Sibshops Offer Help, Hope to Siblings of Children with Special Needs

An 8th-grade girl whose younger brother has autism is worried about him being bullied when she’s not around.

A 4th-grade boy wakes up wondering which side of his older sister will emerge that day: the thoughtful, funny one or the one prone to violent outbursts.

And the tween whose brother has Down’s syndrome feels like she doesn’t have anyone to talk to about the challenges—and the unique joys—brought on by his development disability.

These hypothetical examples illustrate the unique issues encountered by siblings of children with special needs, which can include physical and developmental disabilities as well as emotional and mental health challenges.

In response, River Forest Township and a pair of local agencies—Thrive Counseling Center and NAMI-Metro Suburban, are launching “Sibshops” on April 23rd. The program is geared toward 4th- to 8th-grade brothers and sisters of those with disabilities or emotional/mental health challenges.

The 90-minute sessions, to be held at the River Forest Community Center, 8020 Madison, engage children in activities aimed at generating discussion and sharing ideas while also having fun. Running the meetings are trained Sibshops leaders who have a professional and, in some cases, a personal understanding of the impact that a child’s special needs can have on siblings.

Among other goals, Sibshops celebrates the many contributions that these siblings make in the lives of their families, said River Forest Township Supervisor Carla Sloan.

“For anyone, being a sibling comes with any number of ups and downs, but it can be especially hard when your brother or sister has physical, mental or emotional difficulties,” said Sloan. “Based on the success of Sibshops elsewhere, we know that these kids can really be a great source of support and encouragement for one another. They ‘get’ one another in a way that others simply cannot.”

The Township has alerted a variety of individuals and organizations about the program, through the Village of River Forest’s e-newsletter, as well as local school districts, parochial schools in River Forest, social workers, pediatricians, child psychologists and psychiatrists, and FRED, a parent group of children with mental illness and disabilities.

Participants have their choice of either Thursdays after school or Saturday afternoons, on the following dates: Thursdays, April 23, May 7, and June 11, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturdays, April 25, May 16, and June 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. A fall session is also planned.

Organizers emphasize that confidentiality is respected. In addition, while Sibshops are focused on serving River Forest children, they are open to children from Oak Park and other communities.

Participants are encouraged to enroll in one of the three-date tracks to gain the most benefit from their experience. The cost is $7 per session, or $20 for all three sessions, and need-based scholarships are also available.

Advance registration is required. To learn more, to register or to indicate interest, even if the dates do not work for you, please contact River Forest Township at supervisor@riverforesttownship.org or 708-366-2029.

River Forest Township has its headquarters at 8020 Madison and is online at www.RiverForestTownship.org. To learn more about Sibshops, visit YouTube.com and type “Sibshops” in the search bar.