New book highlights the 'glass children' sibling burden in families with autism

In families raising a child with autism spectrum disorder, the daily focus naturally shifts towards that child's needs. This gravitational pull is not linear but layered and often silent, shaping a family ecosystem where one child becomes the priority.

This intense focus, while necessary for the child with autism, can leave siblings feeling less noticed. These children, referred to as "glass children" in a new book, do not receive less love, but they do receive less attention. They grow up in the shadow of the significant care and therapeutic schedules dedicated to their siblings, navigating a world that prioritizes the diagnosed needs over their own unspoken emotional experiences.

The book "Staklena djeca – Obitelj i autizam u algoritamskom dobu" (Glass Children – Family and Autism in the Algorithmic Age) by Marija Gombar aims to bring these often-overlooked siblings into view. Gombar, a scientist and researcher in information and communication sciences, argues that these children lack clinical diagnoses and therefore do not occupy space within support systems, leading to their emotional experiences remaining unnamed, unrecognized, and unprotected.

Gombar's work is described as a significant step towards acknowledging these siblings. It serves as a personal testimony, a theoretical exploration, and a practical guide for professionals, blending scientific expertise with intimate insights into the family dynamics surrounding autism. The book seeks to validate the feelings and experiences of siblings who, despite not having a diagnosis themselves, carry a substantial emotional weight within their families.