Sibling Support Project

"The Sibling Support Project is a national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns." The S.S.P offers numerous recreational outlets for siblings of emotional disturbed, Sibshops is one of those resources. It is an convention and allows siblings with the common similarity of family life to get together and an share in a fun event.

I also found a book called "Thicker than Water" edited by Don Meyer which compiles Essays by Adult Siblings of People with Disabilities. The book reveals both the positive and negative aspects of growing up with someone who might have "received the lion's share of his parents' attention". Although I did not read all of this book, I read a few of the essays and found them very enlightening and touching. It is nice to read the "raw" emotions to relate to how the siblings felt growing up.

If you are interested in reading this book, I found it on Amazon.

http://www.siblingsupport.org/

Sibling and Parent Resources

After searching for "parent friendly" resources I came across a document created by Vanderbilt that outlined Siblings of Individuals with disabilities: Tips and Resources for Parents. It is set up in a way that parents can seek the question in which they are concerned and find the answers given by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center For Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The article discusses everything from discussing the disability with the typical developing child to the spacial needs of the family. What I liked most is it gives the reader ways in which the center may help.

The Kennedy center holds a SibsSaturdays where siblings who have a brother or sister with a disability with the opportunity to play games and meet friends with other siblings in the same situation. This is a great community resource.

http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/kennedy_files/SiblingsTipsandResourcesNov2010.pdf

Shifting from Siblings to Parents

I became interested in seeing how the Parents of children who are emotionally disturbed instead of focusing on the siblings. I came across a Clinical Care Update by Matthew K. Modrein, PH.D. and Judy Robinson, M.A., who provide assessment, treatment, and support to parents with a child who has a severe emotional disorder. In this study these parents face significant personal and family issues. The goal of this study to to expand the way professionals work with these families and create a better understanding of their struggles.

Also, bringing to light the ideal community resources needed to create and maintain a parent-professional partnership. Understanding the ways in which families cope with the demands on their lives offers the possibility of healing rather than labeling these children and their surroundings. Although this study is rather lengthy, it really brings awareness to the issues that these families face each and every day.

Study

A State's Way to Accomodate...

In my search for change and ways of accommodation for students who have emotional disabilities amongst their siblings, I found a research study that was preformed in North Carolina. State funded, they were looking for a way to make accommodations and create support systems for siblings of those who have been diagnosed with severe emotional disturbances (SED). This study researches the risks, resources, and accommodations among these siblings. The goal of their study was to create comprehensive service delivery models for children and families. The study observes nearly 700 children and their families across N.C.

The study concludes siblings of Children with SED find that they have experienced significant adversity (high stress) and the target children (child with SED) are generally poorer adjusted than the siblings, as expected.

 Study: Siblings of Children with SED

Emotional Disturbance Study (ages 9-17)

     A report published on the study of the Prevalence of Serious Emotional Disturbances of Children and Adolescents by Robert M Friedman, PH. D along with 3 other colleagues from the Florida Mental Health Institute discuss Public Law 102-321 from 1992 requiring the center for mental health to place a clear definition for "emotional disturbance". I found this article interesting as it combines multiple resources and studies conducted of teens and younger children across the U.S. and compile their findings for a comparable analysis. This study finds the estimated prevalence rate for emotional disturbances in children ages 9-17, is in the range of 9% to 13%, I was also surprised on their findings (based on socioeconomic status). The study also went on to discuss the needs of these children being met, or lack there of. The conclusion of the study suggests there are a large number of children who need Mental Health Services and how children with extreme disturbances are greatly under served. Even though my knowledge of E.D. is pretty slim, even in 1993 they suggest in order to improve the services and meet the needs of these children there needs to be collaborative from all agencies involved for the greater good of the child.

Link to Study

Providing Parent & Sibling Support

After reading my textbook, Parents and Families of Children with Disabilities, for class last week two chapters caught my attention. First, there was a chapter discussing how and in what ways to provide support for siblings of children with disabilities. As a future educator, I tried to come up with activities in which I could allow siblings to discuss the disability with the class where everyone would be involved. In order to create that community feel in the classroom, we must embrace our differences. By allowing student to do a presentation or a whole group activity on the rug where other students can ask questions and become familiar with the disability and what the sibling goes through would allow students to understand one another differences.

Not only providing siblings with support, the book discusses ways of providing parents with support as well. I thought it was interesting that one of the stress coping strategies would be to have the parent make of list of all the stressors in his or her life. After the parent has completed the list then one by one you go through and ask yourself is there anything I can do about it? What can I do now? and if there is nothing, discuss coping strategies with the parent. One coping strategy was to tense up core muscles and release.

All good strategies and important information to keep in mind when I get my future classroom.


http://www.amazon.com/Parents-Families-Children-Disabilities-School-Based/dp/0130194883

Support Groups..Where to find one

Today I got the opportunity to speak with a mother of a child who has been diagnosed with Autism. I understand that Autism is not technically an emotional disturbance but at the same time these parents have similarities in their daily stress and/or struggle. She mentioned a website that she had found that provided her family with a lot of support and emotional comfort in their lives.

After reviewing the site, it does provide families with useful information such as where support groups are located and connects families together who are going through the same challenges day to day.

http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/emotionaldisturbance