Daniel Drinker

Reminder, Screening Tonight!

2011-10-19T10:35:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. We just wanted to remind you that we are having a free screening of our documentary at Princeton University tonight at 8pm. If you live in the area and think you can make it we'd love to meet you. Find out more details from the poster below or click here. Hope you can make it!

Upcoming Screening at Princeton University

2011-10-10T17:11:00.001-04:00

You're Invited!

2011-05-16T15:02:00.005-04:00

Click poster to enlarge.

PLEASE RSVP:

If you'd like to attend Dan's screening please send an email to wdrinker@gmail.com and tell us how many seats you'd like to reserve.

Hope you can make it!

Happy Birthday Dan!

2011-05-09T08:15:00.005-04:00

Dan turns 26 today!

Dan and his new girlfriend Valerie at the Phillies game Saturday night

ALSO, AN UPDATE ON OUR NEXT SCREENING...

Dan and I have been invited to screen our documentary once again. A poster and more information is on the way but below are the basic details if you want to join us!

AN EVENING WITH DANIEL DRINKER

Tuesday, May 24th

7:00 pm

North and South Hampton Reformed Church

1380 Bristol Road

Churchville, Pa 18966

Free Admission. Free Food.

Seating is limited. Please email us to RSVP.

Dan In Country Gardens Magazine

2011-04-27T11:38:00.002-04:00

Game 2 against the Giants

2010-10-18T21:14:00.002-04:00

WATCH this scene on You Tube.

Dan watches the Phillies sweep the Braves

2010-09-24T17:19:00.001-04:00

WATCH this scene on You Tube.

Keep in mind, this was during a slow, boring game.

9 to 5

2010-07-29T09:05:00.002-04:00

During a Phillies game earlier this season...

Dan: Will, home run! Again!

Will: Really? What's the score now?

Dan: 9 to 5. Workin 9 to 5, Dolly Parton.

1999

2010-01-26T12:31:00.003-05:00

Last night Dan and I were in the car rocking out to some dance tunes when Prince's 1999 came on. I noticed Dan was singing, "Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1985". I turned down the music and said, "You realize it's '1999', right?" He replied, "Yes I know, but that's not my year".

Dan was born in 1985.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T15:14:00.001-05:00

(At breakfast)

Dan, “I go to Melmark and home and Gran’s and then...

what tomorrow?”

Ned, “Thanksgiving”.

Dan, “Oh yeah, Thanksgiving. And then …”

Ned, “Black Friday, when everybody goes shopping.”

Dan, “Why we go shopping, we not black? Barack Obama black.”

From A Fellow Sibling

2009-11-03T18:31:00.002-05:00

Dan and I receive lots of emails from wonderful people. Sometimes it's difficult to respond to everyone but we'd once again like to affirm that we read and appreciate every word. The words below were sent to me from Sarah Butler, whose younger brother has DS. I rarely hear from fellow siblings and this email was just too good to keep to myself. (GO PHILS)

Will,

I'm sure you get these kinds of e-mails a lot, but I wanted to send you one anyway. I came across your blog earlier this week completely by accident. Actually I think I was procrastinating at work and read an article about how doctors were actually happy that the number of Down Syndrome births had decreased due to better prenatal screening, which really made me kind of sad, and in the article your name was mentioned along with the fact that you were creating a documentary with your brother. So after spending another half hour or so avoiding work by Google-ing you and checking out the websites that mention you and your brother (I promise I’m not a stalker), I discovered and started to read some of your blog. Unfortunately I can’t play internet videos on my work computer, but when I got home last night I went back to your blog and started looking at the scenes you have posted. It would be an understatement to say that I was blown away watching them!

Let me start at the beginning. My name is Sarah and just before I turned 7 my brother, Matthew, was born with Down Syndrome. He was pretty sick when he was born; he had a hole in his heart and had to be flown to another hospital with better resources to take care of him. He still has a defective valve in his heart, but thank God has never had any serious problems, nor did he need heart surgery or anything like that that so many children with DS need. When my dad first told my sister and me about my brother, the only reference we really had was Corky on “Life Goes On”. From the time he came home, though, it was never any different than having any other little brother, except that he started going to school earlier in his life than most kids and my parents had to work a little harder to get him what he needed in school. And also I may be a little more protective than I may have been had he not had Down Syndrome (and probably still am).

Matthew turned 18 in June, which is something that I still can’t even believe. It makes me feel old! Looking back on the last 18 years with him, I can’t imagine my life any other way. At the very least, I would be a very different person had he been anyone other than who he is. I have always felt that the world would be a better place if everyone had a Matthew (or a Dan) in their lives. He has brought so much joy and laughter to my family and has made us appreciate the little things in life so much more. Watching him as he has grown up and developed his own interests and personality has been quite amazing. His two very favorite things in life are animals (especially dogs) and country music. His memory on either subject is incredible and I’m still amazed every time we see a dog I’ve never even seen before and he schools me on the breed, and usually its country of origin and purpose, then runs to find it in one of his dog books as soon as we get home and he’s completely right about everything. He’s also like an encyclopedia for facts about country music artists. When he’s home, he can usually be found in our family room watching CMT or listening to all the country music on his iPod, often with a cowboy hat on, strumming along on his guitar. One of his rituals on Saturday and Sunday mornings is to wake up and immediately go on the computer to cmt.com where he checks out all the artists and their bios and videos, always ending his morning with LeAnn Rhimes’ page (like I said, it’s a ritual – he’s a creature of habit and is pretty stubborn about changing his routine). That was an interesting thing I noticed in your videos also – it seems like your brother also has a passion for music. Not long ago I read the book that Chris Burke co-authored about his life and he mentioned that he also loved music and has even recorded a few songs with a few guys he knew that had a band. I just thought that similarity was interesting. For Matt’s 18th birthday, my mom, sister, and I brought him to Nashville to tour the country music capital and he had the time of his life. He has been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to meet a few of his country music heroes over the past few years. People have been so kind to him and it’s been amazing to me that writing e-mails to his favorite musicians have not only been read by them, but have sometimes come with offers of concert tickets and backstage passes for Matthew. My family jokes about “pulling the Down Syndrome card”, but he’s gotten some really great opportunities out of it. We also laugh because now he’s come to expect that he can just say he wants to meet someone or go to a concert and automatically he’ll be allowed backstage to meet them!

Anyway, watching the videos of your brother and your family really struck a chord with me. I found myself crying at certain parts (especially the dealing with death video – Matthew was like that after our first two dogs died and even a year after would suddenly think of it and break down crying while going to bed) and also laughing very hard at others since they reminded me so much of Matthew (like him at school, or handing his business card out in NYC)! And not only your brother, but your whole family and the dynamic you all have with each other reminds me a lot of my own family. When you guys visited NY I couldn’t stop laughing when you’re Dad said how it made his day that you got free parking! That is exactly something my dad would say. I come from a big Irish family with a great sense of humor, and we spend a lot of time sitting around and laughing at ourselves and each other. I was hysterical at some of the stories you were telling about your brother and things he’s said that made you want to crawl in a hole. We have tons of very similar stories about Matthew. For example, one of the most recent stories involves Darius Rucker (the old front man for the Hootie and the Blowfish) and Matt’s gym coach. Darius recently crossed over into country music and has a few songs/videos out on country radio. Matthew adores him. Darius happens to be one of the very VERY few black men in the country music industry. And when I say few I mean I only know of like one other and he was part of a group. So anyway, Matt’s new gym coach also happens to be a black man, and thankfully one with a good sense of humor, since Matt started calling him Darius Rucker as a nickname at the beginning of the school year. My mom wanted to die when she found out! The gym coach seems to think it’s pretty funny. He finds ways to get away with so many things that no one else would be able to! His innocence and lack of sensor between his mind and his mouth make for some pretty funny (and embarrassing) moments.

Matthew is also quite the ladies’ man. My uncles all joke that he’s the smartest one of all of us and that the whole Down Syndrome thing is just an act that he knows the girls can’t resist. He is a huge flirt and loves making new friends. By the end of just about any party you can find Matt on the couch with a pretty girl scratching his leg or his back. I don’t know how he talks them into it! At our cousin’s wedding a few weeks ago he took my camera for awhile and when I got it back it had about 100 pictures on it of him with almost every single person at the wedding, including people he didn’t know and women on the wait staff. The table next to us was full of some of the bride’s family that we’d never met before and by the end of the night Matthew was dragging all the girls out on the dance floor, then after a little while was back at the table hanging out with their boyfriends/husbands like one of the guys. Fortunately, everyone always seems to love him and enjoy hanging out with him. He is a huge ham and loves to be the center of attention, performing in front of anyone who will watch at the drop of a hat. And once he gets a laugh out of you, it’s over…he knows he has you and there’s no turning him off. He is the least shy person I know and also somehow knows more people than I’ve ever known in my life. We call him the mayor. Whenever I take him out, around town or even outside of town, without fail about a dozen people say hi to him and he introduces me to someone he knows (like the Dunkin Donuts cashier, for example). He also has an incredible sense of humor and makes us laugh every single day. A few years ago he fell in love with “Everybody Loves Raymond” and started quoting Frank, Ray’s father. If you’ve ever seen the show, you know that he’s not exactly role model material. On almost a daily basis, Matthew repeats some line from the show. Over the summer we had a bbq for his birthday. While we were all eating, Matthew took the opportunity to try out one of his new favorite Frank lines. He turned to my boyfriend and said “Hey Mark, do you like girls?” Mark responded, “Yes, I’m dating your sister, of course I like girls.” To which Matthew responded, “Oh yea, then why do you walk that way?” My entire family was useless laughing, and Mark was a good sport about it. We found out later that it was a quote from the show that he obviously liked. People who meet Matthew are often surprised by how smart and witty he is. He always knows exactly what to say and when to make you crack up. Even when he’s getting in trouble, he still has the ability to make my dad crack up in the middle of trying to punish him.

