7 Questions with A Couple featuring Julie Stamm

MS author, advocate, co-creator of ‘52 Essential Inclusion Skills’

Welcome to “7 Questions with A Couple,” a series that includes quick conversations with a variety of experts and influencers from throughout the Multiple Sclerosis community. We couldn’t be more excited to share our conversation with Julie Stamm. Diagnosed with MS in 2007, Julie has made it her mission to educate, advocate and support others battling chronic illnesses. She is a published author of numerous MS-related articles and essays. She also wrote the children’s book “Some Days: A tale of love, ice cream, and my mom’s chronic illness” following the birth of her son, Jack.

In 2023, she co-created “52 Essential Inclusion Skills – An A to Z Guide to Kindness, Compassion, and Respect for Diverse Abilities” with Mind Brain Parenting’s Dr. Jenny Woo. In addition to chatting with Julie for Episode 54 of our A Couple Takes on MS Podcast, we caught up with her to learn more about “52 Essential Inclusion Skills.”

1. You have authored two books and numerous articles related to Multiple Sclerosis. What led you to develop 52 Essential Inclusion Skills – An A to Z Guide to Kindness, Compassion, and Respect for Diverse Abilities set for a June 1, 2023, release?

I am beyond proud of my writings and the support they have provided others. I want to leave my mark on this world; Not for myself but rather for my son to have tangible items that he can look back at and reflect on our lives, the challenges, and the triumphs that we have faced together. Also, I am very committed to adding representation of the under-represented to this world.  I felt like I needed to find a different way to meet my mission. After being introduced to the extraordinary Dr. Jenny Woo, CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, creator of the award-winning and Amazon bestselling 52 Essential card series, we knew we could achieve our goal if we worked together. She is a brilliant, educated, and passionate human that I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to co-create something as meaningful at the 52 Essential Inclusion Skills deck with her.

2. Why was it so important to create this deck aimed at increasing understanding of different abilities for the world today?

The reality is 1 in 4 adults (26%) in the U.S. has some type of disability (CDC, 2023). Of the world’s population, roughly 16% live with a significant disability (1.3 billion people), or 1 in 6 of us (World Health Organization, 2023). We need to represent this underserved and, all too often, unseen audience. It is up to us to make them be seen. It is up to us to have conversations that facilitate inclusivity and kindness. The sooner our children and society are exposed to what the real world really looks like the sooner we can be a more truly inclusive society.

3. What was it like for you to collaborate with Dr. Jenny Woo?

I have worked with many people across many different backgrounds over my lifetime. I can say wholeheartedly that Jenny is kind, compassionate, driven, and brilliant in a way that motivates and inspires me daily.

4. Looking to be inclusive of diverse abilities, how difficult was it to decide what 52 stories you wanted to capture?

Very. We have had so many submissions which further adds to our drive and determination. While we are limited to just 52 hero highlights on the cards, we have decided to allow/encourage others to share their stories which will be featured on the Mind Brain Emotion website. We want to raise as much awareness and promote as much inclusion as possible.

5. With this, what was the process for reaching out and connecting with people to share their experiences?

I am heavily involved in the chronic illness arena which was helpful. With different abilities so prevalent (Jenny and I both have invisible illnesses) in today’s society, it really was easy to get our heroes on board. I think most people innately want to help others. Most people want to feel like they are adding value to this world. Each of our heroes is providing education and hope to others. I am so grateful and proud to know them and share their stories.

6. We absolutely love the video of you and Dr. Woo unboxing the packaging for the first time! What was going through your mind as you were holding the unopened package? Could you ever have imagined it would turn out the way it did?

I couldn’t believe that I was actually holding the deck! All I could think about was how when Jenny and I met a few months earlier, I never could have dreamed that we would get here so quickly. I’m really sentimental about putting the first of my works in Jack’s ‘baby box.’ My mind fast forwards and I envision him opening up this time capsule of things that meant so much to me. I cried my eyes out when adding the deck to his box because I know the pride he will feel and I know when he is looking back on it, he will be living in a much kinder and more inclusive world because of it.

Oh and yeah, the quality is pretty fantastic! It’s a beauty!

I hope that in 20 years’ time, people will look at the deck like we now look at VCRs. I want someone to hold our deck and wonder why a world would need this type of resource.

7. What are the biggest takeaways you hope people will get from 52 Essential Inclusion Skills? Similarly, what are your biggest takeaways as one of the co-creators of this important and valuable resource?

My biggest takeaway would be to dream big. Meeting Jenny was kismet. This deck would still be a pile of prototypes sitting on my desk without her. Some things are just meant to happen and this deck is one of those things!