Am I a ‘sib’?
I’m a ‘sib’, and for me that means two things:
- I grew up with a disabled sibling
- I was shaped by the impact of the disability
And here’s a couple more things about this:
- I was shaped by the impact of the disability, not the disability itself
- Just because a person has a diagnosis (e.g. of a disability or neurodivergence), does not automatically mean their sibling will identify as a sib
Disabilities and neurodivergent conditions vary widely. It’s not really about the diagnosis at all. It’s about how that shows up in your life as a sibling, combined with the resources you have to navigate everything.
Why do you use the term ‘sib’?
I use the term sib because I find it helpful when referring to some of the experiences I’ve had that have shaped me – experiences that I know are shared by others too.
It’s useful shorthand and it’s part of my identity.
What other terms are used?
‘Special Needs Sibling/Special Needs Sib’, ‘Well Child’ or some people use ‘Glass Child’ or ‘Glass Child Syndrome’ (take a look at this Ted Talk: TEDxSanAntonio – Alicia Maples – Recognizing Glass Children).