About Colored Glass
Colored Glass provides resources to support and siblings of children with developmental disabilities as they navigate emotional and logistical family dynamics. Resources include organizations, interviews, articles, books, and podcasts that can be utilized by both siblings and parents. Colored Glass aims to bring vibrancy and visibility to the world of The Glass Children.
About the Creator
My name is Anya Ryan.
I am the creator of Colored Glass and the older sister of a child with ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette's syndrome, and anxiety. Last year, my brother left for a therapeutic boarding school. His absence led me to reflect on my experiences growing up with a special needs brother. Later, I completed a school research project focused on the most effective forms of support for siblings of children with developmental disabilities. Through my research, I found a significant lack of available resources for siblings. Frustrated but inspired, I created Colored Glass to bring vibrance and visibility to the lives of the Glass Children and their families.
I acknowledge that I may not share the same experiences as siblings of individuals with all conditions. I aim to lead with empathy and compassion as I provide resources catered to include all siblings. I welcome feedback regarding language use, inclusion of resources, etc. My goal is for Colored Glass to provide a safe space for all siblings and their families to feel seen, connect with others, and discover strategies to help them navigate their experiences.
What Are Developmental Disabilities?
Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions causing impairments in physical, learning, language, and/or behavioral areas. These include:
-Dyslexia
-Vision Impairment
-Hearing Loss
-ADHD
-Cerebral Palsy
-Autism Spectrum Disorder
-Intellectual Disabilities
And more
Resources
Valerie Johnston (Parent)
“Jet took all the air out of the room and there was no room for Cayden.”
Anonymous Sibling
“I'm the best Associate Director, but will probably never be an Executive Director. I'm the best number two, but never number one.”
Nadine Farsi (Sibling)
"We feel that we were just left behind."
Interviews
Colored Glass provides original interviews to give insight and guidance to siblings and parents of children with emotional, cognitive, and physical differences who are looking to better understand and cope with their unique situation. The individuals interviewed include parents, special education consultants, siblings, parent coaches, therapists, teachers, and more.
For Siblings and Parents
The 17-year-old younger step-sister of an individual with microcephaly.
For Siblings and Parents
A UCSF professor and the older sister of an individual with Down Syndrome.
For Siblings and Parents
The 16-year-old younger sister of an individual with Cerebral Palsy.
For Siblings and Parents
The mom of a neurotypical child and a child with autism, a Sibshops facilitator, and a co-chair of Dedication to Special Education
For Parents and Siblings
Sibshop facilitator and older sister of an individual with autism. Allie is also a Co-founder of Social Learning Works.
For Siblings and Parents
The 15-year-old older brother of a child with autism and learning disabilities.
For Parents and Siblings
The parent of a typically developing individual and an individual with learning and behavioral challenges.
For Siblings
The 15-year-old younger sister of an individual with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy.
For Parents
Retired associate superintendent for educational services with oversight of county-wide special education and career preparation programs.
For Parents and Siblings
Executive director of the non-profit organization Willows in the Wind, which supports the parents of children in therapeutic centers and/or struggling with mental health and cognitive disorders.
For Parents
Founders of SEEDS Learning, which works with neurodivergent children in social and emotional education.
For Parents
Founder of LF Autism CA, which focuses on holistic family support for families with a neurodivergent child.
For Siblings and Parents
The adult sibling of an individual with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder
For Siblings and Parents
The adult sibling of a neurodivergent individual with learning and behavioral challenges.