I was blessed to grow up with an amputee father who taught me that disability does not define a person. What matters is how you respond to challenges and what you do to achieve your goals.

Stepping away from my career to focus on my exceptional children became a profound learning experience—as a mother and a writer. I saw how children with autism were treated by peers and adults. I watched mothers being glared at when their autistic children had meltdowns in supermarkets.

My children were treated like lepers because they were on the spectrum. They were excluded from birthday parties and bullied by other children. When I spoke with those children’s parents, they defended the hurtful behavior. I grew angry. I knew what it was like to sit in tears on the shower floor, away from my children, after they came home covered in bruises.

I decided to fight back with words. I committed to becoming an author for families with special needs, focusing on high-functioning autism and dissociative identity disorder. As a teacher, I soon learned that my own children could read a book when it was printed in large font. That experience showed me how important accessible books are—and how much more the publishing industry needs to do. More children’s and teen books should be available in large print so children with ASD or on the autism spectrum can enjoy reading independently.

My children's series, I Am Perfect the Way I Am, features large-print early readers that empower children on the spectrum. These stories celebrate the truth that every child is perfect as they are, with unique gifts like superheroes.

I know that taking a public stand as a writer may invite criticism. But as the mother of amazing children with special needs, I understand what families face behind closed doors. If my work can help even one family feel seen and supported, speaking up for the autism community is worth it. I hope my books can help create positive change for families who are too often invisible to the mainstream community.