Herb's Corner

Calling all siblings

WASHINGTON - Monday Morning in Washington, D.C. noted a Sibling Leadership Network Conference will be held Nov. 10-11 and include adult siblings of people with disabilities, researchers, family members, service providers, and appropriate listservs. SLN’s goal is to provide siblings of disabled people the data, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote issues important to them and their families.

Siblings with and without disabilities can advocate effectively for policies that will benefit people with disabilities and their families. Despite the ever-changing roles they will assume in the lives of their siblings with special needs, there is relatively little research on siblings and their concerns. SLN is interested in research that investigates resilience, support opportunities, and life choices across the lifespan.

The conference will be a conversation among siblings, researchers, people with disabilities, service providers, and policymakers. The goal is to move the conversation into a plan of action. During this conference, SLN's mission and values will be ratified, siblings' concerns with researchers and policymakers will be discussed, and an action plan and white paper on sibling issues, policy recommendations, and research agenda will be developed.

Here are some details: Renaissance Hotel , Washington , DC; Friday and Saturday, Nov.9-10; Cost: $75 until 10/19/07 and $90 thereafter; Registration form, agenda, etc.: www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr/SLN_Brochure.pdf; Questions: John Kramer, 312-996-7988 ; jkrame3@uic.edu.