Natalie’s first proposal for her book was made at the 2021 Aerie Real Change Makers program. As a Special Olympics Youth Ambassador and an advocate for people everywhere who live with disabilities, she wanted to write a book about inclusion and anti-bullying that could be distributed to grade schools as part of social emotional learning programs in schools.
Stories help us shape our compassion and understanding, and they open kids to conversations about empathy, dignity, purpose and character. Her story is about a girl named Amelia, who is bullied at school for having a prosthetic leg. She meets Cooper, Harper and Violet who become her best friends. Harper has an intellectual disability (like Natalie) and has been bullied too. Together they decide that they will do something to change how people are treated by working to build inclusion and respect.
It can be difficult for kids to fit in, and it’s even harder when someone has a disability. We all want a sense of belonging, we want purpose; we want to be valued and appreciated. We want to be heard, and know that our voices do matter. There is more that connects us than divides us. Inclusion means getting to do what you love.
Her message is that we’re stronger together, but only if we stand up for others until they can stand up too.