The Sibling Project

The Sibling Project at the Utah Parent Center was built to support Siblings of People with Disabilities throughout their lives. Our project provides information to parents, and adults who are transitioning into the role of caregiver. We also provide free support groups (Sibshops) for school-age siblings of people with disabilities across the state

Sibshops are a fun, game-based support group for Siblings of People with Disabilities to connect with one another, make friends, express their feelings, and have FUN!

Sibshops is an official support group curriculum created by Don Meyer in 1982. Meyer’s Sibshops have brought siblings together for decades through his unapologetically fun approach to support groups.

The Sibling Project at the Utah Parent Center partnered with the LEFA Collective, a local guided journal business, founded by a sibling!

This journal features dozens of prompts for siblings of all ages to reflect on their past, present, and future; their emotions; their wants and needs; and have a space that allows them to take the support Sibshops provides, to their home! It can be used as a guided journal, or as an everyday journal, featuring daily pages!

Physical copies of the journal are coming! They will be free, while supplies last.

Meeting the needs of multiple children is never easy. It can be especially difficult if one (or more) of your children has special healthcare needs.

Siblings of people with disabilities face challenges every day that shape them into who they are; often being more patient, resilient, and accepting of those around them. These are referred to as Unique Opportunities and are defined as areas of a Sibling’s life and their characteristics that are unique only to them.

Siblings also face Unique Experiences, which are defined as experiences that only Siblings face. These experiences are often identified as resentment, guilt, and trauma associated with their brother or sister’s care.

If a parent doesn’t understand the reasons behind a Sibling’s emotions or behaviors, it can be difficult to navigate situations. Below are resources for parents!

Tips for Debriefing & My Feelings Chart

-This handout is intended to be used as a guide when the household is in distress. Use the tips on the front of the handout to use after an emotional outburst in the family, and let your typically developing child use the feelings chart to identify their needs.

PACER Center – Equal Parenting

Sibling Leadership Network – Resources for Parents and Other Family Members

“Siblings of children with disabilities have a compelling need for information about the condition of their brother or sister with a disability and its implications.” – Sibshops, Workshops for siblings of Children With Support Needs – Third Edition.

The need for information throughout a Sibling’s life evolves as they get older.

Sibling Leadership Network – Sibling Needs Across the Life Course

Sibling Information Needs