by Carol Cujec
Personally, I saw a life I’ll never want anyone to teach as acceptable for any human being. Understaters utter I’m no one. I’m broken, nothing worthy, moldy bread, throwaway trash.
She was removed from public school and sent to a school like Borden Academy, where she was often left sitting alone on the blacktop of the playground or locked in a seclusion room.
I daily went not to school, but to various institutions, defined by me as any place that all people are not included. Segregation is the beast whose bite cheats us all. The isolation of people different renders you and me strangers. Reality is that you are me and I am you. Difference is in all of us. Fear it we do not need.
Peyton became severely depressed. When her parents realized the abuse she was suffering, they fought to get her into a public-school classroom with the support she needed. Right away, they saw improvements in Peyton’s ability to control her body and in her overall well-being.
When Peyton was twenty-two years old, her mom learned about supported typing and arranged for Peyton to be evaluated. Her mom did not expect much to come of it, though. She had tried, unsuccessfully, typing with Peyton at home many times.
In her very first typing session, Peyton amazed everyone when she typed a sentence she hoped would forever change the way people treated her: I AM INTLGENT.
Finally able to communicate, Peyton asked for the one thing she always wanted—a real education. And that’s what she got. With the support of teachers and administrators at Cuyamaca College in San Diego, Peyton became the first person using supported typing to graduate valedictorian from a US college.
Today, she is working on speaking words with her lips and continuing to fight for the millions of kids who deserve to be included in our classrooms and communities. She would like all readers to understand the value of friendship, especially for kids who are different.
To have friends is the most important thing for all people. Without friends, a person cannot have fun. It is hard to live. There is no joy, just sadness. I have felt this, because I look different and I am labeled autistic. I cannot always control my body. It does not do what my mind tells it. My face cannot show my feelings. For most of my life, I had to speak through behaviors and most people misunderstood. I need help to do most things. But I can open my heart. Can you?
There is joy for all kids to greatly contribute to the necessary improvement of humanity by participating and belonging and contributing and having diverse friends.
This is my wish for all of you.
Acknowledgments
From Carol and Peyton:
Dear readers, thank YOU for picking up our book. Like Charity, we’re on a mission to spread kindness and include all people. We’re tossing the ball to you now. Will you pass it forward for us? We want to hear your stories. Find us on social media and let us know what you’re up to.
Teachers and librarians, thank YOU for seeing every child as capable. We would love to meet with your students, virtually or in person.
With endless gratitude to our agent, Stacey Glick, who never stopped believing our story needed to be told.
We loudly love the creative minds at Shadow Mountain Publishing, who embraced our story with open hearts, crafted our beautiful cover art, masterfully edited it, and helped us launch kindness into the universe.
Deep appreciation to our beta readers in the beloved community of inclusionists, who read and cheered us on—Caren Sax, Emma van der Klift, Norm Kunc, Diana Pastora Carson, Beth Gallagher, Jacque Thousand, and Rich Villa. And Anne Donnellan, trailblazing pioneer exploring sensory-movement differences in autism, who encouraged us along the way. To all non-speakers, whose writings lifted and advised REAL, keep telling the world your stories so we can understand each other better.
From Carol:
With everlasting love to my family. Anton, I am heartened by your kind heart. Noah, I am uplifted by your keen wit. Ella, thank goodness you were my first reader, with highlighter in hand, telling me you never wanted the story to end. To my wonderful husband, Tom, I am forever grateful for your love and support. Hugs also to my eight siblings and their sweet families for their encouragement and never-ending supply of bad jokes.
To my beta readers: Anne Marie, my SCBWI critique group (Jeanne, Danielle, Alyssa, Jessica, Fran, Ruth), and David Larson’s writing meet-up. Googolplex thanks for your precious feedback and firm nudges forward.
Finally, to my many students over the years—you have also been my teachers. Thank you.
From Peyton:
I loudly thank all persons who hearted help lift up my living. Each of your kindnesses hurry my healing and rest me as real.
