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The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities
The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities
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  • About
  • Tools and Resources
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About Us

Mission and Core Values


Why Siblings?


We've been called “glass children”, “well siblings”, and simply, the “other” kids.


Whatever the term, there’s no question that siblings of kids with disabilities face unique

challenges and have complex needs of our own. In fact, siblings of people with intellectual disabilities suffer from significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders than the general population when not provided with the right resources and support.


That's where the Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities comes in.


Mission Statement


Our mission is to help siblings of people with disabilities feel seen, supported, and empowered -- with a focus on providing early intervention for young siblings. Our work focuses on 1) providing multimedia resources and education for parents, relatives, service providers, and siblings themselves, 2) spreading awareness of sibling issues throughout the general population, and 3) providing programming to support young siblings, particularly through a lens of artistic expression.


Core Values


  • Siblings of people with disabilities deserve to feel seen and appreciated for their own independent identities apart from their brothers and sisters. 
  • Representation is important to help siblings -- especially young siblings -- feel validated and understood.
  • Artistic expression can be a valuable tool to help people -- especially children -- process their emotions.
  • Sharing resources and amplifying sibling voices will enable psychologists, counselors, and policymakers to conduct new research and enact new policies to support siblings at different stages in their lives. 
  • Building a strong foundation of support for siblings will empower them to find healthy, balanced ways to take active roles in managing care for their brothers and sisters later in life, without losing sight of personal wellness.
  • Supporting siblings is a community responsibility.


The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

Think what we do sounds neat and want to help us do more? Click here.



Photos above courtesy of (from left): Tameka Diaz, Sophie Meskis, and Elena Re Pucacco.


Our Board of Directors

Jessica Leving Siegel, President/Founder

Jessica Leving Siegel, President/Founder

Jessica Leving Siegel, President/Founder

Jessica Leving Siegel founded The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities in 2019 after receiving an overwhelming response to the publication of her book, Billy’s Sister: Life when your sibling has a disability--a picture book based on her experiences growing up with her brother, Billy, who has autism. Before launching the Center 

Jessica Leving Siegel founded The Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities in 2019 after receiving an overwhelming response to the publication of her book, Billy’s Sister: Life when your sibling has a disability--a picture book based on her experiences growing up with her brother, Billy, who has autism. Before launching the Center for Siblings, Jessica spent over a decade working in nonprofit marketing and communications (and still does consulting part-time through her agency, Sing Creative Consulting). She holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus on nonprofit management from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University.

Linda S. Haase, Vice President

Jessica Leving Siegel, President/Founder

Jessica Leving Siegel, President/Founder

Linda S. Haase, longtime Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Jewish United Fund, has wide-ranging expertise in corporate communications, marketing and public affairs. She played key roles at the Illinois Department of Public Health in establishing the HIV/AIDS Unit and at the American Cancer Society, Illino

Linda S. Haase, longtime Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Jewish United Fund, has wide-ranging expertise in corporate communications, marketing and public affairs. She played key roles at the Illinois Department of Public Health in establishing the HIV/AIDS Unit and at the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division in effecting smoke-free public spaces, raising awareness of mammography, and championing the rights of people living with cancer.  The recipient of numerous professional awards, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kalamazoo College and a Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Ashley Panlasigui, Treasurer

Jessica Leving Siegel, President/Founder

Ashley Panlasigui, Treasurer

Ashley Panlasigui is an MBA Candidate at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University with a focus in finance. She started her career in public accounting and worked in corporate FP&A at various technology and healthcare companies prior to business school. A California native, she holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UC

Ashley Panlasigui is an MBA Candidate at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University with a focus in finance. She started her career in public accounting and worked in corporate FP&A at various technology and healthcare companies prior to business school. A California native, she holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley, and has previously volunteered as a mentor for iMentor Bay Area.

Christine Lupella, Secretary

Christine Lupella, Secretary

Ashley Panlasigui, Treasurer

Christine Lupella is a freelance writer and editor who is passionate about helping children explore their emotions and experiences through literacy and art. She was a writer and project manager for the Jewish United Fund, and an award-winning journalist and managing editor for newspapers in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Lupella taught after sc

Christine Lupella is a freelance writer and editor who is passionate about helping children explore their emotions and experiences through literacy and art. She was a writer and project manager for the Jewish United Fund, and an award-winning journalist and managing editor for newspapers in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Lupella taught after school art classes for elementary students for many years, and created a community youth newspaper for which she also served as advisor. She has tutored Chicago Public School students through Tutoring Chicago and Working in the Schools Chicago. 

Sanda Snook

Sandra Snook

Christine Lupella, Secretary

Sandra Snook

A veterinarian and pathologist by training, Sandra recently retired from a 3-decade long career in the pharmaceutical industry. She is now better known as the spirited nomad behind The Old Woman Who Lives in a Van. Having traded her microscope for a Glampervan, she now spends her days exploring all that North America has to offer by road 

A veterinarian and pathologist by training, Sandra recently retired from a 3-decade long career in the pharmaceutical industry. She is now better known as the spirited nomad behind The Old Woman Who Lives in a Van. Having traded her microscope for a Glampervan, she now spends her days exploring all that North America has to offer by road - and writing about it for her community of loyal fans (that is, when she isn't under COVID-related stay-at-home orders).  Sandra is also the mother to seven (now-adult) children through birth and adoption, several with special needs. She spent many years on other non-profit boards, including African Cradle, Inc. and Ethiopia Reads. She is also a volunteer birth doula.  She is proud to now bring her support to siblings.

