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The Sibling Connection

The Sibling Connection aims to be the first social networking site for siblings of people with disabilities. Please help us reach our goal.

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The Sibling Connection

The Sibling Connection

The Sibling Connection

The Sibling Connection

The Sibling Connection

The Sibling Connection aims to be the first social networking site for siblings of people with disabilities. Please help us reach our goal.

The Sibling Connection aims to be the first social networking site for siblings of people with disabilities. Please help us reach our goal.

The Sibling Connection aims to be the first social networking site for siblings of people with disabilities. Please help us reach our goal.

The Sibling Connection aims to be the first social networking site for siblings of people with disabilities. Please help us reach our goal.

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1 Campaign |
Vancouver, Canada
$460 USD $460 USD 11 backers
9% of $4,838 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
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Currency Conversion $7 USD
$10 CAD
Est. Shipping
September 2013
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Who We Are And Why We Started This:

The Sibling Connection was founded because- as the first generation of socially integrated people with disabilities age out of school age supports it will be their families who will take over primary education, social and life caring duties. Nobody within that family structure will be around longer than their siblings. And as such, by supporting the siblings we are supporting both them and the millions of people with disabilities who live around the world. 

Although developed nations are improving social supports available for families of people with special needs, the fact remains that siblings are under-represented and underserved in the social support arena the world over. This website endeavours to rectify this by providing a social networking space for siblings to communicate, share and support one another as well as seek advice for how best to support their disabled siblings no matter where they live. 

Where the money goes:

In order for us to launch a social networking component that is both easy to use and integrative we need at least $5000 to pay our web developer. We also need $1000-2000 to cover administrative start-up costs including non-profit registration. Anything we receive above and beyond the $7000 we are hoping to fundraise will be rolled in to the Sibling Connection to cover website administration, maintenance, and to help us expand to under-served communities. If we do not reach our fundraising goal all funds will be directed first to the development of our social networking site and then towards covering start-up costs.

We are looking to start the first social networking site geared towards siblings of people with special needs. By doing so we will reach a greater audience and not be restricted by our current location or access to local support systems. This is a virtually unsupported network of people.

On a Personal Note:

Jemana Elsharkawi is the founder of The Sibling Connection. Jemana holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and History and a post Bachelor’s certification in applied behaviour analysis and disability studies. She is currently completing a Master’s degree in Special Education with a focus on Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Jemana has a 22 year old brother with Autism.

Jemana grew up in the Middle East.  It was hard growing up with a brother with Autism who exhibited aggression borne out frustration of his lack of communication skills, especially in a region that did not understand her brother's needs. She frequently felt anger and then guilt and shame at the behaviour of her brother, but more often with herself. When her family moved to Canada nearly 20 years ago she was accepted in to a community that endeavoured to understand the particular challenges she experienced. Jemana was lucky, she developed a strong and loving relationship with her brother - but it took years to do so. The Sibling Connection was founded with the hope that by providing an open forum for siblings to support one another through both challenges and successes other people will be spared some of the pain she experienced.

We cannot do this alone and this is why we need your help. If you cannot donate then please pass this on to your friends and family members. To learn more about us please visit thesiblingconnection.net and helps us connect siblings all over the world.

 

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