About Us

Peter & Jacob Dankelson with Abby & Dexter
July 2015 - www.imagesbymariemoore.com

Meet Peter

R.J. Palacio calls Peter Dankelson, “a real-life Wonder” in the Exclusive Barnes & Noble Collector’s Edition of Wonder.  As an Ambassador for Children's Craniofacial Association, Peter enjoys speaking to students who have read Wonder and answering their questions about what it’s really like to live with a facial difference.  His school visits have been featured in local newspapers, and Peter has performed in the role of Auggie at several staged readings of the Wonder Reader's Theater available exclusively through CCA Kids.  Peter has connected with over 10,000 students and is the 2016 Teen Advocacy Champion of Hope for Global Genes.

Peter has had over 25 surgeries and has been actively involved as a patient advocate at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.  He has been featured in the Foundation's magazine, conducted television interviews, given presentations at Grand Rounds, and attended Foundation events as a Patient Ambassador.  Peter and his family have also advocated in Washington D.C. and on www.SpeakNowforKids.org.  One of Peter’s favorite things to do is play practical jokes with his prosthetic ear!

www.imagesbymariemoore.com
Dankelson Family - July 2015
Darin, Peter, Jacob & Dede

Meet Dede

Dede Dankelson serves on the Board of Directors for Children’s Craniofacial Association and was Chairman of the Board from 2011-2013.  She has been a volunteer with the national 501c(3) nonprofit for over ten years.  Dede was a founding member of the Patient & Family-Centered Care Advisory Council at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit and served on the committee from 2005-2015.  She was also a Family Faculty speaker at Grand Rounds on several occasions and served on Michigan's Children’s Special Healthcare Advisory Council in Lansing from 2003-2004.  She is an active contributor to various blogs related to pediatric healthcare, special education, parenting, and facial differences.  Her essay, "A Line Drawn in the Sand" is in the book A Different Kind of Perfect published by Trumpeter in 2006.  Dede wrote the forward for a special-edition of the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio that is available exclusively through Children's Craniofacial Association.