Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared Ivan's story.

Ivan communicates using an eye-gaze device that allows him to select words and phrases with his eyes. Watching him express his thoughts this way is a beautiful reminder that there are many ways to communicate in this world, and every one of them is valid.

One thing Ivan's mom shared has stayed with me. She said people often make one of two assumptions about Ivan. They either believe he doesn't understand anything around him, or they assume he understands every conversation and every complex idea. The reality is neither assumption is fair.

For all of us, cognitive ability exists on a spectrum. Some people understand more, some less, and many fall somewhere in between. And where a person falls on that spectrum can also vary by the moment due to many factors. Ivan is no less deserving of kindness, patience, friendship, or respect because of where he happens to be on that spectrum.

Too often, we want to place people into simple categories because it makes the world easier to understand. But people are rarely that simple. Every individual deserves to be seen for who they are rather than judged by assumptions about what they can or cannot do.

One of the moments that I remember most from our conversation was when Ivan used his eye-gaze device to say, "I don't like when people are mean to me."

I hope Ivan's story encourages us to be more willing to meet people where they are. Communication doesn't always sound the same, but every voice deserves to be heard.

3 days ago | [YT] | 23,049

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared Bill's interview. Bill is one of only about 50 people in the world known to have BAM syndrome, a rare condition that caused him to be born without a nose. He spent much of his childhood facing rejection. His father denied him, his mother neglected him, and by the age of nine he had entered the foster care system. Despite all of this, Bill made it his mission to end the cycle of generational trauma and become the loving father he never had.

Today I found myself thinking about another person I interviewed nearly a decade ago. In 2017, while filming in Ireland, I met a little girl named Tessa. Like Bill, Tessa is also one of only about 50 people in the world with BAM syndrome. She was born with the same rare condition, but her childhood looked very different. Tessa grew up surrounded by parents who celebrated her, encouraged her, and made sure she knew she was deeply loved. She was joyful, confident, and full of life.

Seeing these two interviews together reminded me why I believe it's so important to interview adults as well as children. Children show us what they are experiencing today. Adults help us understand how those experiences can echo across an entire lifetime.

Bill and Tessa are two different people with two unique lives, and no one story can explain another. But I do think their interviews beautifully illustrate something important. They shared the same incredibly rare diagnosis, yet they experienced childhood in profoundly different ways. One story reminds us of the lasting wounds rejection can leave. The other reminds us of the incredible foundation that unconditional love can provide. My hope is that these interviews encourage all of us to create a world where every child grows up knowing they are valued, accepted, and loved for exactly who they are.

What makes this comparison especially meaningful to me is that it was only possible because SBSK has been around long enough to tell stories across generations. When I started this project, I never imagined I'd one day be able to compare the childhood of one person with the reflections of another adult who shares the same rare condition. Thanks to your support over the past 11 years, we are entering uncharted territory. We are no longer just documenting moments in time. We are beginning to follow people's stories across decades and learning what helps children grow into adults who feel seen, loved, and supported. None of that would be possible without this community. Thank you for believing in this project for long enough that these stories can continue to unfold together.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 25,693

Special Books by Special Kids

I have a positive update to share about last week's video regarding YouTube restricting comments on 45 of our interviews.

If you missed it, YouTube disabled comments on 45 of our videos without any notice or explanation, and I initially had no way to restore them. For SBSK, the comment sections are a huge part of our mission. They're where families find support, disabled adults mentor disabled youth, and our community reminds every guest that they are valued.

Fortunately, this time the issue was resolved in less than 24 hours. Someone from YouTube's Community Outreach team reached out to me personally, listened to our concerns, escalated the issue to their specialist teams, and just a few hours later we were able to restore comments on every affected interview.

I want to thank YouTube for taking the time to investigate this so quickly and for treating our concerns with care and respect.

Most importantly, thank all of you. I believe the speed of YouTube's response was, in large part, because of the incredible community that has grown around SBSK over the past eleven years. The kindness, empathy, and respect you consistently show in our comment sections demonstrated exactly why those conversations matter. Thank you for proving that the internet can still be a place where compassion thrives.

On a lighter note, this picture is unrelated. Alyssa and I recently spent a week hiking 110 miles through some beautiful mountains. In this increasingly digital world, it's nice to occasionally unplug and spend time outdoors.

Thank you, as always, for supporting SBSK and for having our backs.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 35,364

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared an interview with Kayden. She is a nonspeaking autistic teenager with epilepsy. As soon as I sat beside Kayden, she gave me a big hug. While she was hugging me, I was introducing myself and talking a little bit. I then realized the beauty of a silent moment and told her, "I'm going to shut my big mouth and honor the way that you want to connect."

We then shared a peaceful, silent hug. I'm so grateful that moment happened. It was truly special.
I also want to point out something important... expressive and receptive communication don't always correlate. In other words, a nonspeaking person may understand spoken language at a very high level, even if they aren't able to respond with words. That's why I believe it's important to speak to every person with the assumption that they understand.

At the same time, don't underestimate the power of quiet connection. Sometimes words aren't the most meaningful way to communicate.

