We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Craft a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Megan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

After I completed Graduate school, I obtained my master’s and started my first job as a Clinical Fellow in Speech-Language Pathology. I was in a private practice working with clients from birth to 18 years of age. I love reading and it is a huge part of my career. I discussed reading recommendations to parents and the importance and all of the aspects of language that reading to your child can incorporate. As I had these conversations, I was brought back by a parent’s answer. She expressed that she could not go to a bookshelf or library and find a book with a character like her son. I heard it another time and it kept coming up in conversation. I knew I needed to change this problem. So, the idea of a disability-inclusive book series was born. I never thought it would ever be available to others. After having kids and moving settings to the school, I heard the same answers again about parents not being able to see their kids represented in books. Mission: inclusion started and now I have so many more dreams for this book series to help spread representation and awareness for the kids I am blessed to work with every day.

Megan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a mother, a wife, and a Speech-Language Pathologist. I am a Texan born and raised. I knew growing up I wanted to work with kids, but I wasn’t sure what occupation it would be. I had the chance to observe the SLP/OT/PT in the early childhood classroom at the school where my stepmom worked. It was at that moment, I learned just how much fun it would be to go to college to become an SLP. Fast forward, this is my 8th year as an SLP and I can’t imagine doing anything else. The kids make the days so worth it and there are so many magical moments with a child from hearing their first sound/word to helping them utilize an AAC device, to using gestures to get other’s attention etc.

Now, I am able to use my books for my kids at school and at home with my personal children to discuss disability inclusion and raise awareness to include others.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission behind my book series is the kids I have worked with in the past, currently working with, and the kids I have yet to work with. We all have the right to see ourselves represented in a book. I just recently experienced the magical moment of my daughter identifying with a book character that looks like her. It is so special to be able to look at the books you read and see yourself. I am working toward this with my book series for the children I work with to have that opportunity.

My goal with this series is to turn Mission: InclusionTM into a household brand. I have big dreams to incorporate my characters into all kinds of items and accessories for all kids. I am nervous about the journey ahead but so excited for all of the kids who will now be able to see themselves in a children’s book.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part initially was seeing families and kids holding my book. Seeing people hold my book brought my dream to a reality. As the journey has continued, another rewarding aspect has been people that I do not even know thanking me for representing their kids. It gets me each time and tears just slowly start to fall down my face. I keep telling myself, that is my WHY. To hear and see others enjoying my books. I have a long way to go to reach so many more kids, but I am in this, and I want to continue to see it through.

My next endeavor is reaching out to hospitals/schools. How cool would it be to have an easy-to-read book for kids to identify with post-surgery or to read before surgery to ease them into knowing it will be okay? For schools, it is an easy-to-read and understand book to incorporate inclusion into the early years. Representation: it is never too early to include all.

The rewards continue to flood in now that I am using my books with the kids at school in therapy. The conversations we are having mean so much.

I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who has supported me so far. They are rewards in themselves because they allow me to continue to share my stories/books with others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mission-inclusion.com/
• Instagram: @mission._.inclusion1622
• Facebook: Mission: Inclusion
• Linkedin: Megan Craft