Sibshops: Where Super Siblings Shine

I first discovered Sibshops in 2003. My son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and I was pouring my time and energy into meeting his needs. I was excited to learn about this specific support for my daughter as a sibling. Sibshops are events for typically developing siblings of children with developmental disabilities or complex needs. I recently met with Alaina Kube and Jenny Sommer of The Arc of Snohomish County to learn more about this important program.

The first Sibshop was launched at University of Washington in 1982 by Don Meyer who later founded the Sibling Support Project in 1990. The Arc of Snohomish County began offering Sibshops in 1988. All Sibshop facilitators were personally trained by Meyer until his retirement in 2018. New director Emily Holl now directly trains all facilitators. Before Covid, anyone who wanted to facilitate a Sibshop had to be trained in person. Sibshops grew and expanded during the pandemic because training had to be moved online. People all over the world could access the training virtually and start their own Sibshops. Today there are 550 chapters in twenty countries.

So why do Sibshops matter? Quite simply, siblings have the longest-lasting relationship with a person with a disability, often becoming their sibling’s caretaker or legal guardian. Sibshops seeks to keep that relationship positive by giving siblings a safe space to explore and express their feelings about the good, not-so-good, and everything in between of their unique home situation. This is essential, as most siblings do not share with others because it feels disloyal or friends respond negatively or cannot relate, so they carry this responsibility alone and try to pretend like everything is fine, although they may be masking, living in survival mode and crisis.

Sibshops provide opportunities for them to connect with peers who have similar experiences while enjoying fun, interactive recreational activities that build confidence and celebrate them! Every Sibshop feels like a birthday party for each child attending! There are games, crafts, food and unique adventures like high ropes courses and rock-climbing walls. Whether the goal is to conquer a fear or create a work of art, after every event, participants leave with a tangible takeaway or a sense of accomplishment, and the knowledge that they are not alone. With loneliness and isolation becoming an epidemic, this sense of community is critical.

The Arc of Snohomish County offers monthly Sibshops to three different age groups, 4-8, 8-13 and 13-17 as well as an annual family event, My Sib and Me. Teen and young adult siblings often volunteer at Sibshops, connecting with and encouraging the next generation of siblings. Sibshops are funded through grants from the Everett Clinic Foundation and Snohomish County Human Services/Developmental Disabilities as well as partnerships with community agencies and donations from families. Because of this generous support, Sibshops are kept affordable to all.

Scholarships are available upon request. To register for or volunteer at upcoming events visit The Arc of Snohomish County.

Arc of Snohomish County
www.arcsno.org
(425) 258-2459

Ginni is a wife, mom and educator who loves reading, Jeopardy, and escape rooms! She grew up in IL, but moved here after college and has called Everett home for over 22 years.