Sooner Success Rogers/Tulsa Counties, Rogers County OSU Extension Service and First Baptist Church Claremore partnering for Rogers County Sibshops and Respite Afternoon

Sooner Success Rogers/Tulsa counties, First Baptist Church Claremore and the Rogers County OSU Extension Service are partnering to host a Rogers County Sibshops and Respite afternoon. This is a free, fun and educational time for siblings of children with and without special needs. The event is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the North Campus College Building located at 255 N. Chickasaw, Claremore.

 “Brothers and sisters will have the longest lasting relationship with a sibling who has a disability (often exceeding 60 years), and research shows that the concerns of brothers and sisters of children with special health needs parallel that of their parents,” said Tonda Ames, Rogers and Tulsa County Sooner Success coordinator.  “During their lives, they will experience most of the unique concerns and joys that their parents do.  But few siblings of children with special needs ever have a chance to talk about their issues with others who “get it”, until now.”

Sibshops is program designed to provide peer support and education within a recreational setting for children ages six to 13 who have siblings with a special need.  The program acknowledges that being the sibling of a person with special needs is a good thing for some, a not-so-good thing for others, and for many, it is somewhere in-between.

Penny King, Rogers County OSU Extension Services Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, will lead the Sibshops. This is the second year King has lead the Sibshops. Her background in this area provides a natural fit as a fun and educated Sibshops leader.

 Respite will take place at the same time and location, and is for children with special needs, and will be led by volunteers from the First Baptist Church Claremore.

“Our theme for this combined event is ‘Fall Beginnings.’ We will have activities and snacks revolving around that theme. There are a limited number of openings for the respite and Sibshops because we want to keep the volunteer-to-attendee ratio at a manageable level. Caregivers/parents can register for one or both Sibshops and respite, however respite is only for children with special needs,” said Ames.

Deadline to register for the Sibshops/Respite evening is Oct. 4. Registrations can be made by contacting: Tonda-ames@ouhsc.edu or calling 918-712-0340.