Many agencies are beginning to realize that siblings are too valuable to ignore, and have begun changing policies and procedures to acknowledge the important roles brothers and sisters play. Here are a few considerations:

Does your agency reach out to adult brothers and sisters? Many agencies and organizations complain that they have difficulty attracting parents of adults with disabilities to meetings, workshops and other events. Many of these parents have already attended enough meetings to last several lifetimes, and cannot abide one more. Consider targeting the family member who will have increasing involvement in the life of the person with the disability, by making a special effort to invite brothers and sisters to informational, IEP and transition planning meetings. Brothers and sisters, after all, are the future.

Does your agency have brothers and sisters on your advisory board? Reserving seats on your board for siblings will provide the board with a unique and important perspective and evidence of your agency's concern for this important family member.

Does your agency educate staff about issues facing young and adult brothers and sisters? Consider utilizing the resources mentioned in the In Brief section or hosting a sibling panel. Guidelines for hosting sibling panels are available from the Sibling Support Project.

Does your agency have a program specifically for brothers and sisters? You may wish to try a one-time workshop for adult siblings only. A sample workshop sheet is available from the Sibling Support Project. Be sure to publicize the event well in advance.

Does your agency have a policy about importance of including siblings? For inspiration, read the policy statement adopted by the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Does your agency still use limiting terminology? Organizations that use the word "parent" when "family" or "family member" is more appropriate sends a message to brothers and sisters, grandparents and other family members that the program is not for them. With siblings and primary- caregiver grandparents assuming increasingly active roles in the lives of people with disabilities, we cannot afford to exclude anyone.

From SIBSHOPS: WORKSHOPS FOR SIBLINGS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (Donald J. Meyer & Patricia F. Vadasy, 1994, Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company).

Don Meyer
Director, Sibling Support Project
6512 23rd Ave NW
#213
Seattle, WA 98117
donmeyer@siblingsupport.org
www.thearc.org