Sibshops is an exciting program for brothers and sisters of children with special needs. Throughout their lives, brothers and sisters will share many—if not most—of the same concerns that parents of children with special needs experience, as well as issues that are uniquely theirs.

With the exception of a child's parents, no one in the family spends more time with children who have special needs than do brothers and sisters. And because the sibling relationship is usually the longest-lasting relationship in a family, brothers and sisters will likely be involved in the life of a child with special health care needs longer than anyone—including a child's parents.

For the sake of everyone—brothers, sisters, parents, providers, and especially the family member who has special needs—siblings and their concerns must not be ignored. The goal of Sibshops is to address the needs of siblings through age-appropriate fun activities in a safe nurturing environment.

At Sibshops, participants learn about disabilities, discuss the challenges, feelings, and joys of being a sib with peers, build coping skills, and make friends and have fun.