While we can’t speak to the experience firsthand, we can share our observations as parents and can confidently conclude that being a sibling to someone with a disability is something that uniquely shapes an individual. Much of the disability conversation rightly centers around individuals like Brayden but it is also important that we support those who are intimately involved in their lives.
Becca Sasser, a high school aged Girl Scout, was brainstorming for her Girl Scout Gold Award Project and identified support for siblings of people with disabilities as a community need. Becca personally recognized that her experiences, as the sister of a brother with autism, were different from her peers who would tell stories that she just couldn’t relate to and vice versa. Becca wanted to create a space for siblings to celebrate the good and share the hard without being judged or misunderstood. She reached out to Grafton, the school her brother attends, and began working in partnership with Grafton staff to develop The Sibling Support Initiative, a peer-led support group for middle and high school siblings.
The Sibling Support Initiative hosts monthly virtual google meets and teens across the world are invited to join. It’s a time where they can share their unique joys and challenges, build coping skills and have fun through games and group activities. Siblings are often the quiet cheerleaders, the protectors and the people who grow alongside their loved ones with disabilities. The Sibling Support Initiative recognizes that their experiences are unique and provides a place where they can feel understood, connected, and empowered.
You can find the schedule of upcoming meetings and events, along with resources for families, on her website. Becca also shares relatable and educational content on social media.
Instagram and Tiktok: @siblingsupportinitiative
Facebook: The Sibling Support Initiative
