The Book Every Disabled Child Deserves: Angelea Yoder on Let Them Stare

Alycia Anderson welcomes back Nashville photographer, disability advocate, and Let Them Stare creator Angelea Yoder to discuss her advocacy, her VACTERL Association diagnosis, and the liberation of moving from hiding invisible medical differences to sharing them publicly, including a Good Morning America segment that shifted her fears into feelings of acceptance. Angelea explains VACTERL and how it has impacted her life through multiple anomalies and more than 20 surgeries, and Alycia shares they have the same VACTERL-related experiences. They focus on Angelea’s first Let Them Stare phase, the photography-based children’s book Look at Me: Look What I Can Do, now on Kickstarter to raise $40,000 for self-publishing and printing, with tiers for preorders and donating books to schools and hospitals. They also discuss consent and privacy for disabled kids on social media, and Angelea previews future plans including an adult coffee-table book, a disability-focused modeling agency, and a community hub. The episode’s mantra is simple and powerful: “Let them stare.”  The Big Ideas Behind the Brave Moments  📸 Disability representation through real photography and storytelling 👀 Let Them Stare as a movement for visibility and pride 🧒 Helping disabled kids feel seen, celebrated, and less alone 💬 Moving from hidden medical differences to public advocacy 🧬 Understanding VACTERL Association and invisible disability ❤️ Finding liberation through vulnerability and shared lived experience 📚 Creating children’s books that reflect real disabled kids 🛡️ Consent, privacy, and dignity in disability storytelling 🏥 Navigating medical complexity, childhood surgeries, and self advocacy 🌎 Changing how the world sees disability, difference, and possibility 👗 Expanding disability representation in fashion, media, and modeling ✨ Building community around visibility, belonging, and the mantra “Let them stare” The Quotes We’re Carrying Forward  “I want to start doing something that can help people and change the world.” ~ Angelea Yoder “Even if it changes one child’s perspective of, ‘Oh, I’m not alone anymore,’ then this whole thing was worth it.” ~ Angelea Yoder “I would love to see disfigurement and disabilities in so many more media campaigns and PR campaigns.” ~ Angelea Yoder “Let them stare.” ~ Angelea Yoder From Hidden to Seen, One Moment at a Time  00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:25 Meet Angelea Yoder 02:39 From Radio to Purpose 04:44 Hidden to Heard 06:34 Understanding VACTERL 09:52 Shared Diagnosis Bond 13:19 Kids Book Let Them Stare 16:48 Kickstarter Funding Goals 17:35 Kids Privacy Online 22:09 How to Support and Tiers 23:54 Whats Next for Project 26:56 Final Links and Farewell 28:16 Pushing Forward Mantra  Connect with Angelea Yoder Keep up with Angelea Yoder, photographer, storyteller, disability advocate, and creator of LET THEM STARE, as she works to change the way the world sees disability, visible and invisible differences, and childhood representation. Her upcoming children’s photo book, Look At Me, Look What I Can Do!, celebrates the strength, joy, and ability of every child. Back the Book on Kickstarter: Look At Me, Look What I Can Do! Children’s Book Website:letthemstare.org LinkedIn:Angelea Yoder Instagram:@angeleaphoto Facebook:Angelea Photo Connect with Alycia 🌐 Website: ⁠https://alyciaanderson.com/⁠ 🎙️ Podcast: ⁠https://alyciaanderson.com/podcast⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyciaanderson/⁠ 📸 Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/alyciaanderson/⁠ Pushing Forward with Alycia gives disability a voice through conversations about accessibility, inclusion, ambition, resilience, leadership, and creating a more inclusive world for all people. Subscribe, like, and share to help push the conversation forward. About Pushing Forward with Alycia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices