Sibshops: workshops for siblings of children with special needs

What are Sibshops?|Unusual concerns|Information needs of siblings|Unusual opportunities|Getting started|Putting it all together|Introductory and trickle-in activities|Sibshop discussion and peer support activities|Sibshop recreational and food activities|Information activates, guest speakers, and special events|Workshops on sibling issues for parents and service providers|APPENDICES|A - The Sibshop standards of practice|B - Books for young readers on sibling and disability issues|C - A brief description of the Sibshop model|D - What siblings would like parents and service providers to know|E - Sample Sibshop registration form|F - Dear Aunt Blabby letters

"Sibshops offers a model intervention for sibling support, learning and fun. The book is prescriptive yet leaves plenty of room for leader and member creativity. The Sibshops model recognizes and reinforces a strength-based approach. It also promotes relationship building between sibs through a variety of games and activities. Sibshops are all about giving siblings some lifelong tools... The Sibshops book is also committed to offering a wide array of resources and references for parents, professionals and sibs themselves. If parents can have support, information and advocacy networks, then why can't children?" - PREFACE

Sibshop programs provide opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with special needs to obtain peer support and education within a highly recreational context.
The avowed goals of the authors are to give the “rationale, tools, inspiration, permission and encouragement to make community-based programs for siblings available, to increase the reader’s understanding of specific issues experienced by brothers and sisters of individuals with special needs, to provide specific information for local agencies and parent groups to create programs” for these siblings.
The enormously popular Sibshop model has been used in more than 200 communities in eight countries, and the long-awaited revision of this exemplary guide makes it easier than ever to create and run successful, cost-effective sibling support group programs.
The second part of the book is devoted to the Sibshop model and presents activities that can be adapted for different disabilities and illnesses as well as for different ages.
The final appendix contains one collection of letters to Dear Aunt Blabby from brothers and sisters of children who have developmental disabilities and a second collection from siblings of children who have cancer or other chronic illnesses. The authors recommend that “No matter which type of sibling group you are working with, be sure to read them all”