Harriet RedmanHarriet RedmanExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

Established in 1998 as a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization.

Dedicated to the interests of brothers and sisters of people with special needs.

Sally RandaSally RandaAdult Sibling CoordinatorAdult Sibling Coordinator

FVSSN Mission FVSSN Mission

To create the opportunity for To create the opportunity for individuals who have individuals who have

brothers and sisters with brothers and sisters with special needs to thrive special needs to thrive

throughout their unique throughout their unique lifelong journey.lifelong journey.

Needs of SiblingsNeeds of SiblingsINFORMATIONINFORMATION about their sibling about their sibling

• OPEN COMMUNICATIONOPEN COMMUNICATION

• RECOGNITIONRECOGNITION of their role of their role

• QUALITY TIMEQUALITY TIME with parents with parents

• CONTACT WITH OTHER SIBLINGS AND SUPPORTCONTACT WITH OTHER SIBLINGS AND SUPPORT

• WAYS TO COPEWAYS TO COPE with stressful events, with stressful events, unexpected disruptions to family plans, and extra responsibilitiesunexpected disruptions to family plans, and extra responsibilities

• UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING for their altered lives, their pressures and for their altered lives, their pressures and acknowledgement of the difference in their familiesacknowledgement of the difference in their families

• TRAININGTRAINING to help care for, teach and play with their sibling. to help care for, teach and play with their sibling.

• COUNSELLINGCOUNSELLING if necessary, to share feelings and resolve issues. if necessary, to share feelings and resolve issues.

What does the Fox Valley What does the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network do?Sibling Support Network do?

• Provides information on sibling issuesProvides information on sibling issues

• Provides training for FVSSN Sibshop Provides training for FVSSN Sibshop facilitators and other interested individualsfacilitators and other interested individuals

• Plans and operates Sibshops, Sib Camps, Plans and operates Sibshops, Sib Camps, Adult Sibling conferences and other sibling Adult Sibling conferences and other sibling events for children, teens and adultsevents for children, teens and adults

FVSSN Programs FVSSN Programs for people who have siblings with disabilitiesfor people who have siblings with disabilities

For children - Sibshops ages 6-12 - SibDays of Summer ages 6-12 - Sib Camp Ages 10-15

For adults - Future is now! - wi adult sibling conference - Social activities

• Siblings have the longest bond with their Siblings have the longest bond with their brother or sister with disabilities.brother or sister with disabilities.

• Siblings experience most of the same Siblings experience most of the same concerns and joys that parents concerns and joys that parents experience.experience.

• 60% of siblings of people with intellectual 60% of siblings of people with intellectual disabilities expect to oversee their care as disabilities expect to oversee their care as adults. (Krauss, 1996)adults. (Krauss, 1996)

• As more people with disabilities outlive As more people with disabilities outlive their parents and demand for services their parents and demand for services increases faster than funding, the increases faster than funding, the responsibility of their care often falls to responsibility of their care often falls to siblings.siblings.

Key Benefits of FVSSN Key Benefits of FVSSN programsprograms

• Children become advocates for Children become advocates for themselves and their brothers and themselves and their brothers and sisters.sisters.

• Children feel pride in themselves and Children feel pride in themselves and their siblings.their siblings.

• As adults, siblings feel better prepared As adults, siblings feel better prepared to make decisions, seek support and to make decisions, seek support and have positive attitudes toward their have positive attitudes toward their roles.roles.

A 2005 survey of Sibshop graduates (ages A 2005 survey of Sibshop graduates (ages 18-34) conducted by the University of 18-34) conducted by the University of Washington reports:Washington reports:

• 90% said Sibshops had a positive effect on 90% said Sibshops had a positive effect on the feelings they had for their siblings;the feelings they had for their siblings;

• 2/3 said Sibshops taught them coping 2/3 said Sibshops taught them coping strategiesstrategies

• 75% said Sibshop affected their adult lives75% said Sibshop affected their adult lives

• 94% said they would recommend Sibshops 94% said they would recommend Sibshops to othersto others

For More InformationFor More Information

• www.FVSSN.orgwww.FVSSN.org

• Email: Email: FVSSN@FVSSN.orgFVSSN@FVSSN.org

• (920) 968-1742(920) 968-1742

For information about the national Sibling Support Project, visit:

www.siblingsupport.org