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A recent letter from Mitchell Levitz, Self Advocate, National Down Syndrome Society Board Member and Co-Author of “Count Us In”

Often, people think individuals with Down syndrome are not capable of doing regular, everyday things. But we want to go to school, have jobs, live on our own and fulfill our dreams. When people everywhere know this, and also know that people with Down syndrome have many talents and capabilities, then we will be more accepted in society.

Although this sounds easy, I know that changing perceptions is not easy. In my own life I have faced this challenge. There have been times when people do not invite me to go places, such as over to their house or to parties. They do not invite me because they think that I would not be interested in spending time with them or doing the same things that they want to do. What I have found is that as people get to know me and have a better understanding of who I am, as well as what Down syndrome is, they start to realize that we have many of the same interests and then they start to include me in their plans.