Special Books for Special Kids
I'm sure you've seen his videos on social media; they're everywhere! <3
Have you heard of Chris Ulmer and Special Books for Special Kids?
Chris interviews those with physical and mental differences: people with autism, craniofacial differences, cerebral palsy, rare diseases, Down syndrome, limb differences, burn survivors, Tourette's, brain injuries, and more. These kids (they're mostly kids, if not all) are so sweet and have so much love to give... And people reject them and turn away.
We, on 7Cups, must choose.
We must CHOOSE these children. Love them. Watch the videos. Hear their stories.
And get out there and love the people around us who look or act like they do.
They are people too.
Worthy of love. Worthy of being understood and appreciated for who they are.
Worthy of being seen. And hugged. And spoken to. And treated as human.
So here's my challenge to you...
Go on YT and search "Special Books for Special Kids". Watch one video per day for the next month. Not just videos about people with things you're familiar with, like autism, perhaps, but focus on the people with disabilities you've never heard of before, like Crouzon Syndrome.
Learn who they are. See the person beyond the disability. See all their love and how they are changing, and will change, the world.
Change the way you see people with disabilities.
Start here.
Share the videos you watch, what you learn, what you think.
Let's learn to love everyone. Together. <3
Who's with me????? <3 <3 <3
@ShadowFaerie @unassumingEyes @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @sadcat13 @Amanda84 @goldenduckling @mytwistedsoul @Tinywhisper11 @LovemyMoonflowers @GreenLime3141 @7Bear7 @Phoenixthepoised @Torean @GentleHealingInitiative @cyanessence @YourCaringConfidant @CaringEzra @NobleSeeker @fossilfellow @BastionKnight @trueconfidant123 @safeplace288 @lovingCat6978 @reservedOwl321 @dapperNest2125 @Creamyyy @naturesbeauty1234 @bubbleSummer9800 @peachThinker662 @warmheartedHuman836 @Mansbestfriend @Paliloveyourself @Magicpawsoffuture @SelfCareMatters @confidentWings2790
I’m adding a taglist to start, but this post is open to absolutely everyone! <3
@easyScarf7950
Ooo sounds fun! I hope I can remember this for month!
@Paliloveyourself
Have you watched any yet? <3
Yes, I have! Only one though since I sort of forgot. It was a few days ago with this little girl that had a skin condition where new skin forms way too quickly (I forgot the name of the condition). Learning about her condition was really interesting and the video was just so fun to watch!
Awww that’s awesome! <3
I hope watching these videos makes all of us more empathetic and inclusive <3
Some supplemental resources and things to look up:
*Wonder (the book, its sequels, and the movie). About a boy with craniofacial differences. Here's an article about Wonder and Nathaniel Newman, who also lives with craniofacial differences:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/real-life-family-nathaniel-magda-newman/story?id=67838415
*Nick Vujicic and Life Without Limbs. Nick was born without limbs.
*Bethany Hamilton and Soul Surfer. Bethany had her arm amputated by a shark.
*"This Is Me", from The Greatest Showman. Inspires me to look at people with differences as just that: people. Worthy of love.
If you have any more resources, please add them here! <3
I just watched this one (if you don't click links, go to the SBSK page on YT and search "Braleigh"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEBPenXu70
Braleigh has a DNA difference. She can't walk or talk, but she tries! She loves playing with her dog, Smokey; listening to music (she likes Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift); and having snorting battles. Yep. Snorting battles hehe! She's absolutely ADORABLE and shows a lot of love and pure joy <3
@jesusredeemedme2425
I will definitely do this 💚😊
@Amanda84
Which ones have you watched so far? <3
Any updates? <3
Here's the video I watched tonight!
This is the story of Tres, a wonderful boy who has cranial duplication. He essentially has two faces, but one brain, and he's the only one known with cranial duplication that has a single brain instead of two. This video details the struggles with getting a child with a disability taken care of legislatively and medication-wise. It's so hard and takes a lot of strength and fighting and determination...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJkEjHHZUHU
This is Mollie! She's 25, has a severe stutter, and is going to law school! I have a bit of a stutter myself. It's inspiring that she's pursuing a career that's not expected of someone with a stutter (something she said in the video). She seems like she would be an amazing friend <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clIH37PzU4U
Meet Chris. Chris is autistic, and wants to be known as the autistic rocker boy! He LOVES heavy metal.
One thing I noticed from the video is that he isolates himself because, during socializing, there's a lot of noise and ambient stimuli everywhere. This is totally me...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm6rtKQFl7M
Michaela has osteogenesis imperfecta. She's under 3 feet tall and uses a wheelchair. She's grateful for her disability because it's helped meet a lot of really awesome people, and her wheelchair has helped her travel the world! She says that disabilities don't need to change; what needs to change is society's mindset around disabilities. <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gq0XNG3gnY
Meet Olivia! She has Prader-Willi Syndrome. It makes it hard for people to understand her speech, and she is insatiably hungry all the time. And she has the most amazing imagination and big heart! <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuHHM4Ehe2Y
