Hello There...it's Kate

Introducing Finding Cooper's Voice

Hi friends, so truth time.

I have had this newsletter for years now and to say I have been inconsistent with sending you emails is the understatement of the century. But in my defense, I wear a lot of hats these days. Some I expected and stepped into happily. Wife, mother, blogger, advocate. Some I more fell into. Or was pushed into. Author, Influencer, Nonprofit Co-Founder.

When I launched a blog from my living room couch a hundred years ago, and named it Finding Cooper’s Voice, I wrote honestly and messily about my worries, fears, and hopes. It wasn’t pretty and thankfully no one really read it (except my mom). That all changed when I pressed publish on my Facebook page five years ago. I learned quickly that fellow parents were looking for a home. A place to share, learn, ask, and tell. But more importantly, a place to laugh and cry.

And well, here we are today. Nearly one million followers in that thriving community. I am so proud of that number because it means that my son Cooper, a little boy from Minnesota with the diagnosis of autism, has touched, helped, and/or educated a million people. It’s unbelievable really. And I made it there by being brutally honest. Somewhere along the line though, I learned that I had to follow the rules that Facebook set out for me. And those rules led me away from writing and towards video.

I miss writing. I miss explaining my son’s autism in color. I miss telling you a story and bringing our world to life for you.

So, welcome to Finding Cooper’s Voice on Substack, one of my new homes. This doesn’t mean I am leaving Facebook. Or even changing what I do over there. What it means is I value my writing so much…for me and for the world. So, I am building a new house here from the ground up. And I hope you join me.

This newsletter will always have a free component, but I’m introducing it today with an opportunity to be a paid subscriber. If you like my writing or the videos, I am most known for, that not only take a deep dive into this secret world of disability parenting, but also normalize it, I hope you’ll consider supporting my work. When you subscribe you get more content from me plus the opportunity to zoom with me four times a year!

Your money helps me pay for all my regular expenses (mortgage, car, food) and the other expenses that will make this newsletter look good (graphic designers, copy editors, regular editors). But more importantly, it allows me to work from home independently and bring Cooper to speech therapy and chaperone Sawyer’s field trips and be the mystery reader in Harbor’s classroom.

I don’t believe that anyone should write for free, so the ask is this: For $6 a month, or $60 a year, you have access to everything I (and this platform) have to offer. If that number isn’t affordable for you, I totally understand. Stay with me on the free side please.

I’m excited to build this, with your help. Media is a messy and unstable industry; Substack has given me the opportunity to own my work. Finding Cooper’s Voice normalizes the secret world of special needs parenting with humor, honesty, hope, and love. It’s essays, interviews, recommendations, education, book readings, zooms, and support that will have you nodding and saying, ‘I finally feel seen.’

Finally, if you are a super Swenson family fan and want to become a founding member, I will mail you a copy of Forever Boy signed by all six Swenson family members. SO, FUN right!?

And remember, your story, in all of its messy, beautiful glory, is the answer to someone’s problem. Just like mine is. So, share it.

Welcome.

Kate and family.