Jillian Campbell is helping to flip the script on how people see her son’s autism, one page at a time.
The Cobourg mother has recently self-published a children’s book, Javier and the Big Feelings, that’s inspired by her experience raising her nine-year-old son Javier, a client at Five Counties Children’s Centre who has autism.
“I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I didn’t think it would have anything to do with autism,” Jillian admits.
Three years ago, Javier was diagnosed with autism. The journey since has been challenging for Jillian and her family. That includes finding support for her son, building his trust with care providers, and helping him understand and express his feelings.
“So, one day I was sitting with Javier and I’m trying to get him to express himself, but he’s not. He doesn’t. He just shuts down,” Jillian recalls. “And then I wonder if I could write a book about autism, from Javier’s perspective, about his journey, so he’s able to see himself in the book. And then maybe that will help Javier to be more open, or to open up, and to have conversations.”
As she began writing, Jillian realized the book would be worth sharing with other families.
“It can get lonely being a parent of a child with autism,” she says. “You lose friends. You don’t get to go a lot of places, because people don’t always understand.”
The resulting book, Javier and the Big Feelings, came out this fall and is available on Amazon.
The book covers emotions, self-regulation, empathy, and acceptance in an age-appropriate and encouraging way, as it introduces Javier and the way he experiences the world.
Sometimes, Javier’s feelings can seem very “big,” making it hard to know what to do. With the help of understanding adults, supportive friends, and simple coping strategies, Javier learns that all feelings are okay and that he can express himself in healthy ways.
Jillian wanted the book’s illustrations to truly depict her son, so she used artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create and perfect them. The process took many sleepless nights and details mattered. For instance, Javier doesn’t make much eye contact, so she worked to ensure the images in the book have him looking away or down.
“I wanted to show Javier just the way he is. Like all the pictures, like all the stuff he does, riding his bike, being at school,” Jillian recalls. “And when I worked on the illustrations in AI, it didn’t always come out. And I even started talking to my computer. I’m like, ‘No, that’s not how I want it.'”
In the end, the results are picturesque; the book illustrations are beautiful and bright, richly capturing Javier and his surroundings in a warm, welcoming way.
The book is also being well-received. Before publishing Javier and the Big Feelings, Jillian shared a finished copy with a neighbour.
“She said, ‘This is brilliant! This is so Javier’,” Jillian notes. “It came out really perfect.”
Javier’s school has purchased copies of the book for its library (as has Five Counties Children’s Centre for waiting rooms across all its sites). When Jillian took Javier to meet his new teacher, the first thing she said was she’d read his book — and now understood how to talk with him, give him time, and know his needs before he came into the classroom.
Jillian is hopeful that her book will also reach — and resonate — with doctors, caregivers, and service providers.
“I wanted to write this book to give Javier a voice … but I don’t want it to just be for Javier,” she says. “I want it to represent every child that has autism who is going through the same struggles. They have a unique way of seeing the world and it’s our responsibility as adults to help them be able to express themselves just the way they are.”
And how has Javier’s reacted to seeing himself in print? It’s been a bit quieter but no less meaningful.
“He doesn’t show much emotion, but I knew he was excited to see himself,” Jillian says.
There may be more excitement ahead, as Javier’s story is only beginning. Jillian is already working on a sequel — Javier and the Busy Noise — and has more in mind to explore other avenues of Javier’s journey, while shelving stereotypes about autism.
“I hope the Javier series will reach far and wide,” Jillian says. “I want to help every child, even children who are not autistic, realize that inclusion is important. Loving a friend is important, even if that friend is different. Just give them time, include them, love them.”
