In this episode, Anna and Charlene talk about the unique experience of having a special needs sibling in a military family. Anna’s older sister has Rett syndrome, a rare neurological condition.

Episode highlights:

• Resources for special needs siblings in the military
• Exciting new drug trial that has made positive changes in her sister’s life

Find us on Instagram:

• Follow Anna at @special_sibs
• Follow the podcast at @thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

Your financial support will help keep episodes releasing every other week! Without your support, episodes will be released once a month instead. Donate today at the following links:

https://ko-fi.com/thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

https://www.thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/support

Credits:

Music by AlexGrohl and QubeSounds from Pixabay

Audio Edited by bReel Podcast Production

Show Notes & Social Media by Caroline Mason

In this episode, Amanda and Charlene talk about her brother, Nick, and his life with a rare disability. Amanda’s experience as a sibling inspired her to start her own nonprofit, Puzzle Pieces, which she uses to advocate for and assist over 400 families with special needs kids.

Episode highlights:

• Experiencing embarrassment as a sib
• Maintaining your mental health
• Identity as a sib
• Guardianship and caregiving

Find us on Instagram:

• Follow Amanda at @piecesofmebyamanda
• Follow Puzzle Pieces at @puzzlepiecesky (or visit https://www.puzzle-pieces.org/)
• Follow the podcast at @thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

Your financial support will help keep episodes releasing every other week! Without your support, episodes will be released once a month instead. Donate today at the following links:

https://ko-fi.com/thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

https://www.thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/support

Credits:

• Music by AlexGrohl and QubeSounds from Pixabay
• Audio Edited by bReel Podcast Production
• Show Notes & Social Media by Caroline Mason

Yet another update episode is here. I promise full episodes are coming, because trust me, it’s eating up my Google Drive storage space as we speak!

Take a listen to some of the behind the scenes of The Special Needs Sibling Podcast and please consider financially supporting the podcast!

Your financial support will help keep episodes releasing every other week! Without your support, episodes will be releasing once a month instead.

See the links below to donate today:

https://ko-fi.com/thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

https://www.thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/support

Hey folks! We're running behind schedule with releasing new episodes, but do not fear, I've already recorded with lots of fellow sibs. We just need some more time to edit. But hey, that's real life for you!

Being a sib is pretty hard, so take this time to relax, catch up on your favorite episodes or even listen to new ones you haven't had the time for yet!

Thanks for your support!

New episodes are coming to you soon -- just later than expected

Coming May 14, Forces of Nature: A Memoir of Family, Loss, and Finding Home

Pre-Order today anywhere books are sold online!

Gina (a fellow sib) is the author of Forces of Nature: A Memoir of Family, Loss, and Finding Home.

She gives a summary of the book in this bonus episode.

You can pre-order today (anywhere books are sold online) and learn more about Gina here:https://linktr.ee/ginadwagner

Psssst. Stay tuned for her full interview later on this year.

#specialneedssiblings #specialneeds

In this episode we talk about:

• Allan’s family and brother with an intellectual disability

• How having a special needs sibling was different in the 1950s versus in the 2000s (and today)

• How life is being your own sibling’s guardian

• Family dynamics between parents and siblings

• Difficulties of having a sibling join ill-equipped institutions

• Not being afraid to admit negative feelings

• Allan’s encouragement to fellow siblings

Links:

• Allan’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Fred-Me-Willowbrook-Survivors-Story/dp/B08ZDL1J8H

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time: https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-Time/dp/1400032717

• Cost of Living by Martyna Majok: https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/martyna-majok#:~:text=Directed%20by%20Obie%20Award%20winner,we%20all%20need%20each%20other.

• The End of Average by Todd Rose: https://www.toddrose.com/endofaverage

• Willowbrook State Schook: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willowbrook_State_School

• Allan’s NYU-Tandon faculty page: https://engineering.nyu.edu/faculty/allan-b-goldstein

• Direct Service Provider: https://opwdd.ny.gov/providers/direct-support-professionals

• Bernard Carabello: https://nysilc.org/inductees/32-2022/234-bernard-carabello

• AHRC: https://www.ahrcnyc.org/

• Allan on PBS News Hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oFxwCgATW0

More Info:

• Check out the blog and contact Charlene here: https://thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/

• Get episode updates directly to your inbox: https://www.thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/newsletter

• Support the podcast on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

Music by:

• AlexGrohl from Pixabay

• QubeSounds from Pixabay

Edited by:

• Veronica Duquez

In this episode we talk about:

• Freya’s family and brother with Autism
• Different ways of communicating with siblings
• Growing up and learning through siblings
• Learning, unlearning and relearning routines
• Seeing siblings grow up
• Social care work and its importance
• Freya’s encouragement to fellow siblings

Find Freya on Instagram @diaryofascw

#specialneedssiblings #specialneeds

More Info:

• Check out the blog and contact Charlene here: https://thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/

• Get episode updates directly to your inbox: https://www.thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/newsletter

• Support the podcast on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

Music by:

• AlexGrohl from Pixabay

• QubeSounds from Pixabay

Edited by:

• Aiden Binder

#specialneedssiblings #specialneeds

In this episode we talk about:

• Emily’s family and brother with an intellectual disability

• Future Planning and having conversations and the thought process

• Being a smiling and being a primary caregiver and the transition

• Building a support community around you

• Being terrible about letting people taking care of us

• About Sibshops and older siblings being involved

• Emily’s encouragement to fellow siblings

Links:

• Sibling Support Project: https://siblingsupport.org/

• Sibshops: https://siblingsupport.org/sibshops/

• National Sibling Leadership Network: https://siblingleadership.org/

• Facebook groups: Sibnet, Sib20, Sibteen, Sibinlaws

More Info:

• Check out the blog and contact Charlene here: https://thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/

• Get episode updates directly to your inbox: https://www.thespecialneedssiblingpodcast.com/newsletter

• Support the podcast on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thespecialneedssiblingpodcast

Music by:

• AlexGrohl from Pixabay

• QubeSounds from Pixabay

Edited by:

• Aiden Binder