This e-mail has become much longer than I had intended, so I have to apologize (and hope you haven’t fallen asleep yet), but I just wanted to share a few things about my own experience having a brother with Down Syndrome. I figure that if I can appreciate your stories so much, than certainly you might appreciate someone else’s. You are so fortunate to have a gift that enables you to put together what you have so far, giving Dan such great exposure to so many people, and giving so many people such great exposure to someone like your brother. I have always wished that I could do more for Matthew, and for Down Syndrome in general, but I just never knew where to start. I think it’s great what you’ve done and are doing, and I look forward to seeing the finished product! I have read a lot of articles and a few books dealing with the subject of Down Syndrome, not really scientific reading, but mostly dealing with the experience of having a family member who has it. I have to say that as much as I have enjoyed reading some of them, your blog is really the first thing I have come across that is told from the perspective of a sibling. Usually it is a parent discussing their child, or in Chris Burke’s case a semi-autobiography. Your blog and videos just really hit home as I could relate 100% to the subject matter. More of us siblings should get material out there for the rest of the siblings out there! It’s just interesting to see someone else face the challenges we face with Matthew, told from the point of view that would be my own, rather than my parents. Matthew attends the same high school as my sister and I did and I’m sure your family faced many of the same obstacles as my family did in getting him this far. He is in his junior year and, since he can legally be in school until 21, will probably have 2 more years of school after this one. The transition from his school to work life is too quickly approaching, and we are trying already to prepare him for it. I wish they had a “life coach” or something similar to what they did at Dan’s school. Matthew’s education does include life skills, but it would be so useful for them to bring him and other students around the community to teach them how to do everyday errands. We do work on things like that with him on the weekends, but I’m sure having more experience like that in school would be very useful. As of now he has been working in the school store at his high school and volunteering at the local animal shelter, which we’ve had very positive feedback about. My parents have also discussed the possibilities of future employment with places like our local Petco store and they seem to be open to the idea. Hopefully by the time he is ready to graduate, we’ll be able to find something which he enjoys and can earn some money and independence for himself. It would be great to hear some more of your experiences with Dan’s transition and what and how he is doing now. Is he still living with your family near Philadelphia? We are in NY…my sister and I both live and work in the City, and my parents and Matthew live upstate a little bit, near West Point (not sure if you’re familiar with NY at all). I guess that would make us bitter rivals until the World Series is over! I hope that you’re not too bored by this ridiculously long e-mail. After looking through your blog I just felt like I had to reach out to you if for no other reason than to let you know that I appreciated your work and look forward to more. I understand that you all must have a very busy life and probably don’t have a chance to respond to every e-mail you receive. But if you do get a chance, anything that you would be interested in sharing would be great. I hope to hear back from you soon, and keep up the great work. By the way I have attached a few recent photos of my family for you to check out. I felt that they were a few that highlighted my family and also Matthew’s personality. Hope to hear back from you soon!

Sincerely,

Sarah Butler

Dan's First Screening

2009-07-19T13:50:00.005-04:00

Dan instructs everyone to turn off their cell phones

Last night, we screened an hour of our documentary to a full house of friends, family, and fans. I understand there were 70 confirmed guests but just before the movie began people were still showing up and they kept adding seats so I think it's safe to say it was more like 80. The event was held at Pattan in King of Prussia and was hosted by the Montgomery Country Down Syndrome Interest Group, run by Chris and Rose Townsend.

Wee had a blast! Dan was brilliant all night long. He warmly greeted every guest like a true aristocrat, giving extra attention to babies with Down syndrome. He made a bit of a game out of it, trying to guess which children had it and which didn't. We sat behind the audience so we got a full sense of how they were reacting. It was a genuine thrill to hear them laugh at his jokes, cry when he's sad, even laugh and cry simultaneously during some scenes.

The Q & A seemed like it might go south when I asked who wanted to ask the first question and was met with dead silence but once we got going it went on a lot longer than we'd planned. After that, people hung around even longer to meet Dan and share their own stories. It was truly a great night. Hopefully the first of many.

Thanks again to the Townsends for the wonderful opportunity. It was an honor.

Dan and I with Chris and Rose, presidents of MCDSIG

The Strongest Man In The World (NEW VIDEO)

2009-07-01T06:44:00.005-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch on YouTube

Dan works at a pretty cool super market. Acme threw a "Circus Of Stars" themed carnival during open store hours. They dressed up, gave out hot dogs and cookies to customers, and even hired a DJ, who setup right in front of the checkout aisles. Dan's role in all the fun is rather self explanatory.

The Luck of the Irish

2009-06-30T18:43:00.004-04:00

An Apple IIe Moment
By Ned Drinker

By 1990, I had heard a lot about Apple computers and their therapeutic use for people with learning and speech disabilities. I thought that such a machine with a touch-screen, muppet keyboard, joystick and speech synthesizer would be an extremely valuable aid in Dano’s development. Apple offered student discounts and often donated computers to charitable causes, so I wrote John Sculley, then president of Apple, requesting such a donation. Sculley politely declined so Grampy, Grandee, Diane and I decided to hold a yard sale to raise the money to buy an Apple computer.

We all had collections of old stuff so we had a lot of material for a yard sale. I had an antique photographic collection and darkroom equipment that I was willing to sacrifice. The sale was proceeding nicely, but it didn’t look like we were going to raise anywhere near enough for a computer. Then Grandee came over to me and said, “Mr. Dougherty, here, just donated a whole Apple computer system to us, with all of the accessories you want.” “What!” said I. “How can he do that?”. It turns out that Grandee had chatted him up, in that way that she has, and that he so admired what we were doing that he volunteered to contribute the computer system. He was purchasing a big lot of computers for the Catholic school system, and somehow he could give us one.

Mr. Dougherty delivered the Apple IIe and other components several weeks later and we were in business. I found a state agency near my office in King of Prussia that would lend all sorts of educational software. Dan was around 5 and Will, 4, when they both started using it. Both loved it, though the promise of speech therapy was never realized. Will has been a natural on the computer ever since. Just as in this instance, good things always gravitate toward Dan and Gran. Dan is forever winning raffles or lotteries and Gran can schmooze her way through anything.

Dan's April Fools Joke (NEW COMIC)

2009-06-17T03:30:00.002-04:00

Thanks so much to Mary Cancilla for getting a hold of us and volunteering her talents to our project. I really love how she drew Dan. I also cracked up at how she interpreted Helga as a traditional blonde braided, overall wearing German girl. Hope you enjoy it!

ALSO, don't forget to let us know if you or your friends have talents that might lend themselves to our project. We've had help from musicians, artists, graphic designers... could you be next? We'd love to hear from you.

Oh, Danny Boy! (NEW SONG)

2009-06-16T15:58:00.005-04:00

This isn't the first song I've written about my brother but I really love to play this one. I've had the melody for a few weeks now and the other night Dan called to tell me he missed me and the lyrics came instantly. I recorded it this afternoon. I hope you like it. Click the pink circle to play.

An Evening With Daniel Drinker (You're Invited!)

2009-06-11T19:45:00.006-04:00

Click image to enlarge

Chris Townsend co-chairs the Montgomery County Down Syndrome Interest Group. In January he wrote me asking if Dan and I would be interested in screening scenes from our documentary at one of MCDSIG's meetings. We gladly accepted and I'm pleased to report that it's officially happening next month. Click the flier above for more details. If you'd like to join us please RSVP HERE.

I'd like to personally thank Chris and his wife for this wonderful opportunity. Dan is going to be so excited to meet his fans. We've never shown any of our documentary to an audience before so it will be quite exciting to see how the scenes play.

I'd also like to thank Daniel Niblock for designing the flier above. Daniel's baby boy, Ozzie, has DS. He blogs about him at Down With Oz. He also just launched DowntownDS.com.

Thanks to everyone for the support. We look forward to meeting you in July!

Dan Stars in My Fair Lady (PHOTOS)

2009-06-09T14:17:00.016-04:00

Last night, Dan was in My Fair Lady at the Arden Theater

Joanne Donovan, President of Melmark and Mayor Michael Nutter

Dan takes the stage with great fervor.

I must get me one of those hats.

I'm going to pretend this is a pre-backflip shot.

I'll guess this is where the crowd started clapping for the kick line.

He was so convincing Emily thought he was actually crying. Method.

Taking a bow.

The star.

I love this one.

Hat hair.

Dan the man.
(or as Emily put it, "Ugh, Dan's fake smile")

A very special thanks to my sister for the lovely photographs. I wish I could have attended myself. So far the consensus is that it was an incredible show and Dan was on his game. My dad also tried out his new HD video camera at the show so soon enough we'll post Dan's first scene in HD. Stay tuned.

