MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—For 7-year-old Ainsley Gates, being a big sister to twins with developmental disabilities sometimes feels like being a third parent. However, a local program is helping her—and dozens of other Marion County children—rediscover the simple joy of being a kid.
Appearing on Community Spotlight with host Randy Bigley, Ainsley and her mother, Alyssa, joined Nikki Workman of the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD) to discuss “Marion Sibs.” The program is specifically designed for siblings ages 7 to 13, providing them with a dedicated space away from the complexities of a household, focused on specialized care.
“It’s a safe space to talk about my feelings,” Ainsley said, noting that the program allows her to connect with peers who understand her unique home life. “It’s a day for us to just be kids.”
The program features monthly Saturday outings to local landmarks, including the Union Station and the Wyandot Popcorn Museum. Beyond the recreational aspect, Alyssa emphasized how the MCBDD has acted as a “sidekick” for their family, assisting with the transition from Early Intervention to preschool and navigating the daunting paperwork for Social Security and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
“The parents are the experts,” Workman said. “We want to be that support so that when they do need something, we can be right there walking beside them.”
Marion Sibs meets monthly on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is open to any sibling in the county. For a full schedule of events, residents can visit marioncountydd.com or the agency’s Facebook page.