Siblings of Special Needs Children....

[bsnyder]

Hi ya'll! I posted this on the CB, but also thought I might get get some responses here on the DisABILTIES Board.

My neice, Ellie, is 8 years old and is High-Functioning Autistic, probably Asperger's Syndrome is a more precise diagnosis, but these things tend to be very gray areas.

Anyway, my sister has been interested in quite some time in finding a penpal for Ellie's older sister, who is 10. She'd like the penpal to be a child that also has a sibling with a developmental disability thinking that it might really help her to have someone to relate to that also has a sibling with this type of special needs.

So far, she hasn't had any luck setting something up on the Asperger's site she frequents.

So I told her I'd turn to the good folks at the DIS (again, LOL!)

Any ideas on how to accomplish this would be appreciated.

Hi Wheelsie, and Sue!

[bianca]

I think my daughter might be interested. She just turned 11 and also has a little sister that is currently being tested for Aspergers ..... looks like a sure thing, but you never know! Anyway, e-mail me with more details.

[bsnyder]

Thanks Bianca! An email is on its way to you!

[Wheelsie]

See Bet ya came to the right place...and the corect spelling is disABILITIES....don't forget those caps Girlie! :D

Glad to see ya pop over here...I'm sure you will get more responses as time passes :)

[SueM in MN]

Hi, Bet.
I think that's a neat idea to have a penpal.
I can't help you out, my DD is too old, but it sounds like you've got a good possibility already.
I have a nephew who was diagnosed with Asperger's. He's really a neat kid and is doing a lot better now that he's getting the types of support he needs.

[bsnyder]

Wheelsie and Sue....I realized that as soon as I hit submit reply....I was posting as I was leaving work and was in a hurry, and thought I would change it when I got home....thanks for the reminder and sorry about that!

Yep, Sue, they are definitely amazing kids.

Bianca, I sent you a pm....no email address in your profile.

[Wheelsie]

awww don't sweat it sis...I was just funnin' ya! :)

[teri]

Well, I hesitated to answer yesterday for a couple of reasons. Our son is not so high functioning in terms of behavior, he is a real handful, and I am kind of worried that my daughter's comments and perspective might not be so.... positive. :eek: You know how siblings can be, under "normal" circumstances.... but I would be willing to ask her if she is interested, if you haven't already come up with a few good choices. We also have a problem getting her to follow up on correspondence... something we really need to work on.

[bsnyder]

Teri, I have that same problem with all three of mine! LOL!