Derek Saker
Director of Communications
OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services
dsaker@ohelfamily.org
718-686-3333 direct | 347 920 0199 mobile | 718 851 2772 fax
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OHEL Bais Ezra’s Sibshops Program Empowers Siblings and Gives Them a Voice Like Never Before!

Whether from a family with a child challenged by Autism to Down Syndrome, a diversity of siblings – Ashkenazi to Sephardi, Chassidic to less affiliated, have become regular participants in OHEL Bais Ezra’s dynamic SibShops program. 

These unique support groups in Brooklyn, Long Island, Far Rockaway & Queens -  for siblings aged 7-16 successfully bring together children of different backgrounds that are the brothers and sisters of children and young adults with developmental disabilities. 

In these family situations, while the typical sibling is characteristically very supportive in an often overwhelming environment, he or she commonly finds neither the time nor the opportunity to reflect upon or share their own inner feelings about the challenges and concerns they may face.

SibShops provides the safety in groups where these siblings can discuss their feelings, share their trials and ask the questions they would find difficult to ask their own parents. 

SibShops has created life-long friendships between children of shared experiences. More and more, these sibling participants spend time together outside of their Sibshop Group meetings - in each other’s homes, weddings and more. 

One parent enthusiastically said “Our daughter has made such wonderful friends through the Sibshops. This past Sunday, the girls got together to spend a good part of the day together. She said 'Mommy, we were walking together on the street, two Satmar girls, a Lubavitcher girl, and me! So we both thank you for creating this opportunity for our daughter and for making siblings of special children feel special in their own way.”

According to Batsheva Gutwirth, Senior Manager of the SibShops program, “This program is a first of its kind, never has such a program been offered in the Jewish community. This program gives a voice to those siblings who have sometimes felt that they are not being heard.”

In partnership and under the leadership of Don Meyer, founder of SibShops, OHEL Bais Ezra has trained SibShop facilitators and the program is now being offered to 3 different age groups of different sexes. 

The growth of the program has been phenomenal and OHEL Bais Ezra is  looking to continue to break down barriers and expand even further in the New York City and New Jersey area. 

The connection that the participants establish is truly unique and exceptional as one sibling stated to her mother, “These friends aren’t like my other friends there is some special connection amongst all of us in SibShops.”

For more information please call Batsheva at 718-686-3497, email sibshops@ohelfamily.org ir visit www.ohelfamily.org/sibshops

OHEL Children's Home and Family Services is a pioneering social services agency that is markeing its 40th milestone this year. From the early to senior years, OHEL delivers a breadth of community services through OHEL Bais Ezra, OHEL Lifetime Care, OHEL Foster Care, OHEL Mental Health Services , OHEL Camp Kaylie and the OHEL Institute for Training. OHEL provides innovative and cutting-edge programs and services for individuals and families at risk, and individuals with developmental or psychiatric disabilities, in both residential and out-patient settings. Touching the lives of thousands of individuals at every stage, and every day, OHEL’s professional services are available throughout New York, New Jersey and South Florida.