Bethesda forms sibling support group

by Lara Pickford-Gordon

snrwriter.camsel@catholictt.org

“When siblings are seen, supported and respected, they are able to boost the entire family who would then blossom into a garden of peace, hope and prosperity,” said Saira La Foucade as she summed up the hope for the Bethesda’s sibling support group at its launch on Saturday, March 22 at the Cascade Community Centre.

La Foucade is the founder of Bethesda, a ministry for persons with disabilities (PWDs). It falls under the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission.

La Foucade recalled a sibling support group that was established about 20 years ago. After it stopped, she enquired and found out there were no others. She thanked the LIFE (Learning is for Everyone) Centre, Cascade, for allowing Bethesda to use its facility on the fourth Saturday of the month for the sibling support meetings. Parents dropping their children can also get support in the parent support group. The first meeting will be on April 26, 4 to 6 p.m.

La Foucade said: “In this way, we are supporting the entire family, yes, the person with disability but also their siblings and their parents and their peers, because unless the family is coping, there is no way the person with disability will be able to grow and come to their full potential.”

She looked forward to families receiving the support they needed and not just struggling to cope.

Speech-Language Pathologist Donella Rodriguez, delivering the feature address ‘Why a sibling support group’ said, as a professional, she prided herself on the relationship she has with the families she served. They shared their challenge “in not only providing for their children with special needs but also the siblings”. While parents did the best they could, they expressed their struggle balancing care for their children. The sibling support space, Rodriguez said, will be a place where siblings can express their feelings, build resilience, “in a fun and supportive way”.

A personal testimony on living with a sibling with special needs was given by occupational therapist Kristen Mollineau; her sister Jada is autistic.  She also spoke of her experience being part of a sibling support group and fond memories of being with others who understood what she was going through. “The burden of someone with a disability is borne by everybody in the house. Yes, parents have to deal with figuring out things like schools and therapies, but they are not the only ones who have to face judgement from our society, and when you are the child with the least problems, you are often expected to compromise”, Mollineau said.

She asserted the importance of siblings of people with special needs, knowing their voices are heard and their feelings also mattered, “especially since we will have the longest living relationship with our brothers and sisters with special needs,” she stated.

She strongly believed being in a sibling support group enabled her to form and maintain a positive relationship with her sister.

Bethesda celebrates ten years this year. It was started to bring about inclusivity for families and PWDs in Masses, and became a registered non-profit organisation in 2019. La Foucade shared the long-term goal of the Ministry is establishing a group home for adults with disabilities, and short-term, a facility for temporary care.  Bethesda hosts fun days and a July-August camp for PWDs. La Foucade singled out for praise the volunteers involved in Bethesda who helped make these events happen.

Also addressing the launch was Sharla Dass-Hassanali, representing Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister with responsibility for Child and Gender Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister.

The members of the sibling support group team are: Kristen Mollineau, Vanae Alexander, Julia Peake, Kateri and Malik Williams.

Interested families are invited to register for the sibling support group here.