By Judy Carmack Bross
Isabelle Woloson with draft on new paperback edition of My Friend Isabelle
Former Lake Forest resident and author Eliza Woloson with her daughter Isabelle Woloson
“Friendship is all about acknowledging one another’s abilities and challenges. It’s what makes a person whole when you can see that we all have many different abilities and with this understanding comes loyalty and trustfulness,” Eliza Woloson, author of My Friend Isabelle.
Todd, Eliza, Isabelle, and Audrey Woloson
Author Eliza Woloson returns to her native North Shore to introduce her significant story about inclusion and friendship to a whole new generation at Gigi’s Playhouse in Deerfield September 21 as she reads from the paperback edition of My Friend Isabelle. Written by Woloson about her daughter Isabelle and illustrated by Bryan Gough, it was originally published in hardcover in 2003 to wide praise. The story continues to resonate with families, educators and advocates for inclusion – delivering a gentle, powerful message about embracing differences.
Isabelle holds up letter to represent the State of Colorado at the National Special Olympics in June 2025
Mother and daughter are currently on a cross-country book tour and this weekend Eliza is participating in the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Buddy Walk and Book Signing in New York City’s Central Park. Isabelle will miss the Gigi’s Playhouse signing due to her practices for butterfly event competition in the Special Olympics next June. In 2025 she became the Colorado State gold medalist for 50M breaststroke and butterfly for the Special Olympics.
My Friend Isabelle is now out in hardcover, meet its author September 21 at Gigi’s Playhouse in Deerfield
The story, which follows two young friends, Charlie and Isabelle, who are alike in many ways and different in others, delivers a simple yet powerful message: our differences are something to be celebrated. Since her early years, Isabelle has grown into a remarkable woman living independently in Colorado. She works as both a life coach and barista, has a loving relationship, and continues to advocate for others with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Her parents, Eliza and Todd Woloson first met each other in Lake Forest, where she attended Lake Forest Academy and he Lake Forest High School, and decided Boulder was the place for them after college. Eliza anticipates returning to the North Shore to see many of her friends at the signing. “Lake Forest is such a fine community and we continue to rely on our friends there for support,” Eliza said.
Since its original publication, My Friend Isabelle has been widely used in classrooms, pediatric therapy offices, and homes to help young children understand diversity and inclusion in an age-appropriate, accessible way. The book has been praised by organizations such as the National Down Syndrome Congress, and continues to be a resource for parents and educators looking to start meaningful conversations with young readers.
We recently talked with mother and daughter over Zoom about the far-reaching impact of the book. It is obvious that they are a happy team, listening with joy to one another as they talk about the book. Mutual admiration is an understatement.
“The story is not just about me and it is one I love to read to little kids,” Isabelle said. “I am so happy to be working with my friends at Bitty and Beau’s and to be part of something that is opening up the world.”
Eliza recalled the “don’t look, don’t stare” era which characterized the way people with Downs Syndrome were once treated. “Barriers have definitely been broken down and the research conducted in the past 20 years has been incredible,” she said.
“A friend in Lake Forest, Gay Grumhaus, introduced me to Betsy Goodwin, who founded the Down’s Syndrome Society. She told me she was so happy for me when Isabelle was born, that I would be learning so much. Betsy was the first person I showed the finished book and she helped me get a publisher. A portion of the paperback proceeds will go to the Society.”
The new print features an ‘afterword’ by adult Isabelle who has accomplished so much for both herself and others since its original release. In 2016, Isabelle played a pivotal role in the passing of Colorado’s Bill 196, which allows students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attend state colleges and universities. She became the first student in the state to graduate under the new law, earning her degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 2021. Today, she is recognized as a state hero for her efforts, which opened the door to higher education for countless others.
Celebrating graduation from the University of Northern Colorado
Eliza Woloson told us:
“There are three things that have made slow progress in the last twenty years for people with disabilities: first, post-secondary education. Think College is a great site that lists all college opportunities by state. Second, independent living with interesting models is happening all across the country, and third, job opportunities. Bitty and Beau’s, where Isabelle works is a wonderful example. In Boulder where we live, Isabelle was one of the first residents of an independent living apartment of 50 units of which one-third would be for people who learn differently.
“Colorado was one of the last States to offer opportunities for people with disabilities to attend post-secondary college… Colorado Senate Bill 16-196 was a pilot program to provide funding to three colleges in Colorado to begin figuring this out.
Illinois was ahead of Colorado in this regard!”
As an active member of the student council at Boulder High, Isabelle attended the Women’s Leadership Institute in Boston and advocated for the voices of people with disabilities to be included and heard throughout all US high schools. After graduating from Boulder High, Isabelle went on to study Communications at the University of Northern Colorado. Upon graduation, she was invited to Uganda to speak about the power of inclusion to teachers and parents with children with disabilities. Isabelle has lived independently for the last four years, is a certified life-coach for people with disabilities, and volunteers at the Boulder Community Hospital.
Isabelle at work at Bitty and Beau’s
Her quest to become an international advocate for inclusion began with My Friend Isabelle. A Colorado bestseller, winner of the i-Media Parenting Award, and part of the nationwide program to promote inclusion called “Everyone Counts”, it is rare to find a young parent of a child with Down syndrome who has not heard of this book.
Eliza Woloson is an author, applied anthropologist, Fulbright Specialist, and co-founder of the global human rights prize, Women Have Wings, which has supported 170 women activists worldwide. She founded Global Education Fund, which later merged with Girl Rising, and has spent 30 years advocating for inclusive education for women and girls.
In 2014, Eliza co-founded Colorado’s Initiative for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education, which led to the passage of Senate Bill 196 and expanded college access for students with intellectual disabilities
Eliza has received numerous honors, including the United Nations “Global Luminary” award, and serves as a delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, a member of UN Women’s Action Coalition, and an advisor to Our Secure Future.
“While I was a delegate at the UN a woman from Uganda came up to me to tell me about her eight-year-old daughter who had Downs Syndrome. She told me: ‘We have no books like that in our country.’ I am proud that it is a standard there now.”
With congratulations to Isabelle and Eliza whose loving initiatives on inclusion are to be celebrated with the re-launch of My Friend Isabelle.
Mother and daughter clowning around and having fun
