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DOWN SYNDROME OUT LOUD

20+ Stories to Change Your Mind about Disability

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.

“Melissa’s book does a fantastic job at highlighting our beautiful and diverse community through storytelling. A must read!” —National Down Syndrome Society


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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

Book cover that reads Down Syndrome Out Loud by Melissa Hart, illustrated by Maria Perera

MELISSA HART’S ARTICLES AND ESSAYS