I am deeply honored to share that my book, They Don’t Define Me, has been named a Top Exceptional Needs Book for 2025 by Exceptional Needs Today.
When I first sat down to write this book, I never imagined it would receive recognition like this. They Don’t Define Me was born out of years of lived experience, reflection, struggle, and growth. It was written not to win awards, but to tell the truth. To speak honestly about mental illness, identity, and what it means to live a full life when the world often tries to reduce you to a diagnosis.
Exceptional Needs Today is dedicated to uplifting voices within the exceptional needs and neurodiverse communities. Learning that They Don’t Define Me was chosen as one of their Top Exceptional Needs Books for 2025 is incredibly meaningful because it reflects impact rather than popularity. This recognition affirms that the book is reaching people who need it. It tells me that the story resonates with readers who are navigating mental illness, stigma, self worth, and resilience in their own lives.
They Don’t Define Me tells the story of a lifelong battle with mental illness and the journey toward rising above a diagnosis. It’s not a clinical guide or a distant analysis. It’s personal. It’s honest. It explores moments of fear, isolation, anger, and doubt, as well as moments of strength and hope.
Mental illness often comes with labels that feel permanent and limiting. One of the core messages of this book is that a diagnosis can explain part of your experience, but it does not define your identity, your value, or your future. That belief is not always easy to hold onto, especially during the hardest moments, but it is one worth fighting for.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to Amy KD Tobik, Editor in Chief and Founder of Exceptional Needs Today, and to the entire team behind the publication. It is a privilege to be included among contributors and voices who are helping to build a more compassionate and inclusive world.
To those who have read They Don’t Define Me and saw parts of themselves reflected in its pages, thank you for trusting the story. To those who reached out to share how the book helped them feel less alone, more understood, or more hopeful, please know that your words matter more than you may realize.
This recognition strengthens my resolve to keep writing and advocating for honest conversations around mental health and exceptional needs. There is still so much work to be done in reducing stigma and expanding understanding, but moments like this remind me why the work matters.
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