Dan's First Comic Book

2009-05-18T14:24:00.012-04:00

Click on the images to enlarge

Thanks so much to Jaime Crespo for lending his incredible talent to our project. Please comment on this post because I intend to use it to recruit other artists. We're ten pages closer, y'all! Lets hear it one more time for Mr. Crespo! Danke, Danke, Danke.

Speaking of which...

Are YOU an artist? Would you like to join in the fun? Come on, we all want to see how you would draw Dan. We'd love your help telling the off-camera stories that we've begun to collect. If you're interested please send us an email.

Dan Turns 24

2009-05-08T21:38:00.003-04:00

Dan's was born on May 9th, 1985. Please feel free to leave a comment and I promise I will read all your birthday wishes to him on Sunday. Happy Mothers Day!

Dan Stars In The Sound of Music

2009-04-13T04:28:00.002-04:00

Last week, a friend from high school contacted me after having recently discovered Dan’s blog. She told me how “Dan Meets Will’s Girlfriend” caused her to recall her own feelings from childhood when older siblings brought home significant others. She said Dan was able to articulate what she kept inside. Back in high school, my friend had met Dan plenty of times but she admitted that she didn’t realize how smart and funny he was until she started watching his videos. Hearing this renewed me with purpose. If the way she sees him has changed even a little bit, I’m on the right track.

CLICK HERE to watch on You Tube

This scene contains a moment we can all relate to. It’s an exchange between Dan and Molly, who co-starred with The Melmark Players in The Sound of Music this past December. Dan was still with Sarah at the time but don’t think that stopped him from flirting. As Dan and Molly wait backstage before the show their banter is reduced an awkward pause that is just pure poetry. Keep an eye out for it. We’ve all been there.

Dan and Sarah Break Up For Real

2009-04-03T22:32:00.002-04:00

These past few weeks, Dan and Sarah have been breaking up and getting back together frequently.

I just got off the phone with Dan.

Dan: Will, Sarah and I break up.
Will: I don’t know how to react to that because for all I know, you’ll be back together again tomorrow.
Dan: No. For REAL this time.
Will: Okay.
Dan: (long pause) It’s bad?
Will: That depends.
Dan: On what? Tell me.
Will: Well, if you don’t want to be with her anymore, then it’s a good thing you broke up. If you still love her, then you have to find a way to win her back.
Dan: I want a new one. Will, you help me? New girl?
Will: Are you sure that’s what you want?
Dan: Yeah, I do, Will. I do. You help me.
Will: I’d love to help you. I don’t know how much help I can be out here in California.
Dan: Yeah! I live with you. You help me in LA!
Will: I don’t know about that, dude. I am certainly happy to help you over the phone. We can talk about whatever you wa-
Dan: Will, you tell me your friend’s names.
Will: What do you mean?
Dan: You tell me your friends, just girls. In LA.
Will: You’re really trying to move out here?
Dan: Yeah! I help you. We go shopping. I clean up. Blues Brothers.
Will: That sounds like a lot of fun.
Dan: Yeah!
Will: But I have a question.
Dan: What, Will, what?
Will: Won’t you miss your family?
Dan: No, you?
Will: Yes, I miss you all very much.
Dan: But you fine. You in La, Will. You fine. I fine, too. We older now. We adults.
Will: That’s true, but you have a whole life in Pennsylvania, Dan: Two jobs, a close family, good friends, Harmony theater, and… I mean, you’re a local celebrity, won’t you miss that?
Dan: Will, who famous in LA?
Will: You mean like celebrities?
Dan: Yeah. Hannah Montana, she famous?
Will: Yes she is. And you’re boy Zack Efron. AND all three Jonas Brothers.
Dan: They in LA?
Will: Sometimes.
Dan: Me next!
Will: No way, dude! Have you thought about money?
Dan: Why?
Will: Well, where you live now, Mom and Dad don’t make you pay them anything, do they?
Dan: No, they my family, Will. They my family.
Will: Yes, but you get to live in their house for free, which is a pretty sweet deal. Do you know where I live?
Dan: LA.
Will: I mean, like… do I live in a house?
Dan: No, a dorm.
Will: An apartment. Dorm’s are for college, like Emily.
Dan: Oh yeah! I sorry. I mess up.
Will: It’s fine. But do you think it’s free for me to live in an apartment?
Dan: No. You pay rent like Paul.
Will: It costs six hundred and sixteen dollars for me to stay here each month. But that doesn’t include paying for electricity, which gives me things like light my computer, or gas, which gives me hot water.
Dan: Or food.
Will: Yes, exactly!
Dan: Or medicine!
Will: Right. Don’t rub it in. I can barely afford to live in California.
Dan: I know, Will. Economy.
Will: That’s right. Do you know how much money you make?
Dan: I don’t know, Will, I don’t know. Two jobs. More than you.

Dan Enters First Grade

2009-03-26T00:40:00.009-04:00

During each year of Dan's academic career our mom kept a book of correspondence with his teachers. As I mine these documents for stories I realize that certain people might benefit from being able to read the entire collection. So I've begun typing it all up, year by year. There are 17 books in all (and several unaccounted years I still have to find in our house somewhere).

Since there is so much material I've decided to post it on a separate blog called The Dan Drinker Diaries. The earliest diary I have is from first grade. The Drinkers lived in northeast Philadelphia and Dan attended Our Lady of Confidence, a Catholic school. CLICK HERE to see the books I've typed up so far.

Obama's Special Olympics Joke On Leno

2009-03-19T23:50:00.009-04:00

This evening on The Tonight Show, Barack Obama made a not so ready for prime time remark likening his bowling skills to the Special Olympics. It hasn't aired yet on the west coast but I'm already seeing the story pop up online.

My question is: how accurate a comparison is it? What are the scores of the top special olympian bowlers? As much as Dan loves Obama, I wouldn't mind finding out 129 is a crappy score even by Special Olympic standards.

UPDATE:

I wrote to Christopher Beam, who writes The Explainer for slate.com, asking if 129 was a beatable score at the Special Olympics. He delivered. Click here to read his Explainer.

Kolan McConiughey is a Special Olympian who bowls an average of 266.

Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, has called on President Obama to "consider" hiring one of their athletes to work in the White House.

Dan's Business Card

2009-03-09T14:01:00.004-04:00

Today is the one year anniversary of dandrinker.com. The project actually began two years before that, when I was in college. I was trying to choose a subject for a documentary film class where we were expected to experiment with audio/stills montages as well as found footage. My dad suggested my brother might make an interesting subject seeing as he was a senior in high school at the time and his transition into the workforce was something both my parents had worried about since the day he was born. My mom always referred to the dreaded transition year as "The Year of Dan" due to how much focus she and my dad had to put into setting him up for his post-high school life. I thought that was the perfect title for the doc, but we've been shooting for over three years now and it's no longer about a single year in Dan's life.

So I flew home and shot some footage of Dan at work and at school. I had no idea what I was doing. Dan had always starred in my movies so he was not camera shy. In fact, he loved showing off. This was a bit disconcerting to me because I had already made up my mind that I wanted myself and my camera to be virtually invisible. Every time Dan acknowledged me or that I was holding a camera or that he was famous I got more and more nervous about how I was going to edit out all his pandering.

The project was due at midnight and we were required to submit it by uploading it to a server. I missed the deadline because, quite plainly, it wasn't finished at midnight. I uploaded the project sometime in the early morning. My professor refused to watch it and gave me an F. The rest of the footage I'd shot was shelved and I began to focus on other projects. A year later, I was trying to play catch up for my Film 1 class, much of which I'd missed due to illness. Since I didn't have a final film project, I screened some projects I'd been working on before I got sick. One of them was The Year of Dan. I was surprised at how positive the feedback was. The class discussed it for a solid half hour, and it wasn't even shot on film! My professor pulled me aside and asked what my plans were with the doc and I told him I had none. Since it had received an F, I'd considered it to be a failed endeavor. He disagreed and told me to write the professor about the grade saying he'd also look into it. I did, and soon enough, the grade was changed to an A.

In February, 2008, I rediscovered some of the footage I'd shelved. It was about how Dan copes with death when he learns his teacher's husband has passed away. I was baffled that I'd let this footage sit in a drawer for almost two years. That scene contained everything that was missing from the original because it both showed who Dan really was and I didn't edit myself out this time. Dan acknowledges me and the camera every chance he gets, and it works. I was no longer worried about being invisible. As I continued to cut old footage, I was compelled to shoot more. I wanted to figure out a way to organize all these scenes but wasn't quite sure how.

Before I explain how Dan and I came up with the idea for a watch-it-as-we-make-it blogumentary you must first appreciate my brother's concept of "office stuff". I don't know when it began, but somewhere in his youth, Dan became obsessed with collecting office supplies. Paper, binders, notebooks, pens, staplers, hole-punchers, or as Dan would put more elegantly: office stuff. Dan's office stuff usually filled up two or three large bags whenever he would pack up for a sleep over at his grandmothers. On several occassions I would have to help him carry his bags of office stuff to her car because they were too heavy for one person to take them all. He easily could have oppened his own office supply store. The assumption in my family has always been that office stuff was a way to appear busy and thus feel more normal. The Drinkers are very busy people. Dan refused to be left out.

