Aspire Children's Services
Primary Contact: Debby Mayo, Manager of Family Support Services
Aspire
1815 Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162 map
Phone: 708-236-0979
www.aspireofillinois.org
Sibshop Description: Siblings from the age of 5 and older are
welcome to participate in activities to meet each other, have fun, share experiences,and
learn about the joys and challenges of having a brother or sister with special
needs.
JCFS Sibshops
Primary Contact: Tammy Besser
Jewish Child and Family Services
255 Revere Drive, Suite 200
Northbrook, IL 60062 map
Phone: 773-467-3751
www.jcfs.org
Sibshop Description: Monthly Sunday afternoon Sibshops at our
Northbrook location for siblings ages 5-12; Sibshops can be provided at other
locations upon request.
Advocate Illinois Masonic Pediatric Developmental Center
Sibshops
Primary Contact: Sheila Swann-Guerrero
Advocate Illinois Masonic Pediatric Developmental Center
3040 N. Wilton
Chicago, IL 60657 map
Phone: 773-296-8127
Sibshop Description: The Advocate Illinois Masonic PDC Sibshop
provides siblings (5-18 years) of brothers and sisters with a disability with
a host of opportunities, including; Bi-weekly Evening Sibshops, Bi-monthly
Saturday Sibshops, Monthly Teen Dinner Club, Summer Mini-Day Camp Sibshops
and Family programs for parents and all family members.
Community Support Services
Primary Contact: Tara Kosieniak
Community Support Services, Inc
9021 Ogden Ave Brookfield, IL 60513
Phone: 708-989-3619
tara@sibsnetwork.org
www.sibsnetwork.org
Sibshop Description: We provide Sibshops to brothers and sisters ages 6-13. They are run 6-8 times a year in various locations including Downers Grove, Bedford Park, LaGrange and Westchester.
Meli Development Center, Inc
542 E. Boughton Rd
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
630-783-1850
info@melicenter.com
Siblings need love too!!!! When a child is growing up with
a sibling that has special needs, they may develop questions and various feelings,
including jealousy towards all the attention the other is receiving. It is
important to make both children feel equally special. This is the perfect
time for that! Children are invited to come in and play together offering
time to talk about and work through feelings one may have towards their sibling
and his/her special needs.
Blazing Prairie Stars
47W.635 Beith Rd
Maple Park, IL 60151
630-365-5550
www.blazingprairiestars.com
Super Sibs at the Farm brings together brothers and sisters
of children with special needs to share a unique experience designed just
for them. Through games and ground work with horses, siblings learn about
horse families as a way to explore their feelings about their own special
families. Activities will allow group members to work together cooperatively,
play horse games, observe horse communication and dynamics, as well as learn
to groom and care for the horses. This group is sponsored by Hoofbeats and
Heartbeats.
UPS for DownS Sibshops
Primary Contact: Jim Ford
UPS for DownS
Hartford Plaza
1070 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
708-349-9669
http://www.upsfordowns.org
Sibshop Description:b> Sibshops are offered periodically (about 3/year) to 7-12 year old siblings of children with Down syndrome.
Communication Clubhouse in Downers Grove
2901 Finely Road, Suite #102
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (630) 495-6800
FAX: (630) 495-8200
comclubhouse@aol.com
www.communicationclubhouse.com
“Siblings R Special 2!”:
Meet other siblings in a relaxed and fun setting. Being brother or sister
to a special needs child can be a joy . . . and a challenge at times, too.
In this group, feelings about that relationship can be voiced, recognized
and honored. Our group allows siblings to have their own “special”
time to address their concerns and to be the center of attention. Siblings
share their common experiences, concerns and strategies for coping.
Little Friends, Inc. in Naperville
Sibling Support Groups
Sibling support groups are available for the brothers and sisters of students
who are enrolled in Krejci Academy, The Bridge, In-Home Support or the Group
Home for Children with Autism.
Siblings groups offer fun activities as well as a chance for children to meet other boys ad girls who understand what it is like to have a sibling with severe disabilities. Children are encouraged to talk about their feeling or experiences in a relaxed, casual atmosphere under the guidance of a professional therapist. Groups are held periodically based on the interest level of families.
For more information: 630-355-6533
Charlie's Gift
Charlie's Gift (Hinsdale) 415 W. 8th Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521
630.323.7500, ext. 230
Charlie's Gift (Downers Grove)1048 W. Ogden Ave., Suite 130
Downers Grove, IL 60515
630.810.1200
www.charliesgiftautismcenter.org
Oakhill Wellness & Counseling Center
Sibtime is a fun, non-threatening supportive experience where
children and adolescents come together to have the opportunity to learn about
their brother’s/sister’s disability, learn about themselves and
share what it is like to have a sib with special needs. We focus on building
self-esteem and confidence in each participant.
This informal group is designed to be fun for everyone, so we will provide a range of interactive games, opportunity for discussion, and expression of feelings through various activities. All activities are planned according to age appropriateness.
This group is facilitated by Katherine Kubal, LCSW and Stacey Stewart, LCPC.
Both therapists bring years of experience in working with special needs children
and their families.
35 S. Washington St., Suite 300, Naperville, IL
(Catch 35 and Century 21 Building)
SIBLINGS 7-12 YEARS OLD
$40.00 PER SATURDAY SESSION
If you would like more details about the group please call Stacey Stewart, Oakhill Wellness at 630-717-9858, Ext 6 OR view our website at www.oakhillwellness.com.
Easter Seals Joliet Region Sibshops
Primary Contact: Valerie Fuller-Lentz
Easter Seals Joliet Region, Inc.
212 Barney Dr.
Joliet, IL 60435 map
Phone: (815) 927-5465
www.joliet.easterseals.com
Sibshop Description: Available to children first grade through eighth grade, with workshops broken out by age groups. Highschoolers can attend as junior facilitators. For sibs of children with physical and developmental disabilities.
East Central Illinois Sibshop
Primary Contact: Meagan Matthews
The Autism Program at Charleston Transitional Facility
689 Castle Drive
Charleston, IL 61920
217-348-3869
http://www.ctfillinois.org/tap/index.html
Trinity Services Autism & Family Resource Center Sibshop
Primary Contact: Jenifer Russell
Trinity Services
13318 W. Lincoln Highway
New Lenox, IL 60430
815-462-4273
http://www.trinity.services.org/programs_services/Autism_Support.aspx
Advocate Lutheran General Sibsensations
Primary Contact: Kathryn Smart MS RN CRRN
Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital
1675 Dempster St.
2nd Floor
Park Ridge, IL 60068
847-723-9484
Sibshop Description: Sibsensations offers support for siblings of children with developmental and physical disabilities. Siblings meet peers with similar experiences in a fun, friendly atmosphere to discuss common joys and concerns and learn how to handle situations they all face regularly.
Options & Advocacy Sibshops
Primary Contact: Cindy Sullivan
Options & Advocacy
365 Millennium Dr., Suite A
Crystal Lake, IL 60012
815-477-4720 x233
http://www.optionsandadvocacy.org
Sibshop Description: Suppporting the siblings of those we serve.
Forever Sibs
Primary Contact: Tony Tzoubris at 888-907-SIBS or ttzoubris@foreversibs.org
1100 N. River Rd. The Villa
DesPlaines, IL 60016
888-907-SIBS
www.foreversibs.org