My biggest piece of advice? Communication is wonderfully complex. Be curious, have fun with it, and above all, be kind to people.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 25,872

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday, I shared Nithya's interview.

Nithya is nonverbal. Although she does not speak the same way most people do, we were still able to form a genuine connection.

When I first met her, I didn't ask her to interact in ways that felt unnatural to her. Instead, I sat beside her while she played with her toys and let her communicate on her own terms. Little by little, she began leaning against me, sharing moments of eye contact, and even laughing with me.

It reminded me that meaningful relationships don't require everyone to communicate the same way. Too often, we project our own idea of "normal" onto other people instead of meeting them where they are.
There are countless ways to communicate in this world. Some people use words. Others use gestures, expressions, body language, AAC devices, or simply their presence. None of these ways are less valid than another.

If we can let go of our expectations and allow people to connect in the ways that come naturally to them, we often discover friendships we might have otherwise missed.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 30,463

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday, I shared the story of Lucas and Nick, autistic twins whose 6’7” stature has earned them the nickname “The Gentle Giants.”

In this video, you’ll see us communicate in non-traditional ways. Some might find these interactions unusual, and I intentionally left them in their entirety. While long, repetitive moments might not be what the audience expects, showing the true nature of our connection is far more important.

The bond I formed with Nick and Lucas is just as valid as friends sharing a beer while watching a game. Whether we were bonding over "Mickey Mouse," talking about arcades, or using a communication device to join the conversation, every moment was meaningful. By leaving these interactions unedited, I hope to show that while non-traditional communication can feel "clunky" or "awkward" at times, it is deeply rewarding when we respect each person’s pace.

I hope that by watching, you feel a bit more prepared to become friends with anyone you meet. It's also my wish that viewers will see there are many ways to communicate and connect in this world and they are all valid.

1 month ago | [YT] | 23,422

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday’s interview with Christian is a special one for SBSK. It marks the first time in this channel’s history that I’ve filmed a follow-up interview with someone a full decade after their original interview.

I first met Christian when he was 5 years old. He is now 15 and nearly as tall as me.

For those of you who have watched both interviews, I hope you can see Christian’s growth over the years. But I also hope you can see how much SBSK has grown alongside him.

When I filmed Christian’s first interview, I was still very new to filmmaking, interviewing, and storytelling. Over the years, my goal has remained the same… to create a kinder and more inclusive world for the people I meet. I hope I’ve grown more capable of doing that with each passing year.

Thank you for supporting SBSK from the beginning and continuing to support this mission today.

This channel is only possible because of the incredible people who trust me with their stories and because of all of you who choose to listen. Thank you!

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1 month ago | [YT] | 48,951

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday, I shared Bud’s interview. As an infant, Bud survived severe abuse that left him permanently disabled. Today, at almost four years old, he cannot walk or talk and experiences constant seizures.


While editing this video, I carefully considered whether or not to include footage of Bud’s seizures. Ultimately, his family and I felt it was important for people to understand the lasting impact child abuse can have on a person’s life. These moments are difficult to witness, but they are also part of Bud’s reality.


We hope that by sharing his story, greater awareness can be brought to protecting vulnerable children before irreversible harm occurs. His family and I believe that if telling Bud’s story helps save even one child, then sharing it is worth it.

I also want to thank our viewers for consistently understanding and supporting our mission of creating a kinder and more inclusive world for everyone. Knowing that so many of you share that purpose makes it much easier to continue telling stories like Bud’s.

2 months ago | [YT] | 33,991

Special Books by Special Kids

Yesterday I shared Kamarrion’s interview. While interviewing Kamarrion, I couldn’t help but appreciate what a delightfully unhinged teenage personality he has. I go into each interview without a plan or agenda. I simply want to give people a platform to share their story.... so naturally sometimes chaos will ensue 😂.

In these days of AI and over-optimization, it can sometimes feel like authenticity is being engineered out of the internet. Every second is analyzed, every emotion is packaged, every conversation is trimmed down into something faster, louder, and more addictive.

That’s why I’m especially grateful for this community.... now more than ever.

Thank you for being intentional about what you watch and support. Thank you for slowing down long enough to listen to another human being. Thank you for making space for stories that are imperfect, unpredictable, emotional, funny, awkward, and real. Thanks for choosing to click on SBSK videos and watch them.

Kamarrion’s interview reminded me that some of the best moments can never be planned. They simply happen when people feel comfortable enough to be themselves.

I’m grateful there are still millions of people online who value that.

3 months ago | [YT] | 37,543

Special Books by Special Kids

It’s been a tough week losing John Hudson.

Through his interviews, John Hudson not only shared his beautiful spirit, but also left behind a detailed and honest look at what EB does to a person over time.

He often told me that his greatest wish was that children in the future would not have to suffer from Epidermolysis Bullosa the way he did. To honor that wish, I’ve created a playlist of John Hudson’s interviews that will live on the front page of our YouTube channel. Attached to the playlist is a link to EB Research Partnership, an organization funding research to treat and cure EB.

John Hudson shared his story with us for years. Now it will live on and continue to play a role in making life better for others with EB.

3 months ago | [YT] | 52,350