My Hidden Difference Makes Me Special

In this reassuring and educational picture book, Anabel relates to readers about learning how to deal with the emotions and uncertainties of having invisible disorders. Meet Anabel. She is different. Can you see Anabel's difference? That's because it's invisible! Anabel is learning that her difference makes her special. She is learning what her limitations are, and when to ask for help. She wants you to learn with her. Her motto will help other children with invisible disorders understand that they get to choose what kind of person they are! "I need to learn what my body can and can't do. I need to stay away from things that make me feel bad...Only I get to choose who I am! Not my invisible disorder...I am strong. I am a good friend. I like to have fun. I like to play. Being different on the inside doesn't change any of that."

About the Author :
Rylee is the author at Books by Rylee and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has two medical assistance service dogs, Polar Bear and Teddy Bear. She struggled with years of medical problems and received an official clinical diagnosis of a rare "invisible" disorder in 2019 called hypokalemic periodic paralysis. While figuring out how to live with this disorder, she struggled with explaining her emotions, limitations, and needs to others. Then it hit her: how would she tell her future kids about this? She worried her children may inherit the disorder or see her going through paralytic episodes. She realized she needed to find a way to tell them they would be okay too. She decided to find a way to tell others that her disorder does not define her. She is choosing what kind of person she is. She reflected on her years of experience working with children and adults with medical and intellectual diagnoses in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She applied her experience of explaining difficult topics in simpler terminology, acknowledging each person's emotions, and providing appropriate, safe, and healthy replacement skills to her stories. These stories transformed into books. First, a book telling children with invisible disabilities that they were not alone. These reassuring and positive books let children know that it's okay to be different and teaches them it is okay to have emotions. Her books teach healthy and safe options to deal with the struggles that come with having these disorders by giving them the tools to ask for help and reach out to their support system. Throughout the process, her wonderful, playful, and silly service dogs were always by her side. She knew she had to expand her books to educating others on service animals, helping children who are diagnosed with medical disorders, and give a voice to these children (and their adults). She hopes that her stories help empower people to advocate for themselves and others affected by invisible disorders and disabilities.