To my family, your love saturates me, fueling my IOU quest to teach “treasure all, great is each.” Murray and Lincoln, each dawning day your caring betters me and my writing. I am jellybeans happy you are my nephews.
To all who type to talk, your voices seed my feathers of hope for a better world where all are valued and welcome.
To those still waiting to be seen as real, know I will never stop advocating until all voices can be heard.
Discussion Questions
1. In the beginning of the book, why do people like Elvi and Miss Marcia assume Charity can’t learn? What evidence do they have? Can we make assumptions about how a person’s mind works based on the way their body moves? Is it okay to think that because someone cannot speak, they cannot understand?
2. Why do you think Charity’s dad can teach her to surf and ride a bike, when doctors said she could never do these things? What makes him such a good teacher, according to Charity? Is there something you learned to do (or want to learn) even though someone told you that you can’t?
3. How does Charity define pity? Why do you think she feels puny when people pity her? What makes you feel puny? What makes you feel real?
4. Why does Charity feel hopeless at the beginning of the book? What is her life like? What does she want more than anything?
5. When Charity feels overwhelmed by emotions, she often thinks of her animals to help calm her. How do you stay in control when you feel overwhelmed?
6. Describe the changes in Mason from beginning to end. How does he think about Charity in the beginning of the book? Why? What makes him change his opinion? Why does he take a risk and stand up for her at school? Tell us about a time you stood up for a friend even if you felt scared.
7. Charity’s first typed sentence was “I am intelligent.” Why do you think she typed that first? If you were in Charity’s place, what would your first sentence be? Why?
8. Charity says, “Believe that treasures are in all.” What treasures might exist in characters like Skyler or Jazmine that can’t be measured? What treasures exist in you that can’t be measured?
9. Charity also says, “Believe that all kids can learn.” How does this attitude—Every Person Is Capable—affect the way we treat people like Charity who can’t talk or who communicate differently?
10. Once Charity is able to communicate, she discovers her true mission. What is it? Share ideas about your possible mission.
11. Charity tells us that kids like her rarely have friends. Why do you think that is? What are some ways to bring kids together instead of keeping them apart? Can you think of ideas for your school or community?
12. Try not speaking for one day (or half a day) and only communicating by typing on a tablet or writing in a notebook. How did it feel? What did you learn?
About the Authors
Carol Cujec, PhD, has worked as a writer and educator for more than two decades. Her own teaching and parenting experiences have given her welcomed insights into celebrating neurodiversity. Carol lives in San Diego with her husband, three children, and a mischievous orange tabby.
Peyton Goddard knows how it feels to be labeled as incapable of learning. For twenty-two years, her unpredictable body and inability to speak led p
eople to assume she was mentally challenged. Once she gained a dependable mode of communication, not only did she learn, she graduated from college as valedictorian. Today, she is an advocate for inclusion who writes and presents about valuing all people and protecting those most vulnerable from abuse. Her message centers on “changing this worrisome world” through compassionate understanding and support for all. Peyton lives with support in her own apartment, adjacent to her parents’ home in San Diego.
Contents
The R-Word
Charity Case
Bert and Ernie
Boredom Academy
Long Walk off a Short Pier
Flavor of the Week: Freedom
Barbecued
The Interview
Chance of Snow in Mexico
Humiliation Served Fresh
A Warm Hornet Welcome
Breathe in Hope
Down the Rabbit Hole
My Rebirth Day
First Words
Pandora’s Box
Coming Out Party
This Is Only a Test
Slam Dunk
Cool Genes
Homework Help
Operation Isabella
The Welcome Table
Mission Improbable
Pep Rally Princess
Diagnosis: Delusional
Math Knights
Least Valuable Player
Hornet Sting to the Head
Basketball Savant
A Place Pity-Free
Principal Pointless
Voice Thief
Attack of the Purple Elephants
Breadcrumbs of Truth
Sounds like Torture
Disco Drama Queen
Godzilla’s Revenge
Over and Out
Final Words
Mission Possible
Afterword by Carol Cujec
Acknowledgments
Discussion Questions
About the Authors
Landmarks
Cover