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Meet Sara Carmen

65. Sibling Story Sara Carmen The Arc Amplified

Meet Sara Carmen — Arc Sibshop Super Sib!

Meet Sara Carmen — one of our SUPER SIBS at The Arc of Snohomish County!

Sara lives in Snohomish County with her two sisters, her mom and dad, and the family’s two dogs. One of her sisters experiences developmental disabilities.

In her free time, Sara likes to listen to music and sketch. She describes both music and art as a way to “have her own space.” For her, it is a way of setting her own boundaries, “resetting her brain,” and going over things in her head. She shared: “[My sister] knows that when I’m listening to music, it’s my time.”

(What a wonderful example of how essential it is for all of us to set aside time for self-reflection and to know what we need for ourselves as we sort through our thoughts and feelings and take the time to “reset” our own minds. Thank you, Sara, for sharing that insight.)

Sara is currently in the ninth grade and enjoys attending online school.

When asked about her future “dream job,” she shared: “For a long time, it was to be a singer. But I’ve kind of moved to a different point. Right now, I would like to try to become a Home Care Aid.”

She wants to support people with disabilities, who are living in the community. She is also teaching herself American Sign Language (ASL) by watching YouTube videos. She is a natural leader and educator.

“In 3rd grade, I used to go to public school and would go to the Life Skills Class to hang out during lunch,” she elaborated. “I knew all the kids there; all of their names and their disabilities, and all of their teachers. I learned stuff about the kids.”

They quickly became friends, and Sara shared stories of times when she raised awareness about disabilities and stuck up for her friends against bullying. She often stands up for her sister, too, as well as others.

“I’ve always had feelings that every kid needs to be treated the same,” she said.

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The Arc of Snohomish County’s Sibshop program is a specially tailored program for children, ages 8 to 12, and teens, ages 13 to 18, who have siblings with developmental disabilities. (Learn more about the national Sibshop program at siblingsupport.org.)

Sara has attended Sibshops for some time. She talked about how nice it is to meet other youth who share the experience of having a sibling with developmental disabilities. She enjoys talking to other siblings as it provides her an opportunity to learn about other types of disabilities and to connect with other kids who understand some of her feelings.

One of her favorite Sibshop activities is completing the ropes course and zipline at High Trek Adventures in Everett. She also enjoys the art activities and will sometimes submit the artwork she completes at Sibshops to display in the youth art exhibit at the Evergreen State Fair.

Sara even acts as an unofficial community ambassador for Arc Sibshops. When she meets other siblings of kids with disabilities, she makes certain to tell them about The Arc and how much FUN you can have at Sibshops. She encourages them to participate and shares that Sibshops might be a way for them to “find friends that know how they feel and what they are going through at home.”

Thank you very much, Sara, for helping us get the word out to all of the amazing Sibs in Snohomish County! You are quite the Super Sib yourself!

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Whitney Stohr is a Parent to Parent Coordinator at The Arc of Snohomish County. She is passionate about advocating for medically complex children and children with disabilities and their families. She is a mom and medical caregiver herself, who is energized by working closely with other parent/family caregivers. She lives with her four-year-old son Malachi and husband Jason in Lynnwood. Connect with her on Instagram @rollin.w.spinabifida. Contact: whitney@arcsno.org.

READ-ALOUD: The Peace Book

Read Aloud The Peace Book The Arc Amplified

READ-ALOUD: The Peace Book

What is PEACE? Peace is making new friends. Peace is keeping the water blue for all the fish. Peace is listening to different kinds of music. Peace is saying you’re sorry when you hurt someone. And peace is so, so much more!

 

The Peace Book inspires kids (and adults!) with universal sentiments of compassion and hope. It delivers positive and hopeful messages of peace and a timeless message about the importance of friendship, caring and acceptance. (Read more at tinyurl.com/2mpvrn76).

Join Whitney Stohr, Parent to Parent Coordinator at The Arc of Snohomish County, as she reads: The Peace Book, by Todd Parr (published 2009 by Megan Tingley Books / Little, Brown and Company, New York).

Recent Staff Promotions

63. New Staff Promotions April 2022 The Arc Amplified

The Arc of Snohomish County: Recent Staff Promotions

The Arc of Snohomish County recently promoted Alaina Kube from her previous role as a Parent to Parent Coordinator to the position of Family Support and Education Program Manager. As a program manager, Alaina will guide projects and activities through The Arc’s Connecting Families program, including Parent to Parent and Sibshop programs, support groups, speaker events, and more. You can contact Alaina Kube at (425) 258 2459 ext. 111 or alaina@arcsno.org.

Whitney Stohr will also transition this month from her previous role as a Parent to Parent Coordinator to Leadership and Independent Living Program Manager. In this role, she will oversee leadership, independent living, self-advocacy and advocacy staff and programming. You can contact Whitney Stohr at (425) 258-2459 ext. 106 or whitney@arcsno.org.

We also look forward to welcoming new staff members in the upcoming weeks, who will support the Connecting Families and Sibshops programs. Stay tuned!

LEADERSHIP NEWSLETTER 2022, ISSUE 1

Leadership Newsletter 2022 1 Published The Arc Amplified

JUST PUBLISHED:

THE ARC OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY — LEADERSHIP NEWSLETTER 2022, ISSUE 1

 

The Arc of Snohomish County’s first Leadership Newsletter of 2022 was published on April 19th and is available for public viewing.

This quarterly publication highlights the many accomplishments and happenings of The Arc’s leadership and advocacy team members, Arc community leaders, parents and caregivers, self-advocates and others. The publication also offers updated information on important legislation, tools and community resources.

To access this most recent issue, visit tinyurl.com/4d6s3pf8.

Meet Lily Sommer – Arc Sibshop Super Sib!

65. Sibling Story Lily Sommer The Arc Amplified

Meet Lily Sommer – Arc Sibshop Super Sib!

Lily Sommer is one of our Super Sibs at The Arc of Snohomish County.

She is 10 years old and is the middle sibling, with two brothers, ages five and (almost) twelve. Of being the middle sibling, Lily says: “It is tough and exciting because you’re not the one always getting picked on and not the one always getting told what to do.” Totally makes sense!

In her free time, Lily enjoys drawing and playing video games. Roblox is her favorite. She also likes Minecraft. She is “in love with animals.” In fact, her whole family are cat lovers! They have a pet cat named Nemo — as in the movie Finding Nemo.

Lily’s family also plays board games together. They like to spend time outside, as well. Sometimes, Lily and her brothers will play video games together.

Lily likes making new friends. She has a lot of friends, especially in school. She has also attended Arc Sibshops for some time. Lily shared that she feels that it is very important for kids to meet other siblings who have brothers or sisters with disabilities.

The Arc of Snohomish County’s Sibshop program is a specially tailored program for children, ages 8 to 12, and teens, ages 13 to 18, who have siblings with developmental disabilities. Learn more about the national Sibshop program at siblingsupport.org.

A tidbit of sibling advice from Lily: Make sure your siblings stay safe and that you watch them carefully.

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Whitney Stohr is a Parent to Parent Coordinator at The Arc of Snohomish County. She is passionate about advocating for medically complex children and children with disabilities and their families. She is a mom and medical caregiver herself, who is energized by working closely with other parent/family caregivers. She lives with her four-year-old son Malachi and husband Jason in Lynnwood. Connect with her on Instagram @rollin.w.spinabifida. Contact: whitney@arcsno.org.

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Monday - Friday from 10am - 3pm

127 E. Intercity Ave. Suite C
Everett, WA 98208

(425) 258-2459