DOWN SYNDROME OUT LOUD
20+ True Stories about Disability and Determination
In this illustrated biography collection, meet over twenty people with Down syndrome who have accomplished amazing things in their lives. Excelling in film, sports, business, photography, and more, these people are changing hearts and minds about their disability. Read about Chris Nikic, the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman Triathlon, and Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, the first designer with Down syndrome invited to showcase her work at London Fashion Week. Learn about the Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and other organizations who support the Down syndrome community.
"A powerful testament to the strength and potential of individuals with Down syndrome, and an essential read for anyone seeking representation or to broaden their understanding of intellectual disabilities.” —School Library Journal
An amazing, inspirational book...highly recommended!" ― Youth Services Book Review, starred review
Allison Fogarty of Doggy Delights by Allison and Melissa Hart on KATU Portland.
Karen Gaffney of the Karen Gaffney Foundation and Melissa Hart on KATU Portland.
Melissa Hart on The Lucky Few Podcast with Heather Avis, author of the new children’s book I Like You So Much!
Zack Gottsagen, Melissa Hart, John Tucker, and Jamie Brewer signing copies of Down Syndrome Out Loud at the Down Syndrome International Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.
Melissa Hart, Karen Gaffney, and Allison Fogarty at Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Oregon.
Abigail Adams, Allison Fogarty, Zack Gottsagen, Charlotte Woodward, and Kayla McKeon on the panel “Down Syndrome Out Loud: Superstars from a New Book Speak Out” at the Family Cafe in Orlando, Florida. Panel moderated by Melissa Hart.
Because storytelling makes the world a more interesting place.
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MEET MELISSA
Melissa Hart is an Oregon author, journalist, and essayist.
Melissa Hart grew up in Los Angeles with a younger brother who has Down syndrome. She’s the author of two novels for middle-school readers—the Oregon Battle of the Books 2019 selection Avenging the Owl and the IPPY-award-winning Daisy Woodworm Changes the World—both of which have main characters with Down syndrome. She also wrote Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian, Real Simple, CNN, and numerous other publications. She teaches for the online MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University. Melissa lives with her husband and daughter, plus one dog, five cats, and six chickens. She’s an Oregon Master Naturalist and loves to kayak, hike, bicycle, and cross-country ski.
REPRESENTED BY
Jennifer Unter at The Unter Agency Jennifer(at)theunteragency(dot)com
Click to Learn More about the People Featured in Down Syndrome Out Loud!
MELISSA HART’S ARTICLES AND ESSAYS
SOCIAL COMMENTARY
“The Pure Liberation of a Personal Urination Device” from The New York Times Magazine
“The Vaudevillian Ghosts of Liberty” from Hidden Compass
"Families Like Ours: A Reading List for the Children of Queer Parents" from Longreads
“About 120,000 U.S. Foster Kids are Waiting for Parents. One of Them is Now My Daughter” from CNN
“The Privilege to Raise Our Voices” from Oregon Humanities
“The Game was Rigged All Along” from Dame
“A Culinary Apprenticeship Fights Food Insecurity in Rochester, NY” from Next City
“Why We Write: On Pandemics, Heat Waves, Police Brutality & Resiliency” from Brevity
In My Grandmother's Wake - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) The Los Angeles Times
Under the Big Top: My Great-Grandmother's Life in the Circus (nextavenue.org) Next Avenue
How to Use Diverse Books in Your At-Home Learning from We Need Diverse Books
I'm a White Cisgendered Straight Woman. 'Pose' Gave Me My History. (pridesource.com) Pride Source
TRAVEL & NATURE WRITING
“No Person Shall Keep Roosters” from Ambrook Research
“Across Generations, Willamette Ski Patrollers Embrace Uphill Battles” from Good Beer Hunting
“I made a multigenerational group of friends — from Gen Zers to Boomers — doing ski patrol” from Insider
"Regenerative Tourism Invites Volunteers to Get their Hands Dirty" from Smithsonian
“Immersive tour groups are helping Oregon heal from natural disaster—and trying to prevent the next one” from The Sunday Long Read
“Vampire Bats May have a Bad Reputation, but They are Smart and Social” from The Washington Post
“A Bird’s Song Adds Wonder to the World” from High Country News
“Sharing a Deck, Tales, and Tape: Adventures on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry” from The Boston Globe
“Volunteer Vacation: Plan Your Next Trip to Give Back” from Via
“In the Pandemic, Feral Turkeys Unite a Neighborhood” from Humans & Nature
Souvenirs of Travel: Simple Ways to Enrich a Journey and Create Lasting Memories | AAA Oregon/Idaho AAA Via
DISABILITY INCLUSION
“How Down Syndrome Makes a Brain Beautifully Different” from Muse Magazine
“Beaches for All: Oregon’s Accessible Coast” from McCall Life
"For World Down Syndrome Day, Meet 3 Young People Who Dream Big and Achieve" from The Washington Post
“These Children’s Books Get Characters with Down Syndrome Just Right” from The Ability Toolbox
“Meet the Nonbinary Michigan Powerhouse Who’s Revolutionizing Gaming for the Disabled Community” from Pridesource
“Slow Mobility on the Accessible Coast” from The Oregon Coast
A fashion breakthrough for those with developmental disabilities (OPINION) - oregonlive.com The Oregonian
Allison Fogarty Bakes Natural and Homemade Doggy Delights · The Wildest The Wildest