Sibling relationships are meaningful for all people, but a remarkable bond is formed for siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All siblings often have the longest-lasting relationships with their brothers or sisters, longer even than that of their parents. But when a sibling has a disability, it is often a relationship that comes with challenges; however, brothers and sisters of people with developmental disabilities can often benefit from professional assistance and peer support.
AHRC New York City’s Sibling Services provides a much-needed outlet for people whose closest relatives have I/DD through workshops, in-depth conversations, and more. On Monday, June 12, our Sibling Committee of the Board of Directors held its first in-person meeting in more than three years with a screening of Liz Sargent’s acclaimed short film “Take Me Home” at AHRC NYC Headquarters.
The screening was hosted by Nancy Petrino, an AHRC NYC Board Member, and Lindsay Hyland, a member of the board’s Sibling Committee.
Take Me Home
“Our sister Anna is the star of this film,” Liz said. She filmed the movie at their parent’s house in Orlando, showcasing a narrative short about a difficult transitional moment in the life of a disabled young woman and her estranged sister as their mother suffers severe health challenges.
Liz is one of 11 children, adopted from South Korea by loving parents. Anna, one of Liz’s sisters, was the star of the movie, bringing an authentic warmth to a character who recently lost her mom. Liz wanted to showcase this critical transitional moment in their lives, allowing her to process the stress that comes with such a significant life event.
“Being a sibling is the most prominent part of my identity,” she shared. “I wanted Anna to feel empowered and speak in the rhythm and language that she uses to communicate with the world.”
Reactions to the Film
Marco Damiani, CEO of AHRC NYC, said “The film really celebrates the power of love. Life is full of transitions. The relationships you have are sometimes more important than you think in navigating your way through them.”
One sibling who attended the event said the film made him reflect on processing grief when needing to step into a caretaker role. “When the parent is gone, you have two seconds to grieve and then you have a million things to worry about. We still haven’t put a gravestone for my mom, and in any other room I’d feel trite saying it, but I just haven’t been able to get around to it because of my new responsibilities.”
A parent said the film made her think about how her child will handle her eventual passing. “Anytime I’m away, my daughter gets anxious. Nobody has as special a bond with her as I do.”
Lindsay Hyland said, “It makes you realize there are so many things holding it together, taking care of your family member, but it can all be so precarious. The variables that you live with are intimidating.”
About AHRC NYC’s Sibling Services
Sibling services can be made available to brothers and sisters of individuals with developmental disabilities, regardless of whether their disabled sibling receives services through AHRC New York City.
Services are available to siblings from all five boroughs at AHRC NYC headquarters located at 83 Maiden Lane in Manhattan. Contact Annette Spallino 908-419-3907 or email annette.spallino@ahrcnyc.org for more information.
