Harriet received the Don Meyer Award honoring her deep commitment to supporting siblings of people with disabilities and her innovative sibling programs and solutions. The award itself was created by artists with developmental disabilities and presented at the national Sibling Leadership Network conference this past summer.
This August begins the 25th year for WisconSibs, Inc. As we look forward to celebrating this milestone, it’s only natural to think about how we started, how far we’ve come, and how we are planning for the future.
Our work started when a handful of volunteers across the Fox Valley connected around a critical, yet overlooked need: providing support to children who were siblings of kids with disabilities. One of those volunteers was Harriet Redman. She and others began offering SIBshop® —workshops for children ages 6-12 designed by Don Meyer of the Sibling Support Project.
Under Harriet’s leadership, the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network was chartered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on July 28, 1998. As we know today, it was the first of its kind in the United States. In 2014 we renamed the organization WisconSibs, Inc to reflect our broader statewide impact. We’ve now grown into a nationally recognized model for supporting siblings of people with disabilities throughout their life-long Sib journey.
A leadership change
As the Board of Directors started its strategic planning in 2020 to develop the next stage of WisconSibs, Inc., Harriet announced that it was time to find the next leader for the organization.
She plans to retire as Executive Director in August, but will continue in an emeritus role to help orient a new director and to cheer on WisconSibs as a loyal supporter to help it reach its full potential.
“I really think of this transition as a celebration of all that has been done, and of all that will come next. The organization has never been stronger and is ready for someone to take it to the next level. I’m looking forward to being helpful in whatever way I can,” says Harriet.
Meet Cate Ellis, a senior at UW-Oshkosh, and learn her story of struggle and triumph as a sister.
Find out what Kelly of Waterford wishes she had known before her sister with a seizure disorder was hospitalized.
Enjoy photos from SibDays of Summer and Teen Sib Leadership activities this summer.
This issue was written and designed by our Sibling Summer Interns, Zoe and Randy. Get to know them, along with our new Youth Coordinator on page 4. CLICK TO READ NOW
NOTE: This issue does not contain our usual Calendar of Events. Continue to watch for website, Facebook, and email announcements to get the latest updates.
January-March 2022 – Volume 20, Issue 1 contains:
Click to download SIBNEWS NOW 
During “Safer at Home” WisconSibs will continue to offer programs virtually, using Zoom.