups, developmental disabilities councils, Jewish community centers, churches, parks and recreation programs, etc.  Often, local agencies work with other like-minded agencies to cosponsor one Sibshop for all the brothers and sisters in a given community.

Who facilitates Sibshops?  We like to have both family members and service providers as a part of the Sibshop leadership.  Parents are often the driving force in getting a Sibshop started, but they are not usually the best people to run the Sibshops their own children attend.  Still, there is plenty of behind-the-scenes work for parents to do to support a Sibshop effort.  We very much like having adult sibs as Sibshop facilitators–and adult sibs tell us that they get much out of running the program.  The facilitator who is a service provider will know about the special needs represented in the group and about services available in the community.  Regardless of whether the facilitator is a family member or service provider, we seek certain qualities in a good Sibshop facilitator.  We want them to truly enjoy the company of kids and have had experience working with kids; to be especially good listeners; and to have the ability to convey a sense of joy, wonder, and fun.