cynthia schulz on turning her parenting experience into a guide to help other families
Cynthia Schulz is a champion for disability parenting. With more than 40 years of experience as a mother raising four children, one with developmental disabilities, she is a voice to be reckoned with. After a longtime career as a corporate communication executive helping CEOs and leaders find the right words when the stakes were high, she is devoting her encore career to making life better for families touched by all kinds of disabilities. A storyteller at heart, she brings wisdom, warmth, humor, and unvarnished truth to the world of disability parenting with stories of families everywhere raising their children to live full lives. She speaks to educators, healthcare professionals, business and community leaders, bringing the parent perspective that deepens empathy and drives meaningful change. Her book Shine On won an IndieReader Discovery Award in Nonfiction.
Shine On: Raising Our Kids with Disabilities to Lead Bright, Happy Lives
by Cynthia Schulz
Stories brimming with empathy, audacity, and love to help you stand up for your child.
Parenting a child with special needs was never in your plan. The diagnosis comes as a shock, with more questions than answers. Heartbroken and overwhelmed, you wonder if you're up to this challenge. When mother of four Cynthia Schulz received her daughter's diagnosis, she felt the same way. Now, 40 years later, she's become a champion of children with disabilities and written the book she wishes she had from the very beginning.
Today, families all over the world are raising children with developmental disabilities to live wonderful lives beyond expectations. In Shine On, Schulz shares her stories and those of many families she's met along the way to give insight into what it takes. She doesn't shy away from the reality that this life is difficult, but brings to light the triumphs, joys, and laughter that come with it. As she tackles everything from childhood through adulthood, including education, inclusion, family, friendships, community, and careers, you'll see vivid reflections of yourself and your child in Schulz's words and perhaps a glimpse of what to expect in the future.
Practical, funny, heartwarming, and written in a style that feels like chatting with a friend over coffee, Shine On is a book you can open again and again to feel connected, empowered, and certain you are exactly the parent your child needs.
Interview with cynthia schulz:
What was the moment you realized this book needed to exist?
I knew this book needed to exist as I met many young mothers early in the journey of raising a child with disabilities. I realized I had four decades of experience I could share to help them. Having walked in their shoes, I knew how much they needed this book.
What did writing this book teach you about yourself that surprised you?
Writing my first book taught me that indeed I can figure out how to do something I’ve never done before. I’m a writer by profession with a long career as a corporate communication executive. I’m confident as a writer, but I didn’t know the first thing about the book business. I spent six months, probably longer, doing a deep dive into all the different publishing options, scouting the competitive landscape, understanding the book writing process, and thinking deeply about the reader I was writing for. I really enjoyed the time I spent writing and when I finished (whoopie!), I thought I was done. Little did I realize how much work I would need to devote to promoting my book and getting it into the hands of families who need it.
What are some misconceptions people have about raising children with disabilities?
Sometimes parents don’t listen to their instincts, instead deferring to “experts.” Yet, parents know their children better than any expert, and every expert benefits from the parent perspective. Parents matter most when it comes to raising kids with disabilities.
One of the themes in your book is helping children “shine.” How do you encourage families to shift from focusing on limitations to recognizing possibilities?
Parents are often told all the things their children will likely never do. But no one tells you how your child will surprise you by defying those odds. How much joy they will bring you. How much you will love them just the way they are.
If a parent has just received a diagnosis for their child, what is one piece of advice you wish someone had shared with you?
Receiving a disability diagnosis is crushing. It brings on a period of grieving. You have to go through these dark days to get to the other side, when you can begin to turn off the waterworks, put one foot in front of the other, and bring on the warrior within, because you’ve got to fight for this child.
Have you seen attitudes toward disability evolve over the years? Where do you think we still have work to do?
The most powerful catalyst for bettering the lives of individuals with disabilities has been the inclusion movement. When it began more than 35 years ago, it gave kids with disabilities the chance to be educated and to feel a sense belonging. But they’re not the only ones to benefit. Turns out, inclusion touched all kids, as typical students learned acceptance and discovered capability, not just disability, in their classmates. Inclusion has brought an abundance of kindness into our classrooms and communities.
What's something your child has taught you that no expert or parenting book ever could?
I’ve learned the power of mother’s love to do whatever it takes to give a child with disabilities a good life. My daughter has singlehandedly taught us, her parents and siblings, how to be better humans.
What are you most excited about these days? 
Getting my book into the hands of every family who needs it. Sharing the importance of the parent perspective with experts like doctors, educators, researchers, and agencies.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I love historical fiction. It’s the best way to learn another dimension of history that connects you with the people who experienced it. It grows your empathy.
And more!
Check out Cynthia's insightful and empowering book on disability parenting: Shine On: Raising Our Kids with Disabilities to Lead Bright, Happy Lives
Check out Cynthia's website for more information on her background and the book!
Do you have experience that could help others like Cynthia? Start your publishing journey with IngramSpark today!