The Great Country Pumpkin Party is back!!!

The Great Country Pumpkin Party is happening again! After two years’ hiatus, this annual trick-or-treating event for children with disabilities, their siblings, and families will be in full swing this year! Come visit our WisconSibs room and pick up some fun treats!

Country Inn & Suites on Fox River Dr (next to the Fox River Mall) is the host of this fun event. WATCH THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Teen Sib Leaders who are interested in volunteering at some or all of this event should contact Mathilde or Tessa.

Click ONLINE NOMINATION FORM

Nominations for the Sibling’s Choice Award recognizing caregivers, either family caregivers or paid professionals are due November 5, 2022. These awards are nominated BY SIBLINGS of people with disabilities and can be ANY AGE.

Selection Criteria:
-Nominated by an individual (any age) who is a brother or sister of a person with a disability.
-Nominations received after the deadline will be considered the next year.
-For teams or agencies, one person should be identified as a contact person and representation of the team.
-Cannot be self-nominated
-It is not required to be a resident of Outagamie County to nominate or be nominated.

more details

Save the date!  More details to come.

Because you have shared in the successes of WisconSibs, we invite you and your guest(s) to join us for

Celebrating WisconSibs!
An evening to Salute our past. Secure our future.

Saturday, November 12, 2022
Bubolz Nature Preserve
4815 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI 54913

5:00 – 6:00 pm
Social Hour | Cash Bar | Music

6:00 pm
Dinner – Family Style

7:00 pm
Program  – Emcee Bill Jartz
Saluting our Past. Securing our future.
(and recognizing Harriet’s retirement)

Live Auction |Raffle prize drawings |Dessert Reception

9:30 pm
Last Call

Tickets: $75 each Table of 10: $700

Limit of 200 seats available.
Dress: Snappy casual or wear your FVSSN or WisconSibs t-shirt.
Don’t have one? 25^th Anniversary shirts will be available for purchase.

More information and Make Reservations

In the spirit of it’s upcoming holiday concerts, Thrivent wants to bless some of the organizations making such an important impact in our communities with “Carols for a Cause!”

Between November 15-22, Thrivent will donate a total of $50,000 to 5 nonprofit organizations, including WisconSibs, based on the number of votes each receives. The more votes an organization gets, the more money Thrivent donates to it.

Total Votes – Organization Receives:

1^st – $15,000      2^nd – $12,500    3^rd – $10,000    4^th – $7,500    5^th – $5,000

Please vote for WisconSibs at https://bit.ly/CarolCauseEast

*Voting is open to all. One vote per person.  No products will be sold. One submission
Generosity Multiplier Gift per individual. One gift per organization.
Thanks to Thrivent for this holiday cheer!

2022 Family Caregiver Appreciation Event

FREE and sponsored by Outagamie Caregiver Coalition

OPEN TO ANY FAMILY MEMBER SERVING AS A CAREGIVER –

FREE, YOUR REGISTRATION IS APPRECIATED.

3:30 PM  Light fare (soup, salad, sandwiches, dessert) | Free raffle baskets | Resource tables
4:30 PM  Inspirational presentation on self-care by David Chapman from Compassus Hospice
5:15 PM   Presentation of Siblings Choice Caregiver Award
5:30 PM  Laughter Yoga

To reserve your spot, CLICK HERE or call 920.997.0118

Join Michelle’s Action Angels for their FREE holiday celebration and ornament making event.

More information, call 414-303-0665.

Michelle’s Action Angels has been a long-time supporter of WisconSibs. Enjoy this opportunity to get to know them.

“Santa Celebration” is designed for families who have children with special needs and their siblings of any age. The event takes place from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. 

Families may come/leave any time and also may schedule a specific time slot to visit Santa, helping them avoid long lines and giving children more time to play and parents relax. Volunteer Santa Helpers available to assist with children.

Activities during the event include: Cookie decorating, games, crafts, face painting, fun in the outdoor Santa’s courtyard, letters to Santa, breakfast treats, hot and cold beverages, and much, much more!

$10 for adults. Children are free. Registration REQUIRED.

CLICK TO REGISTER

Book Club for adult Sibs!

Join other adults who have siblings with disabilities for this new book club designed just for you.

Here’s a chance to connect with other adult sibs while getting into a book on your reading list or a new read.

Any Sib may join from anywhere in Wisconsin. Books will be chosen by participants and meetings are expected to be held once per month via Zoom.

Don’t always have time to read? Join us anyway and read when you can (or use it as extra encouragement to make time to read.) Be open to a world of posSIBility!

https://bit.ly/wisconsibsREAD
(note: case sensitivity)

Upcoming Book Club Discussion
Wed., Dec 14, 2022   7:15 PM
– Book this month –
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

In the meantime, check out our closed WisconSibsREAD Facebook page.

Join us for Sibshop at the Building for Kids!

What would it be like to use a robot to help you get ready for school? or make your lunch? or play with you after school? Siblings of children with disabilities ages 6-12 are invited to join this Sibshop and learn about robots and how they help us. Sibshop games, a craft, and snacks are all included for Sibs participating in Sibshop at the Building for Kids Children’s Museum.

In addition, each family will receive a free day-pass to use at the museum that afternoon until closing. (Supervision for Sibshop participants only provided from Noon – 3 pm. Families are responsible for other children. Museum closes at 4 pm.)

Cost:  $15/Sibshop participant
Registration required in advance.

