UPDATE ON ELIJA SIBLING SUPPORT GROUPS

February 22, 2008

*** BASED ON THE CURRENT RESPONSES, WE HAVE CREATED SEVERAL AGE

GROUPS, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK BELOW, WE STILL HAVE ROOM AVAILABLE, ALSO

FEEL FREE TO RESUBMIT YOUR FORM BASED ON THE BELOW UPDATES ***

Proudly offers our community

THERAPEUTIC CREATIVE ARTS FAMILY SUPPORT

Serving Parents, Siblings and Individuals with Autistic Spectrum

Disorder with therapeutic art & music sessions geared toward

supporting the emotional and social needs of families affected by

Autism.

Pilot Sibling/Mommy & Me Sessions: Approximately 2 hours long, there

will be AM & PM sessions

Fee: Voluntary Donation

Location: The ELIJA House 665 N. Newbridge Rd. Levittown NY 11756

Potential Schedule FOR SIBLING PILOT: AM = 10:00– 12:00 (2 groups:

For 4-6 year olds & Mommy's with their 3 and younger typically

developing child) PM = 12:30 – 2:30(2 groups: For 7-11 year olds & 12

to 15)

Saturday Dates April 5 & 12, May 3,10,17 & 31, June 7 and 14)

Brothers and sisters are too important to ignore, if for only these

reasons:

Siblings will be in the lives of family members with special needs

longer than anyone. Brothers and sisters will be there after parents

are gone and special education services are a distant memory. If they

are provided with support and information, they can help their sibs

live dignified lives from childhood to their senior years.

Throughout their lives, brothers and sisters share many of the

concerns that parents of children with special needs experience,

including isolation, a need for information, guilt, concerns about

the future, and care giving demands. Brothers and sisters also face

issues that are uniquely theirs including resentment, peer issues,

embarrassment, and pressure to achieve.

No classmate in an inclusive classroom will have a greater impact on

the social development of a child with a disability than brothers and

sisters will. They will be their siblings' life-long " typically-

developing role models. "

Sources of Stress for Siblings

Not all siblings will experience these issues, but

here are some to be aware of:

Embarrassment around peers. Jealousy regarding amount of time parents

spend with their brother/sister

Frustration over not being able to engage or get a response from

their brother/sister

Being the target of aggressive behaviors

Trying to make up for the deficits of their brother/sister

Concern regarding their parents stress and grief

Concern over their role in future care giving

THE ELIJA FOUNDATION hopes to recognize and acknowledge through this

initiative, the social and emotional needs of the parents and their

typically developing children who have been touched by Autism.

We hope you will consider joining us, as we create a special time and

place for these crucial family members to receive the support that

they need.

The pilot will provide the typical sibling participants approximately

1 hour of Art Therapy & 1 hour of Music Therapy With Board Certified

& Licensed Art & Music Therapists for small group Saturday Sessions

Our pilot program will initially service SIBLINGS (ages 4- 15) and

PARENTS with Siblings under 3 ONLY, however, based on interest and

funding we are aiming to form classes for the entire family (those

with ASD and Parent ONLY groups) to participate either simultaneously

or during different times throughout the week. We do not have a date

when these additional programs will be available.

PLEASE NOTE: The ELIJA Foundation is committed to this initiative

and we thank you all for your input and interest . ELIJA will be

sponsoring the SIBLING pilot and contingent on future funding, we

will create additional groups for individuals with Autism. ELIJA

understands the unique needs of those with ASD's and only wish to

provide a therapeutic & purposeful environment for them. We thank you

for your patience while we design a creative arts program

specifically for them, and do hope you will consider your typical

siblings for our pilot to this program initiative.

Please supply us with some information which will help us service

your family appropriately for this session or future ones.

& #65532;

INTAKE FORM

CREATIVE ARTS PARENT & SIBLING SUPPORT PILOT ROGRAM APRIL 2008-June

2008

––––––––––––––––––––––––––Please Mail / Fax or Email this

information_____________________

We would be interested in having our typical child(ren) (sibling(s)

of an Autistic child) participating in your Creative Arts Family

Support Program

We are interested in having our (no age limit):

O _______ # Typical Sibling(s) participate Age(s)

_________________________

O _______ We are interested in the Mommy and me Group

the age of my under 4 typically developing child

is _____________

We would be interested in having them attend :

AM session (Mommy & 3 and under or 4-6 yo's) ________ PM Session

(7-11yos or 12 - 15yos) ________

I have a sibling of another age range, please consider making a group

for the age(s) __________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS FOR FUTURE GROUPS, AND /OR for families with

only children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (no age limit)

O _______ # Individuals with Autism Age(s)

_______________________________

Prefered Schedule: SAT AM _______ Sat PM________

O _______ # Parent(s)/Caregiver only group

Prefered Schedule: Sat AM________ Sat PM___________

For the parent only group , I (we)could do an evening during the

week after 4 please consider the following day

(s)/times:____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Additional Comments:

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NAME_________________________________________EMAIL____________________

PH_______________________

ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________

__________________________

FAX TO : 516 433 4324 EMAIL TO: elija@... MAIL: ELIJA

FAMILY SUPPORT 665 N. Newbridge Rd. Levittown NY 11756

February 22, 2008

How do we find out about ELIJAH's stance on diet and biomed treatments?

Marie

[ ] UPDATE ON ELIJA SIBLING SUPPORT GROUPS