Deb Petermann: A Sibling’s Perspective

2024-02-27

About Deb Deb Petermann is a sibling to a man (now deceased at age 50) with severe developmental disabilities. She always says about her brother Rodney, “He never spoke a word in his life but his life still speaks volumes.” Deb has been married 38 years and is the mother of two, one is whom is deceased, and is a sibling advocate (60+ years). She began disability ministry as a volunteer at Vineyard Columbus Church 28 years ago. Additionally, she volunteered for 5 years with Joni and Friends Ohio, a...

About Deb

Deb Petermann is a sibling to a man (now deceased at age 50) with severe developmental disabilities. She always says about her brother Rodney, “He never spoke a word in his life but his life still speaks volumes.”

Deb has been married 38 years and is the mother of two, one is whom is deceased, and is a sibling advocate (60+ years). She began disability ministry as a volunteer at Vineyard Columbus Church 28 years ago. Additionally, she volunteered for 5 years with Joni and Friends Ohio, an International Disability Ministry, after which she was employed for 15 years as the Ohio Church Relations Manager with Joni and Friends. Through this ministry, she mentored and trained many churches to be more inclusive in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana. Deb participated in disability missions to Honduras and El Salvador and is currently a Disability Transition Coordinator/Community Connector with the Center for Disability Empowerment, a non-residential independent living center.

Related Links

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Sib Show

www.vineyardcolumbus.org

www.joniandfriends.org

Ohio Charting the LifeCourse Ambassador (www.lifecoursetools.com)

The Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Legacy of Love by sibling Christopher de Vinck

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