The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) works to improve the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
At present, more than 526,000 adults with disabilities are older than 60 years of age, and that number is expected to triple-- to over 1.5 million -- by 2030. Most of these adults are in some way cared for or supported by their siblings. Although some research exists on sibling relationships in early to middle childhood, much less is known about the nature of adult sibling relationships and the factors that contribute to positive relationships and developmental outcomes in adulthood.
The Sibling Support Project is a national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns.
Links and information concerning siblings of children with chronic illness and disability.
Siblings United provides monthly workshops for siblings with and without disabilities. The siblings with a disability are paired with college students who work with the siblings with disabilities on social skills, interactive play, and other developmental skills. At the same time, siblings without disabilities are divided into age groups and college students will lead the siblings without disabilities in group discussions, arts and crafts, music, recreational games, and other age appropriate activities.
The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center offers support programs for siblings of people with disabilities.
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