I understood this completely. Dan developed a routine with his office stuff that truly kept him busy. It takes quite a lot of time to organize all his supplies the way he likes them, pack them in his bags, and carry them off to Gran's car. Then when he arrives, he gets to perform the ritual of unpacking and setting up all his office stuff. This involves turning on the Disney channel and proceeding to transform his grandmother's living room into his office. It's a territorial ceremony as well. Once every available surface is covered with stacks of loose leaf, yellow notepads, and printing paper, it's not hard to figure out who's turf you're on.

One afternoon, Dan stood in my bedroom doorway telling me he wanted a business card. He explained that he was an adult now and if he was going to have real "office stuff" he would need a business card. I asked him what he'd put on the business card and he replied, "I don't know, Will, you?" I didn't have an answer. Later that night, it all started to make sense. I did some research, registered dandrinker.com, and set up a blog.

I distinctly remember us standing in the kitchen breaking apart the perforated edges of our newly printed business cards as the rest of our family looked on with skepticism. The card said "dandrinker.com" and nothing more. My parents were having difficulty seeing what the point of it all was. The idea was simple. Dan knows more people than anyone I know and come on, if Dan Drinker walked up to you with his business card and said, "my website!" you're telling me you wouldn't be booking for the internet?

My mom was worried we were going to run out of videos to post. Luckily, we already had some content for the blog. I'd just completed a new scene called Dan's First Date With Sarah. Dan and I were both quite pleased with how it came out and decided it would be a great way to kick off the site. The year that followed is pretty well documented already but let me just say it's been the best year of my life. So many families and individuals have written us with such kind and encouraging words, sharing stories of their own, demanding more videos. We read every e-mail, comment, and message and apologize if we aren't able to get back to you.

We are much further along with our project than I ever could have hoped but we are nowhere near finished. Stay tuned, there is plenty yet to come!

Statue Man Prepares For The Dance

2009-03-07T17:11:00.005-05:00

Sea Isle Stories

2009-02-26T05:20:00.006-05:00

CLICK HERE to watch on You Tube.

In the summer of 2006 the Drinker family vacationed in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. Nancy, Jim, and Paul Freedman (Dan's grandmother, uncle, and cousin), along with family friends Evan Cuttic, Lisa Lotito, and Susan Fedynak were guests at our rental house down the shore. During the time this footage was shot, Dan met my girlfriend, Susan.

Photos by Evan M. Cuttic. Click to enlarge.

Feel The Love

2009-02-20T17:43:00.001-05:00

Check out Dan and Sarah in Philadelphia's new Feel The Love campaign.

Dan and Sarah in Love Park

2009-02-09T14:21:00.004-05:00

Sarah's family took she and Dan to participate in a commercial to promote the city of Philadelphia. In Love Park, couples were asked to make out to capture the essence of brotherly love. Click here to see a photo gallery from the shoot. Just scroll through and you'll find Dan and Sarah hamming it up on the second photo of the second page.

Sarah is a great girlfriend for Dan but he's even more fortunate her family takes such an active and supportive role in their relationship. When Dan started dating Sarah, it was as though Dan's mom started dating Sarah's mom. Making plans, coordinating driving to and from dates, keeping an open line of communication, these responsibilities are naturally not left to Dan and Sarah alone. Any and all success for what Dan and Sarah have must be credited to their parents.

As a ventriloquist, I've been to shows and conventions where there are other ventriloquists. Sometimes another vent will have his puppet strike up a conversation with mine. Several times I've found myself obliging in a rather awkward back and forth between my puppet and theirs. I'm not trying to imply that Dan and Sarah are puppets but that many strings are pulled by those around them and it can be a delicate dance for both our families to perform.

Dan and Sarah usually do the dreaming while Diane and Rita decide whether it jibe's with reality. Just about every day, Dan tells my mom some form of plans he's made with Sarah. He then insists her mother has confirmed said plans, even that she's coming to pick him up. Without fail, my mother calls Sarah's to find she is unaware of any plans.

There's also quite a balancing act when it comes to Dan and Sarah's physical intimacy. A number of mothers are appalled that Dan and Sarah make out in some of his scenes. One mother of an adult with Down syndrome told my mom, "My daughter won't be watching THOSE videos. She won't be going near boys of any kind in any such way". She failed to recognize that her daughter is no longer a child. Dan and Sarah's mom understand that these two young adults deserve all the trappings of a normal healthy relationship and strive every day to provide them with just that.

Overheard On New Years Eve

2008-12-31T16:37:00.002-05:00

Dan heads outside wearing his leather jacket.

Diane: Dan! It's freezing out. You need something heavier.

Dan: I fine.

Diane: No, you need a Down Coat.

Dan: Like me!

Diane: No, "Down" feathers. Not like you.

Statue Man Saves a Stranger

2008-12-29T18:37:00.007-05:00

Click on the photos to enlarge. Notice anyone?

The Philadelphia Daily News

August 8th, 2005

Dragon Boat Rowers Save Jumper

By G.W. MILLER II

Photos by Joseph Kaczmarek

Challengers Dragon Boat team members help a man they rescued from the Schuylkill

Every day, the members of the Challengers Dragon Boat team are special.

Yesterday, they were heroes.

The Challengers, a team of paddlers with Down syndrome, were beginning their return trip toward Boathouse Row on the Schuylkill after a long practice when team members saw a man standing on the Girard Avenue Bridge around 4 p.m.

Then they saw him jump.

“He flew like a bird and then, splash,” said Carol Lee Lindner, the team’s paddling coach and mother of team captain Alexis Lindner.

The team paddled their cumbersome, 30-foot-long, double hull, practice canoe until they were alongside the man, who was flailing and bobbing in the river.

“I wasn’t scared, “said paddler Christian White, 15. “I felt brave.”

“The kids were great,” said Lindner. “They stayed calm and followed orders.”

Police tied a rope to the 40-year old man, whose name was not released, and pulled him on to land. He was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital.

He was trying to kill himself, police believe.

But the Challengers, who are between the ages of 15 and 30, saved his life.

Lindner said that the man kept saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Thank you.”

Police did not know why he had wanted to commit suicide. Before he jumped, he was talking into a cell phone and yelling while standing on the river side of the bridge fence.

He was fortunate that the Challengers were that far up the river yesterday. The team usually leaves its launch from Lloyd Hall, just west of the Art Museum, and turns around well before Girard Avenue.

No other boats were in the area.

Joan Turek and Carol Lee Lindner hold on to a man who is exhausted from having nearly drowned.

The team is practicing for the annual Philadelphia Dragon Boat festival on Oct. 1. They have participated in the event since its inception four years ago.

“I love to hear the roar of the crowd,” said Lindner’s daughter Alexis, 30.

The Philadelphia version of the 2,400-year-old Chinese tradition was the brainchild of Carol Lee Lindner. The first competition here had 42 entries.

This years festival has 128 teams, the maximum that can run the race in one day, Lindner said.

“Their timing is coming along nicely,” she said of the Challengers. “But the idea is to get these children out into society, to let people know what a gift they are.”

Alexis Lindner volunteers with Alzheimer’s patients. Christian White recently won gold medals for swimming in the Pennsylvania Special Olympics.

Team members Drew Dolan and Dan Drinker, and volunteer paddlers Frank Kelly, Joan Turek, Hubert White, Chandler White and Sue Dolan, also helped with the rescue yesterday.

“Now, I’m famous!” said Drinker, 20. “The whole team’s famous!”

Christa Bergman White, Christian’s mother, said, “You could have a boat full of typical people and they wouldn’t’ have reacted as calm as these kids did today.”

Dan Hits New York City

2008-12-11T19:22:00.002-05:00

To watch this scene on YouTube CLICK HERE

Statue Man Saves His Sister

2008-12-05T17:20:00.009-05:00

Statue Man, Statue Man,

Does whatever a statue can,

Turns to stone, on his own,

If danger's near, he'll be here,

Look out! Here comes the Statue Man...

INT. PLYMOUTH SWIM CLUB

Diane Drinker arrives at the swim club with a pool chair and her three children.

Emily, 4, models her brand new bathing suit which has an inner tube built in. She struts along the side of the pool as the family reaches their usual patch of grass.

Dan, 9, sets up his towel next to his brother Will, 8, who tests the water with his toe.

Diane sees Patty sunbathing.

Diane: Hey Patty.

Patty: Hey, Di, how are ya?

Dan takes his first real notice of Emily's odd looking swim suit.

Dan: Will, her suit weird. Why?
Will: That’s an inner tube so she can stay afloat.

Dan holds up his inner tube, which he’s just finished inflating.

Dan: Mine bigger.
Emily: Yeah, well I’m smaller.
Dan: Mine bigger. Yours not. Mine better.
Will: No it’s not, Dan. It’s just different.
Dan: I special.
Emily: So am I!

Diane: Okay, lunchtime. Who wants to go to the snack bar?
Will: Me!
Emily: Me!
Dan: Not me, I stay here.
Diane: Dan, we’re all going, you have to come with us.
Dan: I fine.
Diane: Come on, we agreed: food first, pool second. I need your big strong arms to help carry the food back here.

