The Special Siblings Podcast: For Parents, Healthcare Providers, and Sibs Themselves

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We focus exclusively on supporting siblings of kids with disabilities—a too-often overlooked population—and the unique issues they face. Hear from psychologists, researchers, and sibs of all ages on how to best support the sib in your life. For parents, h

Jessica Leving


    • Apr 4, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 12 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Special Siblings Podcast: For Parents, Healthcare Providers, and Sibs Themselves

    Episode 9: Mark's Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2020 36:05


    Autism, cancer, and a first-generation immigrant... this sibling story is one to remember. -- As referenced in the show: The Arc: thearc.org The Sibling Support Project: siblingsupport.org The Sibling Leadership Network: siblingleadership.org -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Coping with COVID-19, Part 2: Managing Anxiety in an Uncertain World

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 28:58


    Dr. Dustin Siegel, Psy.D., shares tips and guidance for those of us feeling a little extra anxious as we face changing daily routines and uncertain futures.    For a full list of links mentioned on the show, visit https://siblingcenter.org/blog/f/new-podcast-episodes-up-coping-with-covid-19   -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Coping with COVID-19, Part 1: How Worried Should We Be?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 27:28


    In "Coping with COVID-19, Part 1: How Worried Should We Be?", scientist and mom Sandra Snook, a comparative pathologist and creator of sssnoolife.com, offers her take on what level of concern different groups should actually have. For instance, what should we do if we feel sick? What if, as many of us do, we have someone in our lives who is immunocompromised or medically complex? Plus, tales from her own current experience navigating having a daughter who is down with flu-like symptoms. For more about coronavirus, visit www.cdc.gov. -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 8: Planning for the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 38:03


    Children with disabilities are outliving their parents at higher rates than ever before in history, often leaving adult siblings to transition into caregiving roles later in life. How is this transition being managed? What supports are needed? How does having multiple siblings change things? Professor Meghan Burke, Ph.D., BCBA-D, of the University of Illinois, is doing research to find out. Join us as she shares some of what she's learned. For more information... On Professor Burke's work, e-mail meghan@illinois.edu or visit https://education.illinois.edu/faculty/meghan-burke. On the Sibling Leadership Network, which often puts out calls for adult siblings to participate in this critical research, visit siblingleadership.org.  On The Special Siblings Podcast and our book Billy's Sister, visit siblingcenter.org -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 7: So... What Can We Do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2020 36:11


    Grad student - and sibling - Emily Thompson shares her pioneering work developing a treatment plan for therapists to better serve sibs. And get this: it's the first of it's kind. To contact Emily, email ebthompson93@aol.com. To view the referenced TEDxTalk, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSwqo-g2Tbk -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 6: Disability - It's a Family Affair

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2020 38:36


    Therapist Diane Gould discusses how disability affects all members of the family - including siblings, grandparents, and cousins. Plus, tune in for easy, tangible tips for how to support the whole family. To learn more about Diane, visit www.dianegouldtherapy.com -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 5: Finding Balance - Self-Care while Stepping Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2020 38:40


    Hear from triplet Allison Davis, age 23, on how she balances being the primary caregiver for her sister with Down's syndrome with young adult life post-college. Don't miss Allison's article from The Mighty, referenced on the show. -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 4: Featuring Kate Strohm of Siblings Australia

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 25:55


    Hear from Kate Strohm, founder of Siblings Australia (http://siblingsaustralia.org.au/) and author of Siblings (https://www.amazon.com/Siblings-Kate-Strohm-ebook/dp/B00JEPH7HG), about her sibling journey and the lessons she's learned along the way. -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 3: From the Mouths of Sibs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2020 35:06


    Thoughts on being a sib from a sib herself: Luna Diaz, age 5. (Ok, plus some additional insights from her mom, Tameka!) View the video from Special Books by Special Kids here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2802290496472338 For more information on the Diaz family, find them on Instagram @housegypsy. -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 2: Helping Neurotypical Sibs Find Their Tribe - Featuring Don Meyer, Creator of Sibshops

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2020 34:26


    Don Meyer, Founder of The Sibling Support Project and its signature program, Sibshops, talks about the importance of peer support — and how to find it.  More about Don:  Don Meyer is the recently retired director of the Sibling Support Project and the creator of the Sibshop model.  During his 28 years with the Sibling Support Project, Don conducted workshops and trainings in all 50 states, throughout Canada, and in ten additional countries leading to the creation of 450 Sibshops worldwide.  He is the author or editor of six books on sibling issues, including Views from Our Shoes, The Sibling Survival Guide, and Sibshops: Workshops for siblings of children with special needs.  The online Facebook groups Don created--SibNet, Sib20, and SibTeen—provide peer support to thousands of brothers and sisters every day.  In 2019, Don received the Sibling Leadership Network's Lifetime Achievement Award.  He can be reached at donmeyer@siblingsupport.org More books mentioned in this episode:  How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Riding the Bus with My Sister The Ride Together Siblings (This one is by Kate Strohm, who will be a featured guest in an upcoming podcast episode! Stay tuned!) -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    Episode 1: Why Siblings? Featuring Psychologist Avidan Milevsky, Ph.D

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2020 35:03


    World-renowned psychologist, researcher, and author Dr. Avidan Milevsky discusses why the sibling relationship is so central to our lives--and why siblings of kids with disabilities, in particular, need more resources and support. For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings. 

    The Special Siblings Podcast: Season 1 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2020 1:44


    The Special Siblings Podcast focuses exclusively on siblings of kids with disabilities—a too-often overlooked population—and the unique issues they face.  Hear from psychologists, researchers, and sibs of all ages on how to best support the sib in your life. For parents, providers, and sibs themselves.  -- For more information on The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities, visit www.siblingcenter.org. To take advantage of our partnership with BetterHelp, visit BetterHelp.com/siblings.   

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