Writers’ Group for Caregivers
Met at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Philadelphia from May 2014 to February 2015. Read about this group on Newsworks.
Writers’ Group for Caregivers
Place: Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities
Publication: Writing Our Journey: Poems and Essays by Family Caregivers
Between July 2008 and July 2013, the Boggs Center facilitated a writers’ group for family caregivers. The purpose of the group was to give caregivers, primarily parents of children with developmental disabilities, an opportunity to tell their own stories, in their own words. This storytelling took the form of essays, poetry, fiction, letters to loved one, letters to editors, song lyrics, or any other way each participant chose to put his/her experiences into words.
The group met every other month, and each meeting had a suggested prompt, or idea, for people to write about. Everyone was free to interpret that prompt however they’d like, or write about something totally unrelated.
While the group no longer meets, a collection of their poems and essays has been published (PDF: Writing Our Journey). Please remember that each piece of writing belongs to the writer, and if quoted, must be credited to that writer.
The Boggs Center website lists sample prompts and work done by members. Click below to see some examples.
— An article of clothing
— A picture of yourself
— A moment when you really understood your child had a disability
Read about the participation of the writers’ group in the Boggs Center’s 30th anniversary celebration.
PDF: Boggs Center 30th Anniversary
Kathy Roberson 