Daniel Drinker has transformed into… STATUE MAN!

Will: Come on, dude. You love the snack bar.

No response

Diane: Danny Boy, don’t you want some chicken fingers?

No response

Will: Lets just go mom, he’ll still be frozen when we get back.
Diane: Patty, can you keep an eye on these two? I'll be right back.

Patty: No problem.

Diane: Thanks. Emily, you stay with Dan. Will, you come help with the food. Okay, stay right here. No pool until after we eat. Got it?

All this time, Dan’s eyes have remained fixed on a distant lifeguard stand. He has remained motionless.

Diane leads Will to the snack bar.

Dan and Emily are alone by the pool.

Patty's eyes are closed under her sunglasses.

Emily gets up and begins to wander the edge of the pool.

Dan turns his focus to her but remains still.

Emily pauses to watch an older girl dive in head first through her inner tube.

Emily looks back at Dan, who quickly averts his eyes back to the lifeguard stand.

Emily turns back to the pool and dives in, head first.

Because her inner tube is part of her bathing suit, Emily finds herself stuck, upside down. Her head under water, her legs up in the air.

Dan returns his gaze to the pool and sees Emily.

Emily's legs begin to flail.

Dan looks and sees an unaware Patty continuing to sunbathe.

ZAP! He shoots up. With a running dive, he's in the pool.

He reaches his sister and flips her over.

Emily coughs up some water.

Dan: Em, I sorry.
Emily: For what?
Dan: My tube better.

Diane: I thought I said, “No Pool”?

Dan and Emily turn to see Diane and Will standing on the pool’s edge with the food.

Statue Man, Statue Man,

Friendly neighborhood Statue Man,

He's a rock when he's in shock,

He'll hold still, against your will,

Watch out! Metamorphic Statue Man!

Statue Man Meets The Cardinal

2008-11-30T14:32:00.001-05:00

INT. ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHURCH – MORNING

Dan and Will stand in a line of their peers, wearing blue blazers, white khaki’s, and brown loafers. Their hands are clasped in prayer as they slowly move up the aisle toward the pulpit.

Will: Okay, Dude, remember how we practiced?
Dan: Will, I nervous, Will.
Will: There’s nothing to be nervous about.
Dan: He not my priest.
Will: I know. He’s your Cardinal.
Dan: Not mine. He a stranger.
Will: You’ll meet him up there and then he won’t be a stranger anymore. He’s here to confirm us.
Dan: Why?
Will: He has that power.
Dan: Why?
Will: Because that’s one of his functions, along with electing a new Pope.
Dan: Why?
Will: Because, in the Catholic Church, Cardinals are appointed by the Pope and the Pope is elected by the Cardinals.
Dan: Why?
Will: I don’t know. That’s just how it works. Not much of a system, really. Listen, just act religious and look serene.

Dan and Will reach the Cardinal.
Dan steps up to the plate first.
Dan notices the Cardinal is wearing a red beanie.

Dan: He Jewish? (pronounced Goo-ish)

Statue Man Saves His Brother

2008-11-23T16:29:00.002-05:00

INT. PLYMOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HALLWAY – MIDDAY

Dan Drinker walks alone down the hall like he owns the place.
Mrs. Overcash spots him.

Mrs. O: Daniel, where are you going all by yourself?
Dan: Bathroom.
Mrs. O: Does your aide know that?
Dan: Yes, Overcash.

Dan continues down the hall.

INT. BOY’S BATHROOM – CONTINUOUS

Will sits on the toilet in the furthest stall from the door.
Tommy and Bobby enter and use the urinels.
Tommy looks under the stall and sees Will’s feet.

Tommy: Carpo is that you? Taking a dump at school again?!
Bobby: Don’t have a john at home, Carpo?

The boys begin wetting toilet paper in the sink and launching it into Will’s stall.
Will ducks as the wads stick to the wall of the stall.

Bobby: Don’t you know how dirty these bathrooms are?
Tommy: Yeah, gross! You’d be better off shitting yourself again.

Dan enters the bathroom.

Dan: Bad word.
Tommy: Dan the man!
Dan: You say bad word.
Tommy: I know, I know. I’m sorry, Dan. How about this… you don’t tell on me for cursing and I won’t tell on you for this.

Tommy places a wad of toilet paper in each of Dan’s hands.
Bobby points under the stall.
Dan bends down and looks beneath the stall.
Will is already bent down staring back and Dan with his finger to his mouth “Shhh”
Dan puts his finger to his mouth and smiles.

Tommy: Come on, Dan!
Bobby: Yeah, do it! Teach him a lesson for not being able to hold it!

Dan throws the first wad at Tommy and the second at Bobby.

Tommy: What are you doing you retard? I said throw it at Levi!
Bobby: I’m going to tell your teacher.

Dan grabs more wads from the sink and continues his assault on the boys.

Tommy: Stop, Dan!
Bobby: Alright, you asked for it…

The toilet flushes and Will appears from the stall.

Will: If you lay one finger on him I’ll make sure you don’t play football til summer camp.
Bobby: Drinker? Dude, we thought you were Levi Carpo.
Will: Well, I’m not.
Bobby: I know you have stomach problems. We really thought you were Levi.
Will: And what if I was Levi?
Tommy: Lets get out of here. They’re nothing but freaks, anyway.

Tommy and Bobby exit.

Dan: He say bad word.
Will: I know. You know throwing is bad, too?
Dan: Yes, but you my brother.
Will: Thanks, dude. Come on, I’ll walk you back to class.
Dan: I gotta pee.
Will: Oh. Right.

Are YOU an artist? If you'd like to contribute to The Adventures of Statue Man just send us an e-mail. Maybe you know Dan and have the perfect story to share. Maybe you don't know Dan but want to express your creativity and illustrate a scene I've already written. Let's get to work, people! Daniel Drinker is no longer limited to a single medium!

Dan's Last Day of High School

2008-11-20T23:28:00.004-05:00

Chronologically speaking, this scene follows Coping With Death and Discussing Dan's Transition. If you haven't seen those, I suggest you do before you check out this one because you'll have more context.

Click Here to watch this scene on You Tube

Plymouth Whitemarsh high school was Dan's world. He loved going to school. When he was ill he would hide his symptoms and feign health in order to attend class. In 2005, Dan's friends and classmates graduated. He stayed at PW one more year because he could stay in public school until he turned 21. Therefore, in 2006, all his friends began college while he attended high school one final year. At the Class of '06 PW Picnic, he really only knew the faculty and staff. Had it been the Class of '05 Picnic, he would have been the star of the show. After all, they'd voted him king of several of their dances. Dan made due at the '06 picnic, of course. Once he was able to obtain his yearbook he found a way to fit right in.

Click to enlarge

Statue Man - Girl's Bag

2008-11-19T15:05:00.012-05:00

A few months ago I called for artists to volunteer their talents so that together we could begin to visualize a series of comics I'd written about Dano Mano. There are just too many good stories others have told me or I simply wasn't able to film. Thankfully, a designer named Aram Fresh contacted me. He and I have never met but we share in common a love for Dan the Man. I sent him the script for the episode above and his work speaks for itself. It is moments such as this when I marvel at the communicative and collaborative power of the internet. Thanks so much, Aram. I'm sure our viewers will thank you for getting the ball rolling on this new facet of our project.

Speaking of which... are YOU an artist? If you'd like to contribute to The Adventures of Statue Man just send us an e-mail. Maybe you know Dan and have the perfect story to share. Maybe you don't know Dan but want to express your creativity and illustrate a scene I've already written. Let's get to work, people! Daniel Drinker is no longer limited to a single medium!

Statue Man vs. Sammy Weak

2008-11-17T21:43:00.005-05:00

The Adventures of Statue Man - Episode 2

Present day: Will and his friend Sam are walking.

Sam: One time, when Dan and I were in 5th grade, Mrs. Meyer’s class.
Will: Right…
Sam: Dan wanted to arm wrestle…

Cut To: Mrs. Meyer’s class room.

Dan and Sam sit next to each other. They are both nine years old.

Dan: Come on, Sam.
Sam: I don’t know, Dan. I’m pretty strong.
Dan: I stronger!
Sam: Alright… but I’m warning you.

They lock arms and begin to arm wrestle. Sam narrates while they fight it out.

Sam’s Narration: Naturally, I let him win. I knew if I beat him I’d never hear the end of it.

Dan beats Sam. Classmates cheer.

Dan: Sammy Weak!
Sam: Nice job Dan, I guess you were right!
Dan: I strong, Sammy Weak!
Student 1: Haha! Sammy Weak!
Dan: Yeah!
Student 2: Sammy Weak!

“Sammy Weak” catches on throughout the classroom.

Sam sits quietly, trying to keep his cool.

Cut back to the present: Will and Sam walking and talking.

Sam: From then on, I was known as “Sammy Weak”.
Will: I never heard about this.
Sam: It lasted for the entire year.
Will: Well, you know… I mean, Dan didn’t know that would happen.
Sam: Oh no. I give him more credit than that. He knew exactly what he was doing.

A Great American

2008-11-05T16:13:00.010-05:00

Dan is having a great fall season so far. The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series, he dressed as Ryan Howard for Halloween, and Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States. Dan lives in Pennsylvania and I live in California so he called me this morning to make sure I knew Barack won. I asked him how he felt,

“I’m so happy, Will. He’s my man.”