To register your Sibshop participant, CLICK HERE.

Are you a sibling whois concerned about the day your parents no longer can care for your sibling?  Or you’ve become responsible for your sibling and are unsure about the future and need some answers?

For adults who have a sibling with developmental disabilities or long-term illnesses, the journey together is lifelong. You may already be in a care giving role or expect to in the future. This program helps you clarify your role, get the planning tools to move forward, and connect with other siblings and local resources that will change your future.

Journey Forward has one main goal— to help you as an adult sibling move forward with peace of mind. 

When you are finished with both workshop sessions, you will have a written document which describes your sibling’s desired future living arrangement, community role, and lifestyle preferences.  You will have a plan that includes practical directions and information for maintaining continuity in your sibling’s daily life and needed supports to achieve these outcomes.  Some call this peace of mind. 

This is the first session of a two-session program.  Adult siblings are encouraged to invite parents, siblings (including any with disabilities), and other family members as their guests. The program includes all materials and lunch for adult siblings and their guests (spouse, other siblings, parents, and any other significant members of their family or team) for both sessions.

If you wish to register yourself, your sibling, or your parents or you have questions about Journey Forward in general, contact us at the WisconSibs office.

Book Club for adult Sibs!

Join other adults who have siblings with disabilities for this new book club designed just for you.

Here’s a chance to connect with other adult sibs while getting into a book on your reading list or a new read.

Any Sib may join from anywhere in Wisconsin. Books will be chosen by participants and meetings are expected to be held once per month via Zoom.

Don’t always have time to read? Join us anyway and read when you can (or use it as extra encouragement to make time to read.) Be open to a world of posSIBility!

https://bit.ly/wisconsibsREAD
(note: case sensitivity)

Upcoming Book Club Discussion
January 17, 2023   7:15 PM
– Book this month –
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream
by Jeannie Zusy

In the meantime, check out our closed WisconSibsREAD Facebook page.

S.P.A. (Sister are Pretty Awesom) Sibshop for girls and their moms
We are so excited to return to offering our popular SPA Sibshop! Being a sister of someone with unique abilities can be pretty awesome. But like Anna of Arendelle in the movie Frozen knows, it can also be pretty full of challenges, especially for sisters and moms, that can lead to health risks.

This Sibshop for girls is an opportunity to have fun exploring how sisters like Elsa and Anna, along with their Moms (or grandma, or big sister, aunt or grown up friend), can keep the challenges from overwhelming life.

Cost: $15/child (Moms are guests)
Registration required in advance. Space limited. To register, CLICK HERE!

2023 Sibs Are My Peeps
Photo Challenge

Grab a couple packages of Peeps, a box, some glue, a little paper or decorations, and you’ve got fun for an afternoon.

HOW TO ENTER and SEND YOUR PHOTOS

The theme this year is “Festival of Peeps”. The contest runs from March 1 to March 31, 2023.

More information and see entries from previous years visit  https://wisconsibs.org/what-we-offer/sibs-are-my-peeps/

Finished your entry and ready to show us?

Download entry form. Email the form and 2 photos to [email protected]

Book Club for adult Sibs!

Join other adults who have siblings with disabilities for this new book club designed just for you.

Here’s a chance to connect with other adult sibs while getting into a book on your reading list or a new read.

Any Sib may join from anywhere in Wisconsin. Books will be chosen by participants and meetings are expected to be held once per month via Zoom.

Don’t always have time to read? Join us anyway and read when you can (or use it as extra encouragement to make time to read.) Be open to a world of posSIBility!

https://bit.ly/wisconsibsREAD
(note: case sensitivity)

Upcoming Book Club Discussion
March 8, 2023   7:15 PM
– Book this month –
TBD

In the meantime, check out our closed WisconSibsREAD Facebook page.

Save the date for this Sibshop for children ages 6-12 who have siblings with disabilities. More information soon.

Workshop #2 of Journey Forward

This is the part 2 of the 2-part Journey Forward program. It is open to adult Sibs and their guests who attended Workshop #1 or would like a refresher after having attended any Journey Forward workshop in the past.

Topics will include:

• Letter of Intent progress and how to use it to get what you and your sibling with disabilities need and want.
• Housing for people with disabilities – Assessing needs and interests, options and challenges
• Employment Options or Day Program options – Assessing skills, interests, and navigating local options.

Who benefits from Journey Forward workshops? Directed at adults who have a sibling with developmental disabilities or long-term illnesses, the journey ultimately benefits you AND your sibling with disabilities AND others in your family, even your community. You may already be in a care giving role or expect to in the future. This program helps you clarify your role as a sibling, get the planning tools to move forward, and connect with other siblings and local resources that will impact your future.

Journey Forward has one main goal— to help you as an adult sibling move forward with peace of mind. 

When you are finished with both workshop sessions, you will have a written document which describes your sibling’s desired future living arrangement, community role, and lifestyle preferences.  You will have a plan that includes practical directions and information for maintaining continuity in your sibling’s daily life and needed supports to achieve these outcomes.  Some call this peace of mind. 

This is the second session of a two-session program.  Adult siblings are encouraged to invite parents, siblings (including any with disabilities), and other family members as their guests. The program includes all materials and lunch for adult siblings and their guests (spouse, other siblings, parents, and any other significant members of their family or team) for both sessions.

If you wish to register yourself, your sibling, or your parents or you have questions about Journey Forward in general, contact us at the WisconSibs office.