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Why Siblings Don’t Talk About It

(Until We’re With Other Siblings) Last month, during the sibling roundtable conversation we posted, something happened that always happens when siblings gather. The tone shifted. Shoulders dropped.Voices softened.There was laughter — the kind that only comes when you don’t have to explain the backstory. And I was reminded: Siblings don’t usually talk about it. At…

by SpecialSib_OT

Informal Caregiving: The Role I Didn’t Know I Had

When I first heard the term informal caregiver, I paused. It wasn’t in a sibling space.It wasn’t in a family systems conversation.It wasn’t even in an OT lecture. And when the role was described — spouses, aging parents, adult children — Siblings weren’t mentioned. I remember thinking: Wait. What about us? The Invisible Role World…

by SpecialSib_OT

Accepting Help

Traveling alone in Thailand, I noticed something uncomfortable. The guides carried things.They navigated.They made sure I crossed busy streets safely.Hotel staff walked me out at night.They checked transportation.They made sure I arrived back safely. And my first instinct? “I’ve got it.” Not because I didn’t appreciate them.But because receiving help felt… foreign. As siblings —…

by SpecialSib_OT

1 thought on “Home”

  1. If you’re on SSI or SSDI you get free healthcare BUT often you have to wait even longer to get authorizations in some cases. Even though social security is a federal agency the state doles out the medical insurance. In California it was called Medical-Cal.
    For those that believe the agencies are consistent.. good luck.

    Reply

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About Me

“Undisturbed calmness of the mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked”.- Pantanjali Hi, I’m Cheryl Albright, occupational therapist, yoga therapist, and founder of Soul To Soul Yoga and Special Sib. For more than 20 years, I’ve worked with children, families,… Continue reading About Me

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton Special Needs Sibling…. This is an actual thing. I knew there had to be others but I had no idea where or how to find them. I was actually going to start my own type of support group.… Continue reading The Journey Begins

Why Siblings Don’t Talk About It

a woman in black dress wearing black hat

(Until We’re With Other Siblings) Last month, during the sibling roundtable conversation we posted, something happened that always happens when siblings gather. The tone shifted. Shoulders dropped.Voices softened.There was laughter — the kind that only comes when you don’t have to explain the backstory. And I was reminded: Siblings don’t usually talk about it. At… Continue reading Why Siblings Don’t Talk About It

Informal Caregiving: The Role I Didn’t Know I Had

Photo of World Federation of Occupational Therapy congress 2026 logo

When I first heard the term informal caregiver, I paused. It wasn’t in a sibling space.It wasn’t in a family systems conversation.It wasn’t even in an OT lecture. And when the role was described — spouses, aging parents, adult children — Siblings weren’t mentioned. I remember thinking: Wait. What about us? The Invisible Role World… Continue reading Informal Caregiving: The Role I Didn’t Know I Had

Accepting Help

Picture of the Big Buddha, Bangkok Thailand

Traveling alone in Thailand, I noticed something uncomfortable. The guides carried things.They navigated.They made sure I crossed busy streets safely.Hotel staff walked me out at night.They checked transportation.They made sure I arrived back safely. And my first instinct? “I’ve got it.” Not because I didn’t appreciate them.But because receiving help felt… foreign. As siblings —… Continue reading Accepting Help

Everything Is Connected—and That’s Why I’m Writing More

close up photography of yellow green red and brown plastic cones on white lined surface

People often ask what connects my work in occupational therapy, yoga therapy, chronic illness, disability, and sibling support. The answer is simple: real life doesn’t live in silos. Regulation doesn’t stop at the nervous system.Identity doesn’t stop at diagnosis.And sibling experiences don’t end in childhood. Over time, I realized I needed a space to write… Continue reading Everything Is Connected—and That’s Why I’m Writing More

Starting the Sibling Conversation: Because Silence Isn’t Neutral

young man and woman talking having conversation with speech bubbles - PNG image with transparent background

Sibling relationships are complicated—even more so when disability, chronic illness, or mental health is part of the family story. Many adult siblings grow up learning how to “be fine,” stay quiet, or take on roles without ever being asked how they’re actually doing. The problem? Silence doesn’t mean everything is okay.It usually means the conversation… Continue reading Starting the Sibling Conversation: Because Silence Isn’t Neutral

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