Dan has an elegant way of summing things up. Honestly, what more could my brother have said? It is a truly happy and historic day and whether you voted for him or not, he is our man for the next four years. Barack has been Dan’s man long before he was mine, or anyone in our family’s. During the primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama we lived in a split household, right down the gender line. Years before that, Barack gave a speech at the 2004 DNC and Dan made a note of how sharp he was.

Today is a day of celebration for many reasons but I would like to celebrate my brother’s extraordinary achievement as a citizen of this great nation. After countless You Tubers have insisted Dan should not be allowed to vote, that me or my family are dictating his vote, or that he’s simply too stupid to vote (the latter comments always coming from those who have worse grammar than Dan) I feel compelled to shout “NO!”

Dan Drinker is a man of his own volition, a proud American whose sense of responsibility and duty called him to participate in this election in every way he could. If you’ve spent even five minutes watching him in action you’ll know that the only reason he’s been so committed to this election is because he wants to be. I wish to celebrate his patriotism.

Dan watched all the debates, he voted in the Pennsylvania primary, he saw Barack speak at Penn State University, he endorsed his candidacy right here on his website, and he voted for him in the general election. Yesterday he called to tell me he just voted for “Barack Obama and his friend Joe Biden”. Today after gushing about our new president he insisted I post something today. So here I am. I explained that’d be difficult since the scenes I’ve been working on don’t really speak to the election. He said, “I don’t care, Obama won”. So, let us celebrate that we live in a country that allows a 23 year-old man with Down syndrome to have a voice in the most important election of his lifetime.

Dan has always been an excellent judge of character. Whenever a new friend comes to our house, Dan finds a way to test their personality and reveal who they really are. He understands that he is special and always cleverly determines if you can handle it. You could call Dan the litmus test of our household in a way. If he doesn’t like someone, it’s usually for a very fundamental reason that no one can ignore. If he loves someone, they usually deserve it. I’m not kidding. When I would bring a girl home and she failed the Dan test, there was no turning back. There is no alternative to Dan Drinker’s approval. Maybe that’s why I try so hard to impress him.

So maybe Dan doesn’t know all of the policies being debated, or the solution to the current financial crisis, or whether we’ll go to war with Iran but neither do I and neither do you. Dan voted with his heart. Dan cares and he tries. He tries very hard. For that, I believe he should be commended. Equal opportunity is nothing more than an opportunity. Because he seizes the opportunity, Dan Drinker is a great American.

Dan Breaks Up With Sarah

2008-09-26T14:03:00.002-04:00

WATCH IT on You Tube.

Dan's April In Paris

2008-09-11T04:35:00.003-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch this scene on You Tube.

Dan took Sarah to Melmark's "April In Paris" formal. I would like to give Dan credit for the concept as well as the execution of his beret, glove, and song list. Countless people that evening tried to give me credit saying "That's so nice you dressed him in a Beret". It's amazing how quick people are to assume Dan's limitations. After finding clips of "An American In Paris" on youtube, Dan asked his grandmother to buy him a beret. He came prepared all by himself. I discovered his plans when the camera was rolling.

Dan Meets Will's Girlfriend

2008-09-05T01:05:00.002-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch this video on You Tube.

Dan Gets a Haircut

2008-07-14T23:20:00.002-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch this scene on Youtube

Dan Drinker and Terri Lynn Mckenzie were students in Mrs. Overcash's 4th grade class together. Dan was part of an inclusion classroom where he was the only student in the class with special needs. My mother kept a communication book with all of Dan's teachers. Dan would carry the book back and forth between home and school. Below are excerpts from the daily conversations my mother had with Dan's teacher and Aide.

Dan first met Terri in the first week of September. The first week of school:

9/4/96

Today I spoke to the class about Dan. Everyone was very receptive. His classmates at his table are: Terri Mckenzie, Shannon Kearns, and Fred Chang. Terri was commended today for being so wonderful and helpful to Dan.

9/5/96

Terri mentioned that Dan kissed her at lunchtime. She was very understanding as we spoke to her.

9/6/96

Dan’s friend that sits next to him is Terri. Apparently, he was following her around and not allowing her time to play with other friends. She appears to be a very nice and fair friend. She isn’t truly complaining about him – she’s just suggesting that she be able to play with other kids, too. I talked to him. Could you, too? Some other boys also came up and said they want to play with him for tomorrow. So I felt good about this because they all worked this out on their own.

Those accounts were from Mrs. Overcash and Mrs. Haegel. The following year, in fifth grade, my mom was corresponding with two other teachers, Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Kozeniewski. Terri was no longer in Dan's class but the first week of school was all about her:

9/3/97

He didn’t want to come in for recess. I went out to get him and asked him if everything was okay. He said, “no” and asked for Terri. He asks for her a lot. I told him he could see her during recess. He seems to accept his friends being in other classrooms, but not Terri.

9/5/97

If you could talk to him about how important it is for him to come in from recess in the class line it would be very helpful. He stays outside to wait for Terri. We haven’t given in on his requests for Terri. I’ve been telling him that she is in another class where she is learning, like he is. Overall, we had a great first week. I think Dan and I will have a wonderful year. Looking forward to Monday.

9/11/97

We think that Dominique is replacing Terri. Dan taps her on the head when he walks by her. She seems to be understanding, so far.

Chestnut Hill Local

2008-05-29T14:24:00.005-04:00

CLICK HERE to read the article.

Dan and I made the cover of the local section of the Chestnut Hill Local. A big thank you from both of us to Kristin Pazulski for taking the time to tell our story and to the Local for shedding light on our project. We met with Kristin twice at McNally's Tavern. I had a Schmitter and water while Dan had a burger and a glass of wine.

Dan and Sarah's Birthday

2008-05-23T19:02:00.004-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch this scene on You Tube.

Dan was born on May 9th. His girlfriend was born on May 10th. They celebrated their double birthday at Dan's favorite restaurant, Halligan's Pub. A very special thanks to Joe Halligan and the entire staff who treat my brother with love and respect on a weekly basis.

Find out more about Halligans CLICK HERE.

Below is a composite made from the three birthday cards Dan made Sarah from scratch.

Click image to enlarge.

I'd also like to point out that Dan has never liked being called "Danny". Since we were young he has reacted rather negatively to those who try to call him anything other than "Dan". I can't blame him. I am the same way when someone assumes they can call me "Bill". With a last name like ours, it's only natural we take names and labels to heart. Dan, however, takes exception to this when it comes to girls. If he's trying to be endearing, like in all three cards he made for Sarah, he will sign "Danny". In the scene above, when Sarah reads "Love, Danny" she pauses and exclaims "Cute!" I guess he knows what he's doing.

Love,
Willy

The Will Drinker Show - Biology Class

2008-04-30T05:36:00.000-04:00

In high school when I missed school due to illness I did a show called "The Will Drinker Show" in order to make up for the missed class time. This scene is from one I did for biology class. The focus was primarily on my disease, Hirschsprung's, but Dan is featured in it heavily as are my dad and sister. Enjoy.

Old School

2008-04-29T12:15:00.005-04:00

When it comes to my filmmaking, Dan has always been the most convenient and agreeable star. Back to the time when I first began playing with my Dad's video camera my brother was always available and willing to perform. Long before we began this project Dan was the star of the majority of my movies.

STAR WARS

DAN AND DIZZY DISCUSS "TITANIC"

THE PURPLE ALIEN

THE ALL GIRLS CLUB

Dan Votes in the Pennsylvania Primary

2008-04-22T20:08:00.006-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch this video on You Tube

When Dan's sister, Emily, returned home from school this afternoon, she found a note on her desk. Dan had typed it on the computer and printed it out and left it for her to find (no one helped him):

This was Emily's first time voting. Dan's note wasn't enough to talk her out of voting for Hillary Clinton.

Dan Drinker Visits Penn State to See Barack Obama

2008-04-10T00:58:00.000-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch Dan's endorsement of Senator Obama.

All Photos by Evan M. Cuttic

(click photos to enlarge)

Directly after "breaking up" with Christine, Dan and I headed to State College, Pennsylvania to visit our friend Evan. He goes to Penn State University and Barack Obama was speaking there.

CLICK HERE to view this scene on You Tube

Click below to listen to Dan and Will on PSU's radio morning talk show. My stream timed out shortly into the broadcast so I was only able to record a bit of it. We were on the air for an hour.

A deleted scene.

CLICK HERE to read an article about Dan in Penn State's newspaper, The Daily Collegian.

Dancing In The Street

2008-04-06T23:35:00.006-04:00

Sometimes Dan likes to put on his favorite gear and head out into our street with his iPod. This is not a man who is lost in his head. This is a performance. If no one is out playing, he will wander our neighborhood until he finds people outdoors to dance for. The reason the girls in the background don't seem phased is because they aren't. This is something Dan has always done and something we have always enjoyed watching.

His iPod contains a variety of music. He most exclusively listens to the High School Musical soundtrack (both films). He also frequents Elvis Presley, The Blues Brothers, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, the West Side Story soundtrack, Jay Z, Usher, Nelly, Cool and the Gang, Run DMC, The Temptations, The Supremes, Carole King, James Taylor, and his sister, Emily Drinker.

