Student to advocate: how Beth found her voice

When Beth Leipholtz (CSB ‘15) first stepped onto the campus of the College of St. Benedict, it was the “vibe” that convinced her it was the right school, and it’s that feeling that has driven her back for an author talk to discuss her highly successful book “The ABCs of Inclusion” this upcoming Wednesday.

Leipholtz had grown up in Buffalo, about 45 minutes southeast of St. Cloud, and had looked at other colleges, but St. Ben’s felt like home. Even better, her best friend chose it, too.

At CSB, she majored in communication, a choice that, in her words, “kind of encompasses everything I do.” She started with a passion for journalism, a career that had enticed her since high school, and served for all four years on The Record and later worked at the Echo Press in Alexandria post-graduation. However, upon reflecting on small-town journalism, Leipholtz mentioned that it “can be a lot to take on,” especially while focusing on the tragedies in the community. But her communication background granted by St. Ben’s gave her the foundation to explore new passions, such as design and photography.

Her path took another significant turn in college: between sophomore and junior year, she decided to get sober, and hasn’t had a drink since. At first, she processed the experience through blogging. It opened doors to lifelong friendships she still holds to this day and helped her discover a deeper purpose in her life.

Leipholtz carried her journalistic roots into parenthood. When her son, Cooper, was diagnosed with Waardenburg syndrome, she turned to writing again. At first, her blog posts focused on navigating life as a hearing parent raising a deaf child. Over time, they grew into something bigger. She now boasts over 2.2 million followers across her social media accounts, and has been able to create a tight-knit community of families and allies. Eventually, she wrote a story titled “The ABCs of Inclusion,” a children’s book designed to build empathy and awareness about disabilities.

The book, first published in March 2023 and just this week re-released in an updated edition, breaks down complex diagnoses into language that both children and parents can understand.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever written,” she admitted, pointing out the challenge of balancing accuracy with accessibility. Now that Cooper’s older and capable of being more vocal and involved, he offered input on illustrations for the second edition, like choosing which animals to include.

Reactions from families–both hearing and deaf–have been overwhelmingly positive. The book creates a foundation for kids to understand and embrace differences. Even adults tell her they’ve learned something new. With the second addition, she paid even more special attention to details, like ensuring a child in a wheelchair was drawn on a paved path instead of grass–in her words, “small changes that make it more authentic.”

For today’s students who want to make an impact, Leipholtz is willing to give advice.

“It sounds cliché, but stepping outside of your comfort zone can help you connect with others in ways that are rewarding for everyone,” she said. “Chances are, if you’re going through something hard, there’s somebody else out there going through it, too. Sharing creates connections beyond yourself.”

Join Leipholtz on Wednesday, October Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Multicultural Center at CSB for an author talk about her book, “The ABCs of Inclusion.”