Comments by Jane Pauley Journalist,  and Senator Tom Harkin, chair subcommittee on Disability Policy

To my mom and dad and Mitchell’s mom and dad, two helpful families who made this all happen I would like to thank my parents who made my whole life to the fullest   Jason Kingsley dedication.

Throughout my whole entire life and since I was born, my family has been there for me.  That is why I feel that this book is important to me and to my family At this time, I would like to dedicate this book to the people who I love the most, my family.   Mitchell Levitz dedication

Contents

Foreword            Joan Ganz Cooney  Sesame Street

Introduction         Emily Perl Kingsley  and Barbara Gibbs Levitz

About This Book             Every single one counts

Who We Are                    People like me for my charm

Our Friendship                  It will always be there

Having Down Syndrome       There’s more to it than I expected

At School                            Easy Steps to get to hard work

Having Fun                          I feel happy and hoppy

Girls and Sex              The tummy is sexy and the shoulder is friendly

Marriage and Children      A Together Bed for You and Me

Important People in Our Lives      The kind of person I’d like to be

Politics and World Affairs        Citizens of all the world

Becoming Independent             Get off my back please!

Our Future Plans  It’s the end of a story but, a new Chapter in our Book

Afterword

When this volume was first published the two young men who are the central characters of the book were teens born in the early 1970s, were attending high school and were considering their lives to date as well as the future before them.

The words appearing in their varied reminisces are those articulated by Levitz and Kingley themselves over time in a variety of settings to parents, each other, perhaps to a therapist.  Both young men were fully cognizant of their specific life situation, Down Syndrome, as well as the support of their separate families and the world around them.

And, as others of their particular age, these young men were pretty talkative regarding any and all facets in their lives. The pair chat of schooling, their long friendship beginning in early childhood, their individual feelings about having Down syndrome, significant people in their lives, the kind of person each hopes to become one day, as well as conversing regarding what sets them apart from others they have met, what others think of them and how they have been treated in countless varied situations, and by countless varied persons and settings. The pair is frank in discussion of sex and marriage and one day perhaps having a wife, children, family of their own.

The book is 182 pages of text detailing the lives of Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz as they, in forthright manner, detailed the private most personal parts of their lives.  At the center of the book are photos detailing the stages of the lives and activities each young man experienced during his growing up.  From baby pictures, to Halloween costumes, camp, Bar Mitzvah, grandparents, friends and immediate family holidays and vacations; the photos are pretty similar to what each of our family albums portray. … life experienced and enjoyed with family, friends, pets etc.

Without being self-pitying, or whiney concerning their lives each of the young men portray the determination we could all take a lesson from; play the hand dealt to ya without a lot of folderol.

Levitiz and Kingsley’s uncompromising facing of certainty, doing the most with what they had, working toward becoming the adult person they each hope to be and understanding that there is great possibility in each and every one; this book can do much to restructure thinking regarding disability, of any kind, and may well prove helpful to those who tend to believe the disabled, whether physical, developmentally, or a combination of the two, should be kept out of sight and out of mind.

Whatever the infirmity, robust family support, education and training, and treatment as a valuable individual can work many seeming miracles. Not every Down person, including my just graduated high school grandson, or Jacob the child of a longtime friend who last year was honored to have his face appear with others on the scroll ‘on that building in New York!!!’ along with Mr Levitiz and Mr Kingsley and all the others who are taking their place in a society which once doubted any disability was other than can’t do reach the same pinnacle. Nor, as a matter of fact, do each and every non-disabled persons reach the same pinnacles.

Stereotypes regarding disability are slowly changing.  It is a wonderful thing to behold.

Today Mr Levitz and Mr Kingsley are 40 ish, have careers, are active in community affairs, and lead happy lives.

Note: while it is true that not every Down person will achieve all that these authors have achieved; all can achieve the fullest to their own special ability.

Interesting, thought provoking, educational Read…Recommended for teachers, parents, therapists, medical staff and those who would just enjoy a nice uplifting book to read.

A must have for the home, school and public library, therapist’s shelf and worker, professional, volunteer or para professional, of the disabled.

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Reviewed by: MOLLY’S REVIEWS    molly martin

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http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead

35+ years classroom teacher

QMRP

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AMAZON PRODUCT DETAILS

Editor Ruth Greenstein

Series: A Harvest Book

Paperback: 208 pages

Publisher: Harvest Books; 1 edition (March 5, 2007)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0156031957

ISBN-13: 978-0156031950

Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 8 inches

AVAILABLE  AMAZON  HARD COVER, PAPERBACK  KINDLE