Dan and I recently spent some time searching You Tube for his favorite dance songs. You can find our favorites on right right side of this blog under "Let's Dance!". Fair warning, be prepared to dance. Dan, Emily, our mom, and I were dancing in my room to "Boogie Nights" only moments ago. It could happen to YOU.

He Was Meant To Shine

2008-04-02T17:07:00.006-04:00

Dan Drinker at Beach Haven, NJ

I wrote this song a few days ago and recorded it with my sister last night. It is just a demo. Soon, we hope to re-record it more professionally. Let us know what you think. To play the song click the pink circle below.

The Word of the Day

2008-04-02T11:56:00.002-04:00

Dan and I used to play a speech game called "The Word of the Day". On this particular occasion, Emily was filming, I was dong my best Alfred Hitchcock impression, and the word was "Celtics".

Graduating From Ken-Crest

2008-04-02T11:31:00.006-04:00

Dan and his grandmother, Nancy Freedman

Dan spent his pre-school years at Ken-Crest, an early intervention program. When he graduated, his grandparents presented him with this poem:

Daniel...

Your birth was bittersweet.

But, you soon erased the element of regret

leaving only the mark of pleasure.

Daniel...

Your first year is full of memories.

Unending feedings, monitor wires, false alarms.

Therapy balls, mouth excercises.

And then off to KEN-CREST.

Daniel...

Your second year of crawling and then learning to stand.

Your love of yogurt in a variety of flavors.

Daniel...

Your third year of learning to walk

with a strut like no other.

Your love affair with applesauce.

Your communicating without speaking

and people totally understood.

Daniel...

Your fourth year of private speech therapy with

dramatic improvement of verbal communication.

Potty training, the hits and misses.

Learning the computer.

And last but not least,

your wonderful relationship with your brother, William.

Daniel...

You muster courage and try.

You have accomplished with pride numerous goals.

You have reached one of many milestones

Your graduation from Ken-Crest.

Daniel...

You made us look at the world differently.

You gave us permission to cry in public.

You bring great joy and sometimes it runs down our cheeks.

You are the best thing that ever happened to us!

Daniel...

We love you very much,

Grampy and Grandy

Dan and his grandfather, Arthur Freedman.

Click on the images to enlarge

Blast From the Past

2008-04-02T10:48:00.003-04:00

Click here to see more of Dan's videos on You Tube

This montage is part of a video I made Dan for his high school graduation. Our father shot all (well, most) of the footage (before he gave me the camera for good). Watch Dano grow up to a song that might has well have been written just for him.

Two more songs from Dan's graduation video. Two of his favorites.

Two Memories

2008-03-28T18:02:00.000-04:00

Will must have been maybe 2 or 3 and I guess Dan was a year older. We were all at Grandmom and Grandpop's old house on Graver's Lane and it was around Easter (Alex and I lived in Chicago at the time). Will was still very sick from all of his early surgeries and understandably terrified of any type of mask. Someone had brought a whole bunch of bunny masks for us kids to wear and Will became afraid. Dan leapt into action as his younger brother's protector, somehow simultaneously comforting Will while at the same time berating whoever had brought the mask. I don't know why I remember this, but it was so sweet and so obviously instinctual and Will seemed very much secure in the knowledge that his big brother Dan was going to take care of the problem and make everything better.

My second memory of Dan is after Grandpop died. I guess we were all gathered again and I must have been particularly upset. Dan came over to me and gave me the most loving, gentle hug and just softly kept saying, "It's okay, Grandpop in heaven" and it really did make me feel so much better.

Lauren Drinker

(Dan's Cousin)

Visiting Lehigh

2008-03-27T23:47:00.002-04:00

Click Here to watch this scene on You Tube

Our family started bright and early and drove to the Martin Guitar Factory for a tour. After lunch, we stopped at Lehigh University to see the Drinker House. Click Here to learn more about the dormitory.

Thanks to Ross Reilly for the wonderful music. Check out his myspace.

The Man With The Cat (Henry Sturgis Drinker)

by Cecilia Beaux

Below is Lehigh's biography of Dan's great great grandfather:

Henry Sturgis Drinker (1905-1920) was an 1871 Lehigh graduate and the only alumnus ever to become president. The alumni endowment fund was established in 1907, the Lehigh Alumni Bulletin was first published in 1913, and the Alumni Association was incorporated in 1917.

A lawyer and a mechanical engineer, Drinker helped solve the problems of building the two-mile-long Musconetcong Tunnel, an engineering feat that made possible a railroad line between Easton, Pa., and New York City. He started a tradition of business-like management of university affairs.

During Drinker's years, more buildings were completed: the original section of Fritz Engineering Laboratory, Drown Hall, Coxe Mining Laboratory, Taylor Hall, Taylor Gymnasium and Field House, Taylor Stadium and Lamberton Hall. Drinker's interest in horticulture led to the planting of many rare trees and plants.

A teacher's course and a business administration course were begun in 1909, and in 1918, the university was divided into three colleges: liberal arts, business administration and engineering - roots of today's colleges. Army ROTC was established in 1919.

Drinker's daughter, Catherine Drinker Bowen, became a historical writer of note. Her experiences as the daughter of a Lehigh president and occupant of the President's House are recorded in Family Portrait (Atlantic Little-Brown).

This is a short excerpt from the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography:

While Henry was apparently interested in Cecilia, she was never taken with him. On one occasion she had been away from home when Catharine and Henry dropped by for a visit. She later noted in her diary "I don't mind missing him." Diary of 1875, Beaux Papers

Tara Leigh Tappert

Always On The Move

2008-03-27T16:24:00.001-04:00

Dan and Mom, Summer 1989

When Dan goes to church he never sits with his family, at least, not for too long. Typically, he will leave us and invite himself to sit with other members of the community. He will remain with someone ("my friend"), even fall asleep on their shoulder for a quick nap (what we would all like to do during some sermons!). But, appropriately timed with the flow of the service, Dan moves on a couple more times to different sections to join others in the congregation.

Dan demonstrates the true spirit of "community." What appears to be a simple action is quite complex. Week after week, I'm used to staying in my comfort zone, sitting with my family in the same place in church. Inhibitions prevent us from reaching out and opening ourselves up to each other's joy and pain, to that which makes us human. We lose many opportunities for growth and connection. Next time, wherever it is, I'm going to move around.

Diane Drinker

Dan's Big Date In Philadelphia

2008-03-23T05:01:00.001-04:00

CLICK HERE to watch this scene on You Tube

All week long, Dan has been planning a date with Sarah. This evening's plan was dinner and bowling. After Sarah arrived, our friend, Evan Cuttic called and invited us to see the Philadelphia 76ers play the New Jersey Nets. Evan is home from Penn State for Easter, in town just for one night and when he acquired free box seat Sixers tickets, he called us. Dan and Sarah happily shelved their bowling plans for a date downtown. My favorite moment from this scene is the shot of Dan standing at the bar waiting to be served. I fall to pieces when I see that image. I imagine a mother might feel something similar watching her daughter board the bus on the first day of school, wanting to help but knowing she has to do it on her own. For me, it's a proud sort of "look, there he goes" feeling.

This is, as far as I am concerned, his first time ordering a beer at a bar. In the past he has walked around a party with a beer more as a prop, to fit in with everyone else who is drinking -- he only would have a few sips because it was only for show. He usually does not like alcohol, it makes him feel "dizzy". Tonight, he finished his beer. There was something about the entire evening that was so spectacular to Evan and I that we don't quite know how to put it into words. I came away from tonight with nothing but respect, love, and awe for my so very big brother.

Photo by Evan M. Cuttic

Dan Endorses Barack Obama

2008-03-20T01:56:00.000-04:00

Click here to watch this scene on youtube

Dan has been following the presidential campaign with great passion. He has been talking my ear off recently about Senator Obama and I decided, after his speech in our native Philadelphia, that it was time to ask Dan to share his thoughts. I have always thought my brother to be an excellent judge of character and I feel his opinion is as valuable as the most famous or respected political authority because he speaks the truth and adds nothing more.

Please pass this along if you believe in having something to believe in. Be it Dan, or Barack, or Hillary, or McCain, or Ralph Nader, or yourself.

A Note From Dan

2008-03-19T18:36:00.000-04:00

Dan after a dragon boat race

An open letter Dan wanted to post on the site:

I love Melmark and I love faculty/staff and friends and I love Acme and I love PW and High School Musical 2 and I love Sarah and I love my Mom and Dad and Will and Emily and Gran and Jim and Tom and Paul.

Love,

Daniel Drinker

Call For Content and Volunteers

2008-03-19T02:05:00.000-04:00

Dan featured in a German publication I can't pronounce

Tonight it occurred to me that Dan's story can be told in other ways besides filmmaking. I want to take the stories I've been getting and try plugging them into a comic based on Dan. I will write it, using the stories I'm told about him from you, the ones who know him. I need other people to draw it. Or sketch it. Or paint it. Or however you want to do it. The key to this blog is to develop a picture of my older brother that goes far beyond my own perspective.

