Featured photo: Aubree Bearyman, Tracy Palmer and Netta Watson
Written by Tanya Terry, with featured photo courtesy of Tracy Palmer
On December 15, 25 differently abled and special needs individuals will take part in This Is Me, an annual fashion show celebrating them! This year’s event takes place at 5 p.m. at the Sloan Museum of Discovery, and it has grown consistently. In addition, this year, being year sixth in Flint, is unique because there is a superhero theme.
Tracy Palmer, founder of This Is Me, explained the theme to the Courier.
“We just really want them to be their authentic self, but we believe that they are the superheroes,” she said. “So, they’re going to be able to wear their costumes. They’re going to be able to say: ‘I’m free. I, too, can do anything I want to do.’ To me, that’s a real superhero. A lot of these people, they’ve saved their family’s lives because you have no choice but to believe that you can get through anything. They’re just very strong. They made their parents stronger people. They made their compassion totally on a different scale. They have challenges every single day that they have to conquer. So, that’s what a superhero really is.”
Pastor Floyd Uriah Fuller’s 7-year-old son, John Fuller, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3 and will be participating in This Is Me for the third year. Pastor “Uriah” Fuller received a clip of This Is Me from Palmer and started crying.
He said: “A lot of people don’t talk about what men go through…By a man’s nature, we want to fix things for our family.”
Not feeling like this was a possibility, Pastor “Uriah” Fuller, at one time, became depressed. But, he said, because of This Is Me, he no longer feels alone. He shared he feels like he’s found “a village of people who understand.”
Palmer explained that besides the theme, another thing that will make this year different is the fact the show will honor a 14-year-old young man who had autism. This would have been his first year in This Is Me.
“He unfortunately passed in a fire on March 7, 2024,” Palmer stated. “His mom and his sister are part of the show this year. We’re going to honor him. We’re going to make a lot of things about him. Every time you see ‘For Hunter,’ we’re honoring him.”
Palmer also noted the hosts will make sure the audience and participants know what to do to get out of a fire when dealing with a special needs person.
This Is Me started after a parent and her autistic son attended a fashion show against bullying Palmer had. The parent approached Palmer suggesting she have a show for those with special needs. Palmer said she had the platform to do what she wanted in any space, but she had never dealt with children or adults with special needs. Still, she prayed about it.
“God gave me a vision,” said Palmer. “When we had the very first show, none of us really knew what to expect….Of course, I did some research to make sure they would have everything they needed. All I knew is I wanted it to be just for them. I didn’t want anyone to feel like they had to chase their child, or tell their child to be quiet. All the things parents have to protect their children from, I wanted them to be free from.”
Palmer said she and others cried the entire time during the first show because the participants and their families were so happy!
Palmer only had planned to do one This Is Me show.
“But it could not just end there.”
Palmer invites individuals with special needs and differently-abled individuals to come watch the show at no cost, anyone with resources to attend and anyone who would like to show support for these superheroes to get a ticket and come enjoy This Is Me.
For advance tickets to This Is Me, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thisisme-tickets-1034842912007
