For Natalie. For Every Family.
My name is Julie Neward.
By day, I manage shopping centers across San Diego. But my life's purpose began the day my sister, Natalie, was born.
Natalie has an intellectual and developmental disability. She is one of the most loving people you'll ever meet. She also survived abuse while attending a day program.
When our family learned what had happened, we were devastated. After NPR's series "Abused and Betrayed" was released, where Natalie's story was featured, I learned that Natalie wasn't alone.
That discovery changed the course of my life.
I founded The Natalie Project to help protect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, support families, and ensure that every person is treated with dignity, safety, and belonging.
One of the ways we're doing that is through Natty—an 18-minute documentary inspired by Natalie and the extraordinary bond between sisters. Watch it here.👍️
This isn't an exposé.
It's a story about love, family, resilience, and the urgent need to create safer, more inclusive communities. It's a film that helps people see the humanity behind the statistics and starts conversations that lead to action.
Since its release, Natty has been recognized nationally, screened at universities and conferences, featured by NPR, and is helping families, professionals, and self-advocates have conversations that too often never happen.
But we're just getting started.
Your support will help us:
- Bring Natty to schools, disability organizations, healthcare providers, and communities across the country.
- Create free educational resources for families and professionals.
- Expand our national advocacy efforts through The Natalie Project.
- Continue giving siblings, self-advocates, and families a voice.
Every donation—large or small—helps us reach another family, another educator, another policymaker, and another person who deserves to be safe and included.
If you're unable to donate, sharing this campaign is another powerful way to help.
Together, we can build a future where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are safer, better understood, and fully included.
Thank you for believing in this mission.
For Natalie. For every family. Until Every Body is Safe.
💙 Julie Neward
Founder, The Natalie Project
