Amid COVID-19, Sibshops shifts to Zoom-based support

Pivoting with these pandemic times, Sibshops has gone virtual.

After a pair of pilot Zoom-based sessions this summer netted promising results, Sibshops’ fall programming launches officially, via Zoom, on Saturday, September 19th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Since Spring 2015, the program for 1st through 7th graders in Oak Park and River Forest has served more than 50 brothers and sisters of those with disabilities, physical illness, or emotional/mental health challenges.

At the heart of Sibshops: siblings learn from and support one another while gaining a deeper perspective on their significance and value in the family dynamic. River Forest Township, in partnership with Thrive Counseling Center, funds and sponsors Sibshops.

Spots are available for more boys and girls to participate, said Laurie Johnson, a therapist at Thrive who is a Sibshops facilitator. (For registration details, see below.)

The mother of a 9-year-old participant, who has been part of Sibshops for three years, said the summer pilot sessions were an invaluable outlet. Having all six family members in such close quarters as a consequence of the pandemic has been “kicking our butt,” she acknowledged, and “we appreciate that, within this new reality, Sibshops is being offered.”

“As with anything, nothing replaces in-person (experiences), but she has really enjoyed it,” the mother added. “It’s tough to have a sibling with special needs, and this has become her space. She really needs it because she is such a social person.”

One of the Sibshops facilitators is Mike Carmody, executive director of Opportunity Knocks, a not-for-profit that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“It’s a beautiful thing when the kids are all together,” said Carmody. “The kids are resilient—it’s amazing to watch young people, especially during his time. They go with it. They’re willing and active participants and have been more open to sharing some of the things going on in their lives.”

Although some aspects of in-person sessions, such as making lunches together or activities like tag, cannot be replicated, there has been “a cozy vibe more than I expected,” Johnson noted.

“The kids get to see each other in their homes or wherever they are—we had someone who was at their vacation cabin,” she added. “That has enabled us to incorporate things like favorite items that they show and talk about. The kids have also been creative and adaptive about finding private space to be within their homes, such as a fort made from blankets.”

Confidentiality is a key element of Sibshops—“whatever we say, stays in here,” Carmody notes—and the facilitators blend games with more serious matters.

Show-and-tell, “would you rather” questions, and “truth or lie” statements accompany heartfelt discussions on topics such as the effect of COVID-19 on relationships with their siblings, as well as how participants are doing overall.

“The last time we met, I could tell, based on how they were smiling, that they were relaxed and felt safe,” Carmody said. “It’s a feeling of `This is great, I have an hour all to myself. This is my time.’”

Sibshops fulfills a key element of the Township's mission in providing human services, particularly in supporting mental wellness and those with disabilities, said River Forest Township Supervisor Carla Sloan.

“As a parent of a special needs child, I learned how important it is to stay focused on my other children as well, and to give them their unique time,” Sloan said. “They need that time to express the joys and challenges of having a special needs sibling. Sibshops helps kids do just that.”

In addition to September 19th, other Sibshops dates are October 3, October 17, November 7, November 21, December 8, and December 19, all from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fee for each Sibshops session has been reduced to $5 (half the usual cost) and need-based scholarships are also available.

Space is limited and preference is given to residents of Oak Park and River Forest, though families from other communities are welcome to participate, based on availability.

Registration is required in advance. To register, please contact Laurie Johnson at 708-383-7500, x. 409, or ljohnson@thrivecc.org. A link will be provided upon registration.