Every Parent’s Dream: A Story from the Hazelnut Movement

We never know who will be on the other end of a call when a school reaches out to us about hosting a Hazelnut Assembly. But one call in particular left a mark on our hearts that we won’t soon forget.

As the meeting came to a close, a PTO member, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke up. With tears in her eyes, she said:

“I have a son with disabilities, and I want him to see himself as valued and special—just like his peers. I want him to see his superpower.”

Isn’t that what every parent wants? For their child to know that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved?

Yet for so many children with disabilities, the world tells them the opposite—that they are less than or invisible.

That mother’s words captured exactly why the Hazelnut Movement exists. We are here so that every “hazelnut” child hears a new story about themselves—one of worth, dignity, and belonging. Through our assemblies, books, and speaking engagements, children discover that what makes them different is actually what makes them powerful.

And when a student walks away from one of our programs saying, “I matter. I belong. I have a superpower,” everything changes.

Here’s the truth:

• More than 1 in 6 children in the U.S. has a developmental disability.

• Most of them will never hear a message that directly affirms their worth unless someone steps in.

• Each Hazelnut Assembly costs $2,000 to deliver, but the ripple effect touches hundreds of children, families, and educators in just one day.

You can be that “someone.”

When you sponsor a Hazelnut Assembly, you’re not just funding a program—you’re answering the cry of a mother’s heart. You’re helping a child with disabilities see themselves as valuable, powerful, and loved.

➡️ With your gift of $2,000, an entire school community will be transformed.

➡️ With your ongoing support, more children will hear the words: You matter. You belong. You are enough.

Will you join us in changing the way the world sees disability—one child at a time?