Creative Arts Sibling Support Group - Long Island NY

[Guest guest]

http://www.elija.org/creativearts.html

Creative Arts Sibling Support

Hosted by The Elija Foundation &

Generously Sponsored by The Nassau Suffolk Chapter of The Autism Society of

America NSASA.ORG

When: Saturdays August 1st, 8th and 15th 2009

AM Session: 10:00am to 11:45pm

PM Session: 12:15pm to 2:00pm

Where: Located at The ELIJA House

665 N. Newbridge Road Levittown NY 11756

Fee: Free (sponsored by NSASA.ORG)

Intake Form: Click Here

For more information about this program email nicole@...

WHY SIBLING SUPPORT

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 autistic sibling 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 and The Nassau Suffolk Chapter of The Autism Society of

America (NSASA.ORG)

hopes to recognize and acknowledge through this initiative, the social and

emotional needs of the 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.

Biographies of the Therapists

Elija is pleased to introduce to you, the talented staff that will be

facilitating our sibling support groups.

Program Coordinator: Margaret Carlock, ATR-BC, LCAT

CONTACT HER AT carlockm@...

Our Art therapist:

Margaret Carlock, ATR-BC, LCAT, is a registered, board certified, licensed

creative arts therapist with over 13 years of experience providing individual

and group therapy, therapeutic workshops, professional development and lectures

on creative arts therapy theory and practice. Ms. Carlock has created several

art therapy programs since obtaining her Master's Degree in Creative Arts

Therapy from Hofstra University in 1995. Although Ms. Carlock has experience

working in a variety of settings, her passion lies in working with children with

special needs and their families. In 1996, Ms. Carlock began an art therapy

program for The Children's Learning Center of United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau

County, Inc. The program has grown over the years and now serves over 200

students. In addition to working as an art therapist at The Children's Learning

Center, Ms. Carlock is also an Assistant Principal there. Holding an

administrative position in the school has been a wonderful learning experience

for Ms. Carlock. She now uses the skills she has obtained as an administrator,

to further develop creative arts programs for children with special needs in new

locations.

Ms. Carlock also holds a graduate level teaching position at Hofstra

University in the Creative Arts Therapy Program and maintains a private practice

working with individuals with special needs as well as providing supervision to

professionals working toward their ATR and licensure.

Ms. Carlock is active in the New York Art Therapy Association; she has

been a board member for several years, holding various positions including

treasurer and recording secretary.

About Art Therapy:Art therapy uses the creative process to foster self-awareness

and personal growth. Children can particularly benefit from the process of

clinical art therapy as it incorporates verbal and non-verbal expressions with

art experiences. In a non-threatening and fun way, children can explore issues

and concerns they may have but may not have the words to express. Coping skills

are developed through the process of creating art and can then be transferred to

other life situations.

From The American Art Therapy Association:

Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the

making of art is healing and life-enhancing. Through creating art and talking

about art and the process of art making with an art therapist, one can increase

awareness of self, cope with symptoms, stress, traumatic experiences, enhance

cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of artistic

creativity.

Our Music Therapist

Jill Lucente, MT-BC, is a professionally credentialed, board certified music

therapist. She received her Bachelors degree of Science in Music Therapy from

Molloy College in Rockville Centre, N.Y. and is currently completing a Masters

degree in Music Therapy from Molloy College. Jill has a broad range of clinical

experience. Currently her clinical focus is working with toddlers and young

children with special needs. In addition, she has significant experience in

working with children and teenagers with a wide range of disabilities including

autism spectrum disorders, sensory-processing disorders, cerebral palsy,

traumatic brain injury, and generalized learning difficulties.Jill has

participated and served as a professional resource in a student research study

entitled: " The Effectiveness of a Music Therapy Program with Autistic Children, "

and played a significant role in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for the

American Music Therapy Association. Jill is the Special Project Coordinator, and

oversees the Volunteer Program for The Center for Music Therapy

About Music Therapy: Music therapy is an alternative approach to the pursuit of

various therapeutic and educational goals. This individualized and

interdisciplinary approach allows children to participate to the fullest of

their ability. The components of music therapy are structured to complement

related therapies in such a way so as to increase focus, retain attention,

develop body awareness with fine and gross motor skills, increase socialization

and communication, as well as to allow children to enjoy themselves in a

non-threatening environment.

The Objectives of our program

The Elija Foundation Creative Arts Sibling Support Program focuses on providing

an opportunity for siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to come

together in a creative and welcoming environment to explore issues and/or

concerns they may have in their lives. Sessions will be facilitated by licensed

creative arts therapists and will be geared toward meeting the needs of the

children in each group.

For the youngest participants, the experience will provide either an opportunity

for quality time with a parent or caregiver while engaging in a creative and

developmentally appropriate activity or an opportunity to engage in art or music

making in a setting that allows for self-expression and exploration of

materials.

Elementary age and adolescent participants will have the opportunity to discover

the possibilities of creative expression while gaining insight into their own

lives and the lives of their family members.

TO SIGN UP FOR THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE FILL OUT THE SIBLING INTAKE FORM !

CLICK HERE FOR INTAKE FORM, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED BY JULY 24th 2008

http://www.elija.org/siblingintakeform.html