This article is about the Newman family, who have a similar experience to the fictional family, the Pullmans. With the Newman family expecting their first child, they were very excited waiting in the delivery room for their new baby boy. When they saw their son Nathaniel for the first time, he was nothing like they had expected. Nathaniel was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a rare craniofacial disorder that's caused by mutations in a specific gene. This disorder is extremely rare as it only affects 1 in 50,000 people. When the Newmans saw their son, they were horrified. This family is known as the real-life 'Wonder' family. There is a very strong connection between the Newman family and the book wonder as Auggie and Nathaniel have very similar syndromes and have to both navigate life with their rare disorders. This connection matters because it shows the world that Auggie is not just a made-up character with a made-up disorder, he can relate to individuals just like Nathaniel. The book Wonder may also help Nathaniel navigate his life and help him to deal with his disorder and all the obstacles and struggles it may bring him. This does connect to my question about the world. My question is: "How do disabilities and mental health disorders affect children? Even after treatment, how do these disorders linger?" This article connects to my question because it can show how a rare disorder such as Treacher Collins syndrome can affect a child like Nathaniel and how he can cope and live with it on a daily basis. We can also see after many surgeries to try to fix this disorder, it still lingers and is still very obvious when looking at Nathaniel. I am very happy that I found this article because it definitely helped me to understand these types of disorders more and made the storyline of Wonder feel more real. 

This poem is based on the book Wonder. This poem connects to my book as it talks about August and the struggles he may go through. It relates August to the month, which may allow the readers to understand it a bit more. This poem elevates the conversation about my book because it shows that someone like August has feelings too and he isn't just someone with a physical disability. It's important to remember this aspect when we think about individuals who may struggle with something like a craniofacial disorder because it's something that they can't control and most likely don't want to have to deal with. This poem can help us to think beyond the storyline, and think about the feelings and mental illnesses that are involved in disabilities like these. This poem is one that helped me to understand the book as well as Auggie more, as I was able to look at him from a different perspective, and not just someone with a physical disability. 

This piece of art is one in which the artist wanted to show what depression looks like. I chose this piece of art because I think it's very important when we think about these physical disorders such as the one Auggie and Nathaniel have. This connects to my book because it is evident that individuals with physical disorders are more likely to experience mental health disorders such as depression. This art matters because it can show what someone is going through and can maybe give us ideas on how to help them. This elevates the conversation about the book as it brings light to the things that go unnoticed such as the mental health of someone with a physical disability or disorder.

This TED Talk connects to my book because it talks about mental illnesses and why they should be normalized and not looked down upon. It is very common for someone to see a victim of mental illness as lazy and unmotivated, but that is almost never the case. We need to look past this stigma and realize that those who struggle with mental illnesses are humans too and they shouldn't be treated differently. This TED Talk matters because it brings light to the issue and normalizes those with mental illnesses which is something that is inevitable for some. This talk elevates the conversation about my book because it allows us to more deeply understand what mental illnesses are, who can have them, what the stigma is around them, and why there is so much shame regarding them. This TED talk raises a few questions such as why is there such a stigma? Why is mental illness looked at differently than any other illness such as cancer? How can we break the stigma and shame of mental illness?

My driving question is “How do disabilities and mental health disorders affect children? Even after treatment, how do these disorders linger?” This question matters to me because there is a clear correlation between mental and physical disorders, and it’s important that we educate ourselves on them. I was also really curious about the lasting effects it may have on people even after some sort of treatment has been done. 

During my research, I came across a lot of very interesting sources which helped me to come closer to answering my driving question. I learned about the Newman family who are known as the “real-life wonder family.” Nathaniel Newman was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome which causes him to look different in his face. His syndrome is very similar to the one Auggie has in the book Wonder, which is what allowed Nathaniel to stand out. This disorder is extremely rare as it only affects 1 in 50,000 people. After learning about Nathaniel and his story, it helped me to realize that Auggie is not just a made-up character with a made-up disorder, he can relate to individuals just like Nathaniel. Another source that I came across during my research allowed me to see the connection between physical disabilities and the impact that it may have on one’s mental health. People with physical disabilities may experience societal constraints, loneliness and isolation, barriers to mental health care, lack of integrated care, high incidence of unemployment and poverty, communication barriers, and so much more. All of these factors can create much anxiety and pain for an individual who is already struggling so much due to their physical setbacks. Lastly, another source that I think is worth mentioning is the depression art piece. I love this piece because it shows how someone can really be struggling no matter who they are and what their story is. I chose this piece of art because I think it's very important when we think about these physical disorders such as the one Auggie and Nathaniel have. This connects to my book because it is evident that individuals with physical disorders are more likely to experience mental health disorders such as depression. This art matters because it can show what someone is going through and can maybe give us ideas on how to help them. This elevates the conversation about the book as it brings light to the things that go unnoticed such as the mental health of someone with a physical disability or disorder.

During my research, I learned so much about mental health and physical disorders. I was able to see the connection between the two and how it may affect an individual. I’m really glad I got to learn more about this topic and deepen my understanding because I think it’s really important to be aware of what people are going through and how it may affect them, so we are able to offer them help when needed. I learned a lot about craniofacial disorders and what types of mental and physical pain they may cause, which is something I’m very glad that I learned about. This research project opened my eyes to many things and I’m grateful that my curiosity led me here. Thank you for listening!