Count Us In

Growing Up with Down Syndrome

Jason Kingsley, Mitchell Levitz

• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Year: 1994
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9780547350851
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

Award winner: "Hearing about Down syndrome directly from these young men has a good deal more impact than reading any guide from a professional." — Booklist
This book is in Mitchell and Jason's own words. . . . We wanted readers to have a true-to-life sense of their charm, their directness, their humor and warmth, and, yes, their intelligence.
 
At ages nineteen and twenty-two, respectively, Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz shared their innermost thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams?and their experiences growing up with Down syndrome. Their frank discussion of what mattered most in their lives?careers, friendships, school, sex, marriage, finances, politics, and independence?earned Count Us In numerous national awards, including the EDI Award from the National Easter Seal Society. More important, their wit, intelligence, candor, and charm made for a powerful and inspirational statement about the full potential of people with developmental disabilities, challenging prevailing stereotypes.
 
In this edition, with a new afterword, the authors also discuss their lives since then: milestones and challenges, and changes both expected and unexpected.
 
"Their parents were told to expect nothing. But Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz were lucky, because their parents didn't listen. They gave their sons that chance to show how far they could go—and they've astounded everyone!" —Jane Pauley
 
"This single volume will do more to change stereotypes about Down syndrome than any book I have read. These two young men steal our hearts and wash away generations of misconceptions." —Mary L. Coleman, MD, Emeritus, Georgetown University
 
"An excellent illustration of what it's like to have Down syndrome . . . Most moving here are the portrayals of strong family relationships." — Publishers Weekly
 
"Will open eyes and touch the heart." — Library Journal

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword
• Introduction
• 1. About This Book: “Every Single One Counts”
• 2. Who We Are: “People Like Me for My Charm”
• 3. Our Friendship: “It Will Always Be There”
• 4. Having Down Syndrome: “There’s More to It Than I Expected”
• 5. At School: “Easy Steps to Get to Hard Work”
• 6. Having Fun: “I Feel Happy and Hoppy”
• 7. Girls and Sex: “The Tummy Is Sexy and the Shoulder Is Friendly”
• 8. Marriage and Children: “A Together Bed for You and Me”
• 9. Important People in Our Lives: “The Kind of Person I’d Like to Be”
• 10. Beliefs, Traditions, Loss, and Grief: “Calmly Relaxing Angel”
• 11. Politics and World Affairs: “Citizens of All the World”
• 12. Becoming Independent: “Get Off My Back Please!”
• 13. Our Future Plans: “It’s the End of a Story, but a New Chapter in Our Book”
• Postscript
• Afterword
• Footnotes