Carmel author & advocate launches essential special needs care workbook

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For millions of parents raising children with special needs, daily life relies on an intricate, highly specific routine. The single greatest unmanaged risk facing these families is a silent one: thousands of unwritten operational details, medical nuances, and behavioral protocols locked exclusively inside a primary caregiver’s head.

To solve this critical gap, special needs mother and author Jessica Willits has announced the release of her new book, If I’m Not Here Tomorrow, a comprehensive 137-page operational blueprint designed to transfer essential caregiving knowledge and daily continuity protocols onto paper.

“If you were hospitalized tonight and couldn’t answer your phone, would someone know how to step in and care for your child?” Willits said. “Special needs parents carry an incredible mental load—from exact food textures and non-verbal pain cues to specific sensory triggers, daily medication schedules, de-escalation scripts, and IEP accommodations. Without a central blueprint, an unexpected emergency leaves a child’s safety, comfort, and routine vulnerable.”

A comprehensive blueprint for daily living & emergency safety

Designed by a caregiver living this reality every day, If I’m Not Here Tomorrow serves as a practical, living manual that ensures a child’s care remains seamless, dignified, and safe, no matter who steps in to help.

Key features of the workbook include:

• Immediate emergency snapshots: A “First 30 Minutes Caregiver Handoff Checklist” and “First 24 Hours Emergency Snapshot” enabling temporary caregivers or first responders to keep a child safe, fed, and regulated within minutes.
• 10 complete operational modules: Thorough coverage of daily care routines, medication logs, sensory profiles, IEP accommodations, specialized medical equipment, household operations, and long-term transition goals.
• Personhood over paperwork: Dedicated sections documenting a child’s unique communication nuances, favorite comforts, sense of humor, and personal dignity guidelines.
• Advanced clinical & disaster deep-dives: Specialized modules for G-tube/trach care, speech/AAC settings, occupational/physical therapy routines, Behavior Support Plans (BSP/ABC tracking), and emergency evacuation preparedness.

Local launch event & community gathering

To mark the release, a community launch event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Event Nest Carmel, 40 Executive Drive, Suite D.

The launch doubles as a supportive, welcoming gathering for local caregivers, parents, non-profit advocates, and healthcare professionals. Attendees can meet the author, connect with local health and therapy partners, and enjoy refreshments.

“This workbook isn’t meant to be filled out in one night,” Willits said. “Built to be completed over time at your own pace, it serves as a living document of continuity, safety, and love – designed to give special needs families the ultimate gift of clarity and peace of mind.”

Admission is free, but please RSVP at jessicawillits.com/rsvp.

Limited copies of the book will be available at the event and are online at Amazon.

About the Author
Jessica Willits is a special needs mother, advocate, and author living the daily realities of caregiving. If I’m Not Here Tomorrow was created out of her personal journey to ensure continuous safety, dignity, and care for her children and family.