Sibling Support Programme

Introduction

DESSA in partnership with Le Cheile FRC, Mallow, Co. Cork will pilot a peer support programme for siblings of disabled children in the Mallow area in 2007. This programme is funded by the Family Support Agency under the Once Off Grants Scheme 2006.

Overview of Proposal

The Sibling Support Project (SSP) seeks to explore the potential of delivering peer support, information and social opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with disabilities within Family Resource Centre (FRCs). Peer support programmes are best described as opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with disabilities to obtain peer support and education within a recreational context. An experienced facilitator will be contracted for a set amount of time to develop this project in conjunction with the project partners.

This project has four elements: research/consultation; training; piloting of peer support programmes and evaluation:

  • The research work will identify the support and training needs of staff and voluntary management committee members interested in establishing and running programmes.
  • The training element will support FRC staff and volunteers in facilitating the pilot Peer Support Programmes and will entail training in disability equality awareness; peer support concepts and the philosophy; and how to design and deliver peer support programmes.
  • The pilot phase of this project will entail the setting up and running of a series of peer support programmes over a six month period by Le Cheile FRC.
  • A record of learning and good practise will be developed on completion of the pilot programmes including a ‘how to’ information guide for other FRCs.

This project will entail a partnership approach to supporting families that experience disability involving DESSA, Le Cheile and a local disability service provider – St. Joseph’s in Mallow, Co. Cork. An advisory group, comprising DESSA, Le Cheile FRC and St. Joseph’s will guide the development of this project and will be responsible for overseeing the project facilitator’s work.

The Sibling Support Model

The Sibling Support Project proposal is based on the Sibshop model which was developed by Don Meyer in Seattle, Washington, USA. Sibshops are run on a group-work basis, where a group of siblings come together to share information about their siblings with disabilities and to have fun. Originally developed for eight – to thirteen-year-old siblings of children with developmental disabilities, the Sibshop is easily adaptable for younger or older children and for brothers and sisters of children with other disabilities.

Sibshops are lively, interactive events celebrating the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with disabilities. They acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with a disability is for some a good thing, others a not so good thing, and for many somewhere in between. The Sibshop model intersperses information and discussion activities with new games, and special guests. Because Sibshops are designed (primarily) for school-age children, peer support is provided within a lively, recreational context that emphasizes a kids’-eye-view.

Sibshops are not therapy although their effect may be therapeutic for some children. Sibshops acknowledge that most brothers and sisters of people with disabilities, like their parents, are doing well, despite the challenges of disability.

Project Aim

To explore the potential of the Family Resource Centre (FRC) model as an effective means of delivering sibling support to brothers and sisters of children with disabilities.

Project Objectives

  1. Identify and assess the skill base of staff and volunteers within Le Cheile FRC in the establishment and running of peer support programmes
  2. Design and deliver a training programme to staff and volunteers of Le Cheile FRC and St. Joseph’s
  3. Pilot the community-based peer support programme for siblings in Le Cheile FRC
  4. Establish a working partnership with St. Joseph’s - the local disability service provider
  5. Document the learning arising from pilot and develop a model of good practice

Anticipated Outcomes


Project Partners

  • Enable Le Cheile FRC meet their social inclusion remit with regard to disabled members of the community
  • Establish a working relationship between Le Cheile FRC and St. Joseph’s, a local disability service provider
  • Facilitate DESSA in piloting and documenting a model of inclusion that could be transferred to other regions and other FRCs

Siblings

  • Meet other siblings in a relaxed, recreational setting.
  • Discuss common joys and concerns with other siblings of children with disabilities
  • Learn how to handle situations commonly experienced by siblings of children with disabilities
  • Learn more about the implications of their sibling’s needs

Parents

  • Provide parents with opportunities to learn more about the concerns and challenges frequently experienced by brothers and sisters of people with a disability.