Deb Weiner

Christine Lupella, Secretary

Sandra Snook

A marketing communications professional based in Washington, D.C., Deb Weiner has been an ally and advocate for individuals with special needs for as long as she can remember. In her teen years, she volunteered at a camp for individuals with special needs, and professionally, she worked for a special needs organization based in Northbrook

A marketing communications professional based in Washington, D.C., Deb Weiner has been an ally and advocate for individuals with special needs for as long as she can remember. In her teen years, she volunteered at a camp for individuals with special needs, and professionally, she worked for a special needs organization based in Northbrook, IL, from 2011-2015, as the associate director of donor relations and marketing. Deb continues to be passionate about helping to provide a better quality of life for these individuals, including supporting siblings and family members.

Aimee Halstuk

Aimee Halstuk

Aimee Halstuk

Aimee Halstuk has never let her physical disability get in her way. She was the founder of Just Give Me a Chance, a social playgroup for children with physical disabilities, and has also worked as a kindergarten enrichment coordinator at JCC Chicago and as an activity instructor at the Center for Enriched Living. She loves working with ki

Aimee Halstuk has never let her physical disability get in her way. She was the founder of Just Give Me a Chance, a social playgroup for children with physical disabilities, and has also worked as a kindergarten enrichment coordinator at JCC Chicago and as an activity instructor at the Center for Enriched Living. She loves working with kids and is passionate about helping with the Center for Siblings' children’s programming and development of educational materials.

Advisory, Marketing & Outreach Committee

Avidan Milevsky, PhD

Avidan Milevsky, PhD

Avidan Milevsky, PhD

Avidan Milevsky, PhD splits his time between the US and the Middle East as a speaker, psychologist, researcher, author, and consultant. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Ariel University in Israel and a psychotherapist at Wellspring Counseling, Towson, MD. His clinical research on families has produced over 100 conference pres

Avidan Milevsky, PhD splits his time between the US and the Middle East as a speaker, psychologist, researcher, author, and consultant. He is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Ariel University in Israel and a psychotherapist at Wellspring Counseling, Towson, MD. His clinical research on families has produced over 100 conference presentations, more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and 6 books including Sibling Issues in Therapy and Understanding Adolescents for the Helping Professional.  

Diane Gould, LCSW

Avidan Milevsky, PhD

Avidan Milevsky, PhD

Diane Gould is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked for both private agencies and school systems. During her twelve years working in schools, Ms Gould developed new parent support programs. She also created and led many peer buddy groups creating a community of support for students in speci

Diane Gould is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked for both private agencies and school systems. During her twelve years working in schools, Ms Gould developed new parent support programs. She also created and led many peer buddy groups creating a community of support for students in special education programs. She was the Childhood Disability and Family Support Specialist for the Jewish Children’s Bureau for over a decade. In that capacity she created parent groups, sibling groups, grandparent groups, grandparent raising grandchildren groups, family camps, and parent education programs. Currently, she has a full time private practice in suburban Chicago serving children and adults with special needs and their families. 

Mark Moussa

Mark Moussa

Avidan Milevsky, PhD

Katherine Filaseta

Mark is a recent college graduate who is now a software engineer working at NASA. He has a younger brother, Marvin, who is on the autism spectrum, and Mark works hard at making sure he gets the best life possible. Mark plans to transition into the medical field, and wants to spend his time researching and working to help others like Marvi

Mark is a recent college graduate who is now a software engineer working at NASA. He has a younger brother, Marvin, who is on the autism spectrum, and Mark works hard at making sure he gets the best life possible. Mark plans to transition into the medical field, and wants to spend his time researching and working to help others like Marvin live their lives to the fullest. In his spare time, he likes to hike, run, read, travel, and spend time with friends.

Katherine Filaseta

Essie Shachar-Hill, LSW

Katherine Filaseta

Katherine Filaseta is a filmmaker based in New York City. She has three younger sisters, the eldest of whom was paralyzed in a car accident when Katherine was 5 years old. She never really thought much about her own "sibling experience" until reading Wonder by RJ Palacio, when she realized how much of her own feelings she had suppressed i

Katherine Filaseta is a filmmaker based in New York City. She has three younger sisters, the eldest of whom was paralyzed in a car accident when Katherine was 5 years old. She never really thought much about her own "sibling experience" until reading Wonder by RJ Palacio, when she realized how much of her own feelings she had suppressed in her life as a sibling of someone with a physical disability. Since then, she has not only focused her work on making sure disabilities are properly represented in film, but also on the representation of people like herself, who are more tangentially impacted by disability.

Sophie Meskis

Essie Shachar-Hill, LSW

Essie Shachar-Hill, LSW

Sophie lives in Denver, Colorado and works as a special education teacher at the elementary level. She has two brothers, one of whom has a type of rare epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome. Her brother, who lives with multiple comorbidities, has inspired her dedication to support individuals with disabilities and their families in various ways.

Essie Shachar-Hill, LSW

Essie Shachar-Hill, LSW

Essie Shachar-Hill, LSW

Essie Shachar-Hill is a social worker, psychotherapist, and educator living in Chicago. Much of their work falls at the intersection of gender, sexuality, social justice, and mental health. They work with teens and adults in individual and group settings to support marginalized people to live their fullest and most authentic lives. Essie'

Essie Shachar-Hill is a social worker, psychotherapist, and educator living in Chicago. Much of their work falls at the intersection of gender, sexuality, social justice, and mental health. They work with teens and adults in individual and group settings to support marginalized people to live their fullest and most authentic lives. Essie's older brother has multiple physical disabilities. In their spare time, Essie likes to bake, read nonfiction, and spend time with cats.

Catherine Stover

Catherine Stover

Catherine Stover

Bio coming soon

Ash DeLuke

Catherine Stover

Catherine Stover

Bio coming soon

For Media

For more information on our history, services, and founder, view our press release below.

Center for Siblings Press Release (pdf)Download
Center for Siblings Press Kit (pdf)Download

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