SEEING GLASS CHILDREN AS THEY ARE
Today, I’m 19 and preparing to begin a degree in speech and language therapy at the Singapore Institute of Technology.
I still volunteer at Bridging the Gap, where I shadow speech therapists and assist children with speech or developmental delays. It’s not just my way of giving back – it’s also my way of healing my own past wounds.
When people talk about families of children with special needs, the spotlight often shines on the parents or the child with the diagnosis.
But I hope that more people will recognise that siblings of children with special needs need support, too. Not every glass child has the space or the words to name what they’re feeling, or the tools to help them unpack it, even if it is just the listening ear of a loved one.
We are often the ones quietly observing, helping, adjusting – doing our best not to add to the weight our families already carry. But silence doesn’t mean we’re unaffected.
Many of us grow up feeling unseen, as if our needs matter less simply because we appear “fine”.
Our burdens may be invisible but they can still be heavy: guilt, confusion, loneliness, and a deep longing to be acknowledged.
We may not struggle with the same things our special-needs siblings do, but glass children are like any children. We need to feel seen and heard, to be reminded that our perspective and experiences matter.
If you are a glass child like me, I want you to know: your feelings are valid. It is okay to feel conflicted – to love your sibling deeply, yet also feel hurt or unseen.
It does not make you a bad sibling or a bad person; it makes you human.
Isabelle Lee is an aspiring speech-language therapist studying at the Singapore Institute of Technology. She volunteers at Bridging the Gap, advocating for sibling support and raising awareness of the experiences of glass children.
If you have an experience to share or know someone who wishes to contribute to this series, write to voices [at] mediacorp.com.sg with your full name, address and phone number.
Source: CNA
