Count Us In (Growing Up with Down Syndrome)

At ages nineteen and twenty-two, respectively, Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz shared their innermost thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams, their lifelong friendship—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 a powerful and inspirational statement about the full potential of people with developmental disabilities, challenging prevailing stereotypes.

Now, thirteen years later, the authors discuss their lives since then—milestones and challenges, developments expected and unexpected—in a new afterword.