The Aquebogue Elementary School SibShop group recently had a guest speaker, a freshman at Riverhead High School, discuss his experiences as a sibling of a child with special needs and encourage the students to continue connecting with one another.
“SibShops has been off to a wonderful start this school year,” said Sibshop facilitator Jennifer Weintraub. “Through games and discussions, we have spent the first half of our year discussing the joys and struggles of having a sibling with special needs. The students have started to open up and feel more comfortable sharing their own experiences at home and making connections to their peers’ experiences. Most recently, our SibShop group had a very special guest speaker, Owen Karlson. The students were so excited to have Owen join our group for the day, and he spoke openly about his experiences having a brother with special needs. Afterwards, each of the students had a chance to ask questions. While some were lighthearted and silly, others really highlighted the difficulties and emotions they are experiencing on a daily basis. It was so remarkable to have Owen help guide our younger siblings, and we are looking forward to his next visit.”
Date Added: 1/18/2022