When discussing special needs children, one always thinks of supporting the parents. But what about their siblings? How do they feel about their unusual situation?

Sibsensations, a support group for children ages 8 to 13, focuses on working with these children—siblings of children with developmental and physical disabilities. The group, founded by the Park Ridge Health Foundation in 2002, facilitates discussions about living with a child with special needs through crafts, games and icebreaker activities.

“This group offers these kids the opportunity to share their feelings about their siblings with other children who understand,” said Kathy Smart, Sibsensations program director at Lutheran General Hospital. “It helps them realize they’re not alone.”

Sibsensations meets about once a month for 2 and a half hours. Smart said she tries to make these sessions fun and interactive.

“We usually start with a game or a get-to-know,” she said. “Then we’ll do an art project—once we made ‘my three wishes’ magic wands out of pretzels, frosting and sprinkles.”

The craft time, Smart said, gives the children a chance to chat with one another.

“The games are also very important,” Smart said. “It’s a way to talk about these issues in a fun and casual way.”

Smart remembers one particular moment that struck her recently, where the children were playing a rope of feelings game. Each child would answer questions about how they feel about specific items or topics, and would place their hand on the rope, on scale of 1 to 10.

“At one point, I asked, ‘How do you feel about sharing the same room as your sibling?’ and these two girls raced to put their hands on the lowest point on the rope, to the point where their hands were on top of one another,” said Smart. “It really affected me when their hands touched, just for a moment, because they had had the same experience and could express it openly like that.”

Smart said that Sibsensations is a small group of children, but they keep coming back month after month. One particular girl, Katie Danaher, of Niles, went from attending the group, starting at 9 years old, to being a volunteer helper years later.

“Doing Sibsensations has made me a lot more open about talking about my brother, who has Down syndrome,” said Danaher, now 15.

Danaher also said that the sessions have helped her relationship with her brother.

“Before, I didn’t know how people would react if I brought my brother to a basketball game or something, but people are really open to meeting him,” Danaher said. “The group has given me more confidence to bring him out, and integrating him into the activities I’m involved in.”

Sibsensation’s next session is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 and is held in the Yacktman Children’s Pavilion, 1675 Dempster Street, Park Ridge. The cost is $10 for each session and $5 for each additional family member. To register, call Kathy Smart at 847-723-9484.

--by Nona Willis Aronowitz, Triblocal.com reporter