Meet the Team
JULIA ERMAN
MEET THE FOUNDER
Julia Erman lives in East Tennessee with her husband and two young children. As a mother of two children affected by a rare genetic disorder, she recognized the lack of knowledge and understanding surrounding disability. In 2022, Julia founded The Hazelnut Movement to spread awareness and promote inclusivity to children, parents, and educators.
Julia firmly believes that storytelling creates compassion, and feels her purpose is to instill awareness and compassion in the hearts of individuals, young and old alike. Using her books and speaking engagements, she hopes to spark conversations and bridge the gap between children with special needs and their peers.
Julia also works as a business coach for women, where she continues to ensure that no one walks alone.
Valerie Coker
Valerie Coker is a homeschooling mom of three who has a passion for disability advocacy and education. As special needs parents, she and her husband work to ensure that their children have the ability to fully engage in their community.
As a passionate author, Valerie seeks to write books that create a strong sense of understanding and accessibility surrounding disability to even the youngest children. Together with The Hazelnut Movement, Valerie hopes to encourage conversations that will ensure inclusivity for future generations.
Valerie believes that everyone has a role to play in creating a more inclusive society. She volunteers for a large disabilities ministry, serves on the board of Virginia's only statewide inclusive homeschool organization, and is the founder of her local inclusive homeschool co-op.
