Jo is a certified school psychologist whose connection to this work comes from professional and personal experiences. She worked as a psychologist and department chair for the Mamaroneck school district for thirty years.  Joan collaborated with Meryl Schafer, district social worker, to facilitate groups and workshops for siblings of children with special needs since 1996. They have been listening to children and young adults talk about their experiences. Throughout this process, they have collected data in order to better understand what it means to be a sibling of a brother or sister with special needs.  Joan is currently a consultant for the Larchmont Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center and runs Parenting workshops.  She is the mother of four children, one of whom is severely disabled.