Ninety-Nine Percent Effective is a SARAH Solutions Podcast designed to families find resources for children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or delays. In this episode, co-hosts George Reid-Perry, Senior Director of Adult Services at SARAH Inc., and Tesha Tramontano-Kelly at TTK358 Consulting talk with Sibling Support Project Director Emily Holl about the important role of siblings and why and how to support them. Listen here!    

The 4th of a series of discussions with Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with special needs. On May 18, the Sibling Support Project was thrilled to partner with Special Needs Siblings and the Sibling Leadership Network to co-host this event. This remarkable BIPOC Sibling Roundtable 4 was dedicated to expanding the inclusion and diversity of the sibling support community. The series highlights the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with disabilities. Check out our calendar for upcoming events.

Meet Sheena and Sean.  In this amazing BuzzFeed video, Sean, who has Cerebral Palsy, talks about the difficulties of dating with a disability with his sister, Sheena. But these super-siblings don't stop there. Watch as this dynamic duo sets out to find a date for Sean, navigating the internet, a global pandemic, and the eternal question: "How can I find someone to go on a date with?"  A word from the filmmaker... As a filmmaker, my art revolves around telling stories of the marginalized communities I identify with (LGBTQ+, Asian/Mixed race, mental health issues, disability). As a Sib, my disability advocacy work is inspired by my little brother, Sean, who has cerebral palsy. When I had the opportunity to create a Buzzfeed video on the topic, I was elated to get to share such a personal story I know many can relate to, on such a large platform. Sean, like any other guy in his 20’s, wants to date and find love, but dating can become extra challenging when you have disabilities. We were able to have fun filming a video together (something my brother had wanted to do with me for ages) while sharing an experience everyone can relate to, and is also less represented through the lens of people with disabilities. We’ve received a lot of great feedback and I hope this video continues to touch people and remind them that regardless of ability, we all want and deserve love.

On April 8, the Sibling Support Project hosted an online Super-Sized Sibshop! In honor of National Siblings Day on April 10, this first-time (ever!) event welcomed 168 siblings and facilitators from across the U.S. and Canada!  Children from 23 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces registered for the event, which featured games, discussion activities and a special appearance by Don Meyer, Creator of Sibshops and Founder of the Sibling Support Project! A fun time was had by all, and we look forward to taking on this challenge of putting together another super-sized event in the future! Special thanks to our fabulous planning committee, which includes Ahren Hoffman and Kathy Smart from Advocate Children’s Hospital’s Sibsensations in Illinois, Tammy Besser and Katie Fitzgerald from Jewish Child and Family Services Sibshop in Illinois, Suzanne Salmo from United Services Sibshop in Missouri, and Alyssa Elias from Massapequa Sibshop in New York.

In the March/April issue of Parenting Special Needs magazine, we get real about sibling resentment and get serious about finding everyday ways to support brothers and sisters of people with disabilities. Featuring insights from several remarkable adult siblings who share their personal experiences with honesty and grace, and some simple strategies to help  siblings feel seen, heard, validated and special. Read the article here and meet some of the siblings featured in the magazine in this Facebook Live interview with publisher Chantai Snellgrove here.

Rachel and Christie, hosts of Constant Chaos, know that raising kids is hard enough, and that adding developmental and learning differences into the mix can create what feels like constant chaos. Each episode of this podcast enables guests and listeners alike to get real about the challenges, realities and joys of parenting these special kids. This episode features a conversation with Sibling Support Project Director Emily Holl, who shares tips on how parents can best support the other special kids in their families - siblings - and help them voice their own feelings and fears. Listen here!

The third of a series of discussions with Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with special needs. On March 18, the Sibling Support Project was thrilled to partner with Special Needs Siblings and the Sibling Leadership Network to co-host this event. This remarkable BIPOC Sibling Roundtable 3 was dedicated to expanding the inclusion and diversity of the sibling support community. The series highlights the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with disabilities. Check out our calendar for upcoming events.

Renowned holistic child psychologist Dr. Nicole Beurkens explores sibling issues and support strategies with our Director, Emily Holl. Dr. Beurkens has dedicated her 22+ year career to providing parents with simple, effective, research-based strategies that get to the root of children’s attention, anxiety, mood, and behavior challenges so they can reach their highest potential. Creator of a multi-disciplinary evaluation and treatment clinic, a best-selling author, published researcher, award-winning therapist, in-demand speaker, international consultant, and experienced mom, Dr. Beurkens is determined to show the world that with healthy foundations in place every child and family can thrive. Listen to the podcast here!

Part 2 of our conversation with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michael Romas, host of  DDI on Autism on LI News Radio 103.9 in New York! This week we talked about how and why Sibshops have been supporting school-age and teen siblings across the U.S. and around the world for almost 40 years!  Heard every Saturday at 10:00 am on LI News Radio 103.9, 'DDI on Autism' is a 30-minute show that shares and explores all relevant issues related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We hope you enjoy part 1 and part 2 of this insightful radio show!

The second of a series of discussions with Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with special needs. On January 18, MLK, Jr. Day, the Sibling Support Project was thrilled to partner with Special Needs Siblings and the Sibling Leadership Network to co-host this event. This remarkable BIPOC Sibling Roundtable 2 was dedicated to expanding the inclusion and diversity of the sibling support community. The series highlights the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with disabilities. Check out our calendar for upcoming events.