Born in 1975, Kirstin Heddens entered a world where parents were being encouraged to place children with Down syndrome in institutions. But that world was beginning to change, with deinstitutionalization movements and the passage of laws requiring public education for all students. Able to grow up at home with her family, Kirstin enjoyed a typical childhood, attended public school with her peers, and went on to seek her own version of the American dream. For her family, it meant being introduced to a whole new world, the world of those with developmental challenges. For her mother, Rosemary, that resulted in the pursuit of a career in special education, which has filled her life with joy for nearly thirty years. For her father, Craig, it meant being involved in Special Olympics and later becoming the sponsor of a self-advocacy group as well as being his daughters strongest supporter and advocate. Together as a family, they have faced the challenges presented to them with love and determination. Rosemary tells their story in a warm, compassionate, and often humorous way. She presents not only the challenges faced by this special group of individuals as they pursue their dreams, but also the gifts and talents they have to share with the world.
