2019 Award Recipient
KatelynMcInerney
Project Special Siblings
Project Special Siblings
After spending more hours than she could count in more waiting rooms than she could remember, Katelyn realized she wasn’t alone. Each of these waiting rooms was full of kids just like her. Kids who probably also felt powerless, scared, alone, and like no one understood what they were going through as they waited for their siblings to receive the treatment they needed. Added to that, a quick internet search for sibling support groups left Katelyn discouraged. There weren’t any. So she started one.
Special Siblings is a nonprofit designed to provide a safe space for siblings of children with special needs to share their unique circumstances. Katelyn and Special Siblings enlist volunteer experts to facilitate monthly support group meetings designed to create a safe space for expressing emotions and participating in activities to increase understanding and empathy. Through her work, Katelyn is de-stigmatizing mental and physical disabilities.
Katelyn McInerney was a recipient of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award in 2019 for her leadership in founding Special Siblings, an initiative that seeks to unite children that have siblings with special needs. Special Siblings offers support groups where siblings come together to discuss a variety of topics while feeling supported, understood, and accepted. Since receiving the Award, Katelyn has expanded Special Siblings and established partnerships to further her organization’s mission.
Some of Katelyn’s major milestones include:
2023: Presented her undergraduate research in Tsukuba, Japan and received two awards for her presentation and community engagement.
2023: Started a PhD program in Biomedical Sciences.
2022: Partnered with Gigi’s Playhouse to combine resources and offer more programs to Special Siblings’ target communities.