Community Living Ontario’s 70th Inspiring Possibilities Conference – The role of siblings in advancing the inclusion and well-being of people with disabilities

Community Living Ontario is hosting its 70^th Annual General Meeting and Conference – Inspiring Possibilities – from September 27 to September 29, 2023. The event is one of the largest gatherings in North America dedicated to promoting inclusion for people who have an intellectual disability.

The role of siblings in advancing the inclusion and well-being of people with disabilities

As a result of better medical care and good lives in the community, people with disabilities are living longer lives and often outliving their parents. This means that their siblings are becoming—or, in some cases, have already become—the next generation of caregivers for their brothers and sisters with disabilities.

For the past five years, Siblings Canada, an initiative of the CCCE —in partnership with the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at CAMH and international partners—has been researching the experiences of siblings of people with disabilities. This session highlights important findings from this research, including some of the major challenges siblings face and what they require as caregivers to support the wellbeing and inclusion of their brothers and sisters with disabilities. It then outlines practical ways that service providers can support siblings of people with disabilities to fulfill their changing roles with greater confidence and influence.

Helen Ries from Siblings Canada will be presenting the session.