Everyone has their favorite page they follow on Facebook. It could range from the woman magazine empire Cosmopolitan to one if the funny meme pages like Garlic Bread. Even though I follow both of these pages, and many more, there is only one page that I constantly look for and search about.
It’s called Special Books by Special Kids and it’s making the world a different (and better) place.
This page was started by a former special education teacher, whose mission in life is to “Normalize the diversity of the human condition.” How awesome is that?
Christopher Ulmer travels around the world (accompanied by his beautiful girlfriend and dog- sorry ladies and gents) and meets amazing children and their families. These children are neurodiversive humans, meaning they have neurological differences that happen naturally due to a variation in the human genome. This could range anywhere from Down Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, or even Muscular Dystrophy.
The thing that is amazing about these videos is that these are not videos subjecting anyone to heartbreaking retelling of tragic events or uneven dialogue between someone with special needs and a supposed “friend”. These are real people, who love, laugh, dream, and think just like you and me. They are filled with hilarious jokes, amazing goals, and dreams bigger than anything I could have ever imagined for myself. They appreciate all they have and all they are, never taking for granted the things we might overlook on an everyday basis.
The first video I ever saw was of two brothers, Griffin and Turner. Turner is diagnosed with Down Syndrome but is an expert at making silly faces and loving his brother completely. His older brother Griffin is his guide and protector, as well as his best friend. I was sucked into their world by their minute long video, and immediately drawn to this page.
That happened about three months ago, and now I spend every day looking for some love and inspiration on this page. The videos are so well put together, focusing more on the children and not on their “disabilities”. I have become invested in the page, being invited into the lives of Branlynn and McKenzie, Carter and Elise, and Christian (the funniest child I think I ever might have seen).
Christopher is so understanding and patient with all the children and their friends and families that it fills you with a sense of calm while you’re watching. I have to say I do not think any other Facebook Page will come about and make such an inspiring difference like this one has.
This Non-Profit Organization is going to change the world, and make it more of an accepting place. Something we definitely need, especially today.
