Patrica Portis

Patrica Portis

by | Oct 3, 2021 | BIPOC Siblings, Super Siblings, Uncategorized

Patricia Portis, Aspiring RN, Bishop State Community College (AL)

Patricia served as a panelist on the BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable, November 18, 2020. We appreciate her insight and transparency during this important discussion. Learn and connect with her below!

Patricia Portis is a special needs sibling who currently resides in Southern Alabama, but was raised in Snellville GA. Patricia has two siblings with disabilities, one with more severe needs than the other. Her eldest brother has cerebral palsy and mental disabilities he is non-verbal and requires total care. 

Patricia’s brothers have been her inspiration in life to become a Registered nurse. She is currently a full time student at Bishop State Community College in pursuit of earning her degree. She also works full time as a technical  support rep. After graduation, Patricia plans on opening a facility for adults and children with disabilities that supports their health, independence and individuality. Her passion for those with disabilities runs deep and she has always been an advocate.

CONNECT WITH HER! 

Email: triciag84.pg@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-grove-60235350/
Help Patricia and her brother Micki, who has Cerebral Palsy: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/16361/

Click here out other BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtables.

The BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtables are a bi-monthly event co-hosted by the Sibling Support Project, Special Needs Siblings and Sibling Leadership Network.

November 18 launched the first of a series of sibling discussions dedicated to expanding the inclusion and diversity of the sibling support community. The series highlights the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Angela West-Brown

Angela West-Brown

by | Oct 3, 2021 | BIPOC Siblings, Super Siblings, Uncategorized

Angela West-Brown MALS, CLC, IEP Life Coach & Consultant, ARWBrown Educational Coaching Services, LLC (GA)

Angela served as a panelist on the BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable, November 18, 2020. We appreciate her insight and transparency during this important discussion. Learn and connect with her below!

Angela West-Brown is an Individualized Education Program Coach, Consultant, Author, Special needs sibling, wife, mother of four and an Educational Empowerment Speaker. Her passion for America’s intellectually disabled youth is driven by first-hand experience covered in her book, “Lost and Found” of what happens when effective adult transition planning before high school graduation is not set in place. Lost and Found was written to provide resources, tools and support to help families advocate for their loved ones with special needs,  while supporting the entire family in the process. She is driven to provide strategic solutions to parents seeking clarity, less stress and successful completion of IEP Transition goals. Angela West-Brown has worked in University Financial Aid and Admissions Services, Department of Family and Children’s Services and (ABD ) Aged, blind, disabled unit collectively for over 6+ years.

She has a Bachelor’s in Sociology, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies/English, a Graduate Certification in Adult Learning and has completed a Master IEP Coach mentorship program.   Angela works by day as a Corporate Life Coach, while birthing the dream God gave her to support the special needs community and spread awareness of the importance of a strong transition plan for special needs teens

CONNECT WITH HER

Website: https://angelawestbrown.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelawestbrown/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ARWBrownECCS

Click here out other BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtables.

 The BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtables are a bi-monthly event co-hosted by the Sibling Support Project, Special Needs Siblings and Sibling Leadership Network.

November 18 launched the first of a series of sibling discussions dedicated to expanding the inclusion and diversity of the sibling support community. The series highlights the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with disabilities. 

BIPOC Adult Siblings Roundtable

BIPOC Adult Siblings Roundtable

by | Jul 4, 2021 | BIPOC Siblings, Super Siblings

BIPOC Adult Siblings Roundtable

Written by

 The BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtables are a bi-monthly event co-hosted by the Sibling Support Project, Special Needs Siblings and Sibling Leadership Network.

November 18 launched the first of a series of sibling discussions dedicated to expanding the inclusion and diversity of the sibling support community. The series highlights the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color who have brothers and sisters with disabilities. 

I am soo loving this—the experiences and words of wisdom that are being shared.  Thank you to the panel and organizers for making this happen! – Don Meyer

The organizors of this incredible event are Emily Holl, the Director of the Sibling Support Project and Jeniece Dortch, Executive Director of Special Needs Siblings and Lisa Matthews, the DC Chapter Representative and board member of the Sibling Leadership Network. 

The idea of this event came about following a Sibshop Facilitator Training by the Sibling Support Project, attended by Jeniece. Sibshops have been around for almost 40 years and during the training the group discussed the need for Sibshops to be equitable, safe, nurturing spaces where all children, and especially BIPOC children, to feel genuinely welcome and supported.  

From that discussion, the idea of a BIPOC sibling roundtable was born.  Emily and Jeniece invited Lisa to be part of the panel and planning process, and they knew the event could be a powerful way to highlight the importance of considering and learning from the experiences, insights, perspectives and stories of BIPOC siblings, and to unite BIPOC siblings in new and meaningful ways.

Listen to past roundtable discussions and learn more about the BIPOC Sibing experience. Contact us at 470.322.5632 or info@specialneedssiblings.com for ways to support and get involved.

November 18, 2020 – BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable
Patrica Portis, Jeniece Dortch, Shannon Lewis, Angela West-Brown, Richard Mullen, Lisa Matthews
(pictured left to right)

Learn More About the November Panelists

January 18, 2021 – BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable
Emily Holl, Jeniece Dortch, Lisa Matthews, Atikah Bagawan, Kimrah Brotherson, Sam Johnson Lyle Lasala, Elda Elmario,  (pictured left to right)

Learn More About January Panelists

March 18, 2021 – BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable
Emily Holl, Jeniece Dortch, Lisa Matthews, Melanie Martin, Richard Mullen, Adanna Abakporo, Devaki, Karee Lee, Spinisha Rains Johnson, Lisa Nicole Rosado (pictured left to right)

Learn More About the March Panelists

May 18, 2021 – BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable
Lisa Matthews, Richard Mullen, Jeniece Dortch, Barr (Mrs.) Ifeoma Philippa Peterkins-Itoe, Heather Shin, Jacqueline Moreno, Elena Marte

Learn More About the May Panelists

Feedback 

Feedback

Thank you for your responses and our panelists for sharing. I’m in tears. I feel heard and seen and supported. That’s all we siblings want/need.

First time in 31 years I’ve had this.

Wow- Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. I am in awe. Grateful to have been here tonight.

So grateful for the intentionality in getting this roundtable together. It’s so important that we’re listening to BIPOC voices and is long overdue in most settings! Thank you!

I’m glad I’m not the only one in tears. I have finally found people that understand.

I thought the round table was EXCELLENT. They gave wonderful insight and I definitely will be taking the information and experiences shared with me in my work to support people with disabilities, their families and their siblings. I would love for this conversation to continue! Here at ESMW, we are really working hard right now to find ways to bring education on Autism to black communities in STL and connect families to necessary resources, so this was so incredibly helpful to be a part of this and here about their experiences!!

This was a wonderful learning experience! I would love to see this discussion continued in the future.

BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable

BIPOC Adult Sibling Roundtable

by | Feb 18, 2021 | BIPOC Siblings, Support, Videos

On November 18th, a BIPOC Adult  Sibling Roundtable is hosted by The Sibling Support Project, Special Needs Siblings, and the Sibling Leadership Network. We are thankful for this wonderful experience that was moderated by Jeniece Dortch, Founder and Executive Director of Special Needs Siblings, and each of our panelists for sharing their experiences, insights and stories. 

On November 18th, a BIPOC Adult  Sibling Roundtable is hosted by The Sibling Support Project, Special Needs Siblings, and the Sibling Leadership Network. We are thankful for this wonderful experience that was moderated by Jeniece Dortch, Founder and Executive Director of Special Needs Siblings, and each of our panelists for sharing their experiences, insights and stories.