ABSTRACT
This book is built on the foundation of hundreds of social media posts from parents and guardians of children with disabilities. Permission was needed from these parents and guardians to allow their personal pain to be shared with all the world. To optimize outcomes, very careful thought was put into outreach efforts. This process became a model for the strategies suggested throughout the book: When trying to build trust and connection with strangers, take time to consider their personal experience, their unique perspectives. Meet them where they are, with kindness, empathy, warm professionalism, openness, respect, and gratitude. Present a space in which everyone feels welcome and seen, rather than a space that is inaccessible or disenfranchising. This approach proved to be powerfully effective, as a full 100% cheerfully agreed to allow their posts to be shared. Through this process, connections opened, friendships formed, and a desperately needed camaraderie and community emerged. Allyship is especially important in this era of intolerance, hate crimes, and legislation that undermines the rights of those who are different. This epilogue demonstrates how and why this book is an effective tool to help professionals build meaningful partnerships with the families they serve.
