JANESVILLE — Growing up in Janesville, Angelea Yoder Presti often caught people staring.
As a child born with multiple congenital disabilities, she remembers the looks, the whispers and the feeling that she was different. Years later, she’s transforming those experiences into a nationwide publishing project designed to help children and adults see disability differently.
Presti was born with a rare condition known as VACTERL association or VATER syndrome, an acronym describing a series of congenital differences affecting multiple parts of the body.
Throughout her childhood and adolescence, she underwent more than 20 major surgeries, including procedures to address a tethered spinal cord, anorectal malformation, scoliosis and neurogenic bladder and bowel.
Presti, a professional portrait, fashion, food and music industry who now lives in Nashville, Tenn., is launching two self-published books centered on disability representation.
The first, “Look At Me, Look What I Can Do,†is a children’s photography book featuring children and teenagers from across the country with both visible and invisible disabilities. Rather than focusing on their diagnoses, each portrait highlights what they love to do, showcasing their interests, talents and personalities.
“The goal is to help all children understand differences from an early age while making sure kids who live with them feel seen and know they’re not alone,†Presti said.
Photographer and Janesville native Angelea Yoder Presti has written a children's book showcasing real photos of children around the country with disabilities.
A second book, “Let Them Stare,†is a fashion-inspired coffee table book featuring 100 adults with disabilities and other visible differences. Through stylized portraits, Presti hopes to challenge long-standing barriers to representation in the fashion and creative industries.
“It is both a celebration and a statement,†she said. “Difference belongs in every room, every campaign and every story.â€
For Presti, the project grew from a phrase she had carried with her for years.
“I always loved the phrase ‘let them stare,’†she said. “People stared at me growing up because of my disabilities and because I’m very petite. But I wanted to change what that meant. Let them stare because they’re seeing everything you’re capable of—not just your disability.â€
Originally envisioned as a fashion show, the idea evolved into a children’s book after a friend suggested she create something that could reach young readers first.
“I think children need to see disability at an early age,†Presti said. “It all starts with kids.â€
She intentionally chose photography over illustrations so children would see real people living full lives.
Photographer and Janesville native Angelea Yoder Presti has written a children’s book showcasing real photos of children around the country with disabilities.
Before every photo session, she met with each family over the phone or on FaceTime to explain the project and give children time to decide if they wanted to be involved. During each session, she shared her own story first, creating an immediate bond through their shared experiences with surgeries, hospitals and living with disabilities.
“We don’t have the same journey,†she said. “But we’ve had enough shared experiences that there’s already trust there.â€
The project also prompted Presti to publicly share her own story for the first time. She went on Good Morning America to talk about her visible and invisible disabilities.
“I realized it wasn’t fair to ask these kids to share their stories if I wasn’t willing to share mine,†she said.
Growing up, Presti rarely met others who looked like her or shared similar experiences. She hopes children who read her book will have a different experience.
“If there’s ever a child who feels completely alone in their journey, I hope they open this book and find someone who looks like them,†she said. “Maybe they instantly feel like they’re part of a community. That can change a life.â€
Through the project, Presti learned from the children she spoke to. She said her experiences working with the children over the last two years have inspired her and changed the way she views herself.
“I wish I had been that confident when I was younger,†Presti said. “These kids give me so much hope for future generations.â€
Presti has run a Kickstarter campaign that recently surpassed its fundraising goal, allowing her to print 20,000 copies of the book.
She hopes those books will find their way into classrooms, libraries and homes across the country, including in Janesville.
“Janesville is obviously very close to my heart,†she said. “I’d love to see these books in the Hedberg Public Library and local schools.â€
For Presti, the project is about changing how children view disability — and how children with disabilities see themselves.
“It’s not just about awareness,†she said. “It’s about making sure kids know they’re never alone.â€
Photographer and Janesville native Angelea Yoder Presti has written a children’s book showcasing real photos of children around the country with disabilities.