Sibling
Support Lynn Moosman, M.A.
The Sibling Support Group, now in its eighth year, is a mixed
group of boys and girls all of whom are from families within
which one or more of the siblings is a special needs child.
A sibling whose illness has had significant implications on
their lives, and whose physical or mental disability causes
unique and profound stress on the family system.
In addition to financial and emotional stress on the family,
some of the problems which we often see in children with special
needs include:
1.) Unique fears
of contagion and excessive worry abou the course of the illness.
2.) Early parentification
or feelings of having to take over adult roles of care for self
and others.
3.) Isolation, loneliness,
loss
4.) Embarrassment and
having to deal with people staring or making fun of their sibling.
5.) Guilt over being
invited into friendships, and to events, when brother or sister
stays home.
These young children are dealt a very difficult task in life
- often times made worse by the fact that parents are not available
and are at loss themselves.
The Sibling Support Group provides special time for them to
be the unique individuals they are. We offer a non-threatening,
supportive environment where these children can feel they are
not alone in having a special needs sibling.
