Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004, is the author of the children’s book The Furrtails, which helps children appreciate individuality and understand their peers who have disabilities.

“I’ve been doing a lot with the book with Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Convention, arenas like that. I also go into grade schools to share my book with students. I have been trying to raise awareness because I think the unknown is what scares people so much. They don’t know how they should interact with someone with a disability—someone who is different from them.”