An expanding Family Circle
helps brothers and sisters of
persons with disabilities.
Above: The children play a parachute game.
Right: Theresa Fulgenzi leads "listening
exercises."
Far Right: Fraida Rachel Kahan enjoys the
snack break.
Below: The children enjoy a sing-along.
la Landsman, program coordinator. "People have always left feeling
like they wanted more. They wanted a sense of pulling things to-
gether."
The first portion of the program, held Sunday, Sept. 10, featured
a keynote address by Dr. Sally Linton Burton, creator of an em-
powerment program for siblings of people with disabilities. Dr. Bur-
ton, also the executive director of the Autism Society of Michigan, led
one of the subsequent workshops on communication with siblings.
Children who came to the program with their parents were treat-
ed to their own workshops focusing on support and activities.
"Siblings have their own concerns regarding the present and the
future of the person with special needs," Ms. Landsman said.
The second portion of the program, the Wednesday panel discus-
sion, focused on the experiences of Mr. Serlin, Florine Mark and
Liz Hartley, all adult siblings of persons with disabilities.
The third portion, a group discussion, will take place 7 p.m. Wednes-
day, Sept. 20, at the Agency for Jewish Education.
The expanded effort that went into the workshop will also benefit
programs for people with disabilities and their families. Currently,
AJE provides a Sunday school class for students with special needs
as well as teacher-training workshops.
Increased funding from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan De-
troit will allow for the expanded programs, expected to reach the Jew-
ish day schools, early childhood programs and congregational schools,
Ms. Landsman said. ❑
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