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March 21, 2018 | By: Shailen Singh
Categories: Family Support
The creator of the Facebook page “Special Books by Special Kids”, Chris Ulmer, was a special education teacher and decided to write a book telling the stories of the children he worked with for years. Multiple publishers rejected the book repeatedly so Chris took to Facebook to share his passion.
Chris travels all over the country and does video interviews with children with disabilities. These videos are only about 2-3 minutes long, but Chris does a great job of getting to know the individual child. Not just the disability.
Each child is treated with respect, and each child gets a few minutes to express (however they can) what they enjoy doing, and who they are. These videos are then posted to Facebook.
The stated intent of his work is to “Normalize the Diversity of the Human Condition,” which I just adore. These videos are intended to serve as a resource for parents and educators alike to learn about children and their disabilities.
I must say, these videos are the highlight of my day. Chris does an excellent job of being responsive and supportive of the individuals he’s meeting. Whether it’s a teenager with high-functioning autism or a toddler who is non-verbal, Chris magically finds a way to show that the child is valued, loved, and full of interesting information from which to learn.
As the parent of a child who is non-verbal, I especially love the way he interacts with the kids who can’t speak on their own.
My son doesn’t speak, but I understand him perfectly. I know what his sounds mean, and I hope that others someday are motivated to do the same. People like Chris give me faith that my hopes are realized and that there are good people out there who value my son as a person and don’t just see his diagnosis.
So definitely check it out the Facebook page! He also has a webpage with information related to his work. The webpage also has information available in case you’d like your child to be showcased and interviewed by Chris.
I promise you that these videos will become the highlight of your day.
Visit the video library on this site for family stories and discussions on a wide variety of important topics.
I have 6 children. Among them, there are quite a few hidden disabilities: Type 1 diabetes, reactive attachment disorder, bipolar disorder, high-functioning autism, ADHD, anxiety, PTSD and depression.
Categories: Family Support
As parents, the work of assuring our child feels safe, secure, and valued at home, school, and in the community is challenging and full of risks. In Sandra Kaufmann’s book, she shares relatable ordeals and hard decisions their family had to make for their daughter with disabilities.
Categories: Family Support
I have learned that not everyone is capable of providing emotional support to parents of children with disabilities. There is limited help available with the day-to-day struggles associated with managing time, appointments, and responsibilities.
Categories: Family Support