So get in touch with the Blues Brothers if you want to be a part of this attempt to portray Dan as the super hero he is. For example, one of the first stories, that I'd ask you to draw, would be about the time Dan was rowing with his dragon boat team on the Schuylkill River when a man jumped from the Girard Avenue bridge and they rowed to him, pulled him to safety, and called for help. Dan called my mom, knowing she was a nurse. It's a true story, and I know there are many true stories among those of you who are reading this. If you have something to say about Dan, please send us an email.

Also, if you are a graphic designer, or have anything you could offer the design or layout of this blog, please get in touch with us. Web design is not my forte.

The same goes for photos. If you have a photo of Dan, please contact me so we can get a copy and find out the story behind it. Thanks again.

Dan's Graduation Party at PW

2008-03-18T16:03:00.001-04:00

A week before Dan graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Dan and his classmates had a party in Mrs. McMahon's classroom. Family and friends were invited. My favorite moment is when Carl starts dancing for the camera, and of course, my dad.

Dan's Seventh Prom

2008-03-17T12:02:00.000-04:00

Before Sarah, Dan was with a girl named Connie. They broke up but remained best friends through high school. Dan took her to what was, at the time, his seventh prom. We've lost count at this point but he's now been to at least eleven or twelve. Dan lives to wear a tux and dance, so you can imagine how important this day was for him.

Daniel Drinker Enters 4th Grade

2008-03-13T23:36:00.000-04:00

On the steps of Curlew Cottage

Beach Haven, NJ

This may not sound like news to you, but for Daniel Drinker and his family, friends, classmates, teachers and school administrators, this is a major event. Daniel, oldest of the three children of Ned Drinker (tax accountant in Gulph Mills), is ten years old, has blonde hair, blue eyes and loves to swim and perform. Daniel also has Down syndrome. Beginning in September, Daniel will attend the fourth grade in his neighborhood school, Colonial Elementary in Plymouth Meeting, PA. He will be the first student with mental retardation to attend any school in the Colonial School District as an "included" student. That means he will not be in a segregated class or pulled out for special treatment. He will be treated just like the other children in his class, but "with support." He is supposed to get the support that he needs to function in a normal environment. To facilitate this inclusion, the number of students in his class has been kept lower than the average in the school and an aide has been assigned to the room, not to hover over him, but to allow the teacher or the aide to spend extra time with Daniel, when necessary.

For Daniel's parents, Ned and Diane Drinker, the move to full inclusion sounds promising but raises great fears. Says Ned, "Daniel will feel just great being treated like everybody else. For the first time in his life he is going to the same school as his brother William (age 9). This increase in self-esteem, by itself, might ease Daniel's transition into a normal setting." Diane frets, "Daniel's speech problems are so great that we cannot understand him some of the time. How is he going to survive in the schoolyard?" Ned elaborates, "Several years ago I coached a soccer team that Daniel and William were both on. We all tried hard to include Daniel, but he just couldn't play at age level; he would just stand there. He ended up getting frustrated, throwing all the balls down the hill and pulling his pants down. He did not make a lot of friends."

Even so, Ned is investing his hopes and dreams in the inclusive model. "We've fought for the last two years, all the way to federal district court, to keep the school district from sending Daniel to a "special class. But instead of having learning disabilities, most of the students in this class were socio-emotionally disturbed. One used to throw chairs at the teacher. No kidding. Daniel would have learned nothing but bad behavior. I learned from this experience that there is no sanctuar; the best hope for the special student is in the normal population. After years of being a separtist, I am finally becoming a hardcore inclusionist." If Daniel and his normal peers can learn to get along in class, and maybe even develop friendships, Daniel's future will be much brighter. Ned concludes, "Theoretically, I see that inclusion is the best way to educate all children. As a matter of fact, only by educating our children in this way can we expect to fully integrate our society, for all types of differences."

written by Brian Courtney

How Dan Copes With Death

2008-03-13T15:24:00.002-04:00

Click Here to watch this scene on youtube

My family feels this scene is significant because it shows us all how Dan mourns. How we think we all should mourn. Whether he knew the departed well, or not at all, Dan mourns the exact same way. I should also mention that after Dan hugs me I turn off the camera for about ten minutes so I could console him.

Two Stories

2008-03-13T12:39:00.000-04:00

Dan takes questions from a reporter after his Dragon Boat Race

These are two stories of Dan's. They are both from his fourth grade class, taught by Mrs. Overcash.

Mrs. Overcash In the Bathtub

by Dan Drinker

"Help! Help!" said Dan. "Mrs. Overcash is in the bathtub and she won't get out. Somebody help me."

"I will," said T.J. "Get out of the tub. It is time to eat lunch," said T.J.

Mrs. Overcash said, "Today we eat lunch in the tub."

"Help! Help!" said Dan. "Mrs. Overcash is in the tub and she won't get out. Who will help?"

"I will," said Miss Haegele. "It is time to teach the class."

"Today I teach in the tub," said Mrs. Overcash.

"Help! Help!" said Dan. "Mrs. Overcash is in the tub and she won't get out. Who will help?"

"I will," said Terri. "It is time to go swimming."

"Today we swim in the tub!" said Mrs. Overcash.

"Help! Help!" said Dan. "Mrs. Overcash is in the tub and she won't get out. Who can help?"

The class said, "Lets tie a rope around her and pull her out." Mrs. Overcash is finally out of the tub!

Dan points out "my brother" to the reporter.

Dutchie Swims At P.W.

by Dan Drinker

Dedication: This story is dedicated to my mom because I love her.

Dutchie is Mrs. Overcash's pet dog. One day he went to P.W. to go swimming. Dutchie dove in the deep end of the pool. His paws touched the bottom of the pool. Dutchie was scared and happy. Mrs. Swetkowski jumps in the pool to save Dutchie. Her hair sticks up very high.

About the Author: My name is Dan Drinker. I love dogs. Dutchie is a nice dog. My story is about Dutchie becasue he is a really cute dog.

In Daniel's Head

2008-03-12T12:01:00.000-04:00

2/19/96

Ned Drinker

No one knows what is going on in Daniel's head,

but it's easy to guess.

When he stands in front of the mirror holding a broom handle and moaning and skrieking off key, the way only he can,

He sees himself as a famous singer.

When he builds multiple towers with his blocks,

He sees himself as a great architect.

When he makes a bunch of marks on a piece of paper and shows it off proudly,

He sees himself as a great artist.

When kids call him moron, stupid, or retard: he is mean right back,

Because he doesn't see himself that way.

When he attempts to imitate anything his brother or sister do,

He sees himself as a typical child of his mother and father.

When he talks fast and unintelligibly to classmates,

He sees himself as being able to talk like everyone else.

When he winds up with a baseball and it flies off in the wrong direction,

He sees himself as a great pitcher.

When he does arithmetic with counters or works on his vocabulary with flash cards,

He sees himself as a serious thinker.

When he teases the girls on the bus,

He sees himself as a great lover.

When he plays with his friend Mark who also has Down syndrome,

He sees himself as a great friend.

And he is that.

When he lets out a laugh you have to laugh with him and

He sees himself as a great entertainer.

And he is that.

But usually for Daniel there is a difference between the way he sees himself and the way others see him. and though he will never be a great singer, architect, artist, speaker, athlete or scholar in our minds; in his mind, he is the best. For discovering this simple truth at such a young age, he certainly deserves our respect and admiration. Better yet, maybe we can learn something from him.

And, perhaps, even though he doesn't see himself that way, maybe what Daniel is, more than anything else,

is a teacher.

Who is Daddy Freedman?

2008-03-12T11:28:00.001-04:00

I found this typed letter amongst old files in the basement. It is signed "Daddy Freedman". Our mother's maiden name is Freedman, so I assumed it was from our grandfather (or Grampy). My mom insists that he wouldn't have signed his name Daddy Freedman. My grandmother removed suspicion by noting that my grandfather was dead when the letter was written. A true mystery! Odd as it is, all our assumptions point to the author being my Dad. I like the words, whoever wrote them.

April 19, 1994

Dear Dano-Man,

Hey big guy! I just wanted you to know that I think it is just great that you are trying to do new things. What I am thinking of is turning on the bath water, playing baseball, and learning how to cut with a knife and fork. In all three of those activities you are really being brave by trying something new and difficult. I'll be helping you as you learn and we'll celebrate when you can do them by yourself!

Love,

Daddy Freedman

Neddy Hooks It Up

2008-03-12T11:19:00.000-04:00

Dan and Dad in The Colonial

December 15, 2004

Click image to enlarge

Dan Takes Sarah To His Sister's Show

2008-03-12T11:05:00.000-04:00

Click here to watch this scene on youtube

The Hannah Montana date was postponed when Dan realized the perfect followup date should actually be to take his new girlfriend to see "Leader of the Pack" at William Penn Charter School, in Philadelphia. His sister Emily had a starring role and what better way to show off to your new girl than take her to the theater?

The film gods are a true mystery. First, they bring me home with blood clots in my legs so I can continue to film Dan. Then, on an evening where I'm expected to film both my siblings, they break my camera's lens just before I begin shooting. Then they send the Bartolozzi's my way, who offer their camera for the night. Thank you, Bartolozzis, it means a great deal to me you let me shoot that night. Auspicious occasions happen all the time.

Wacky Hair Day

2008-03-12T01:55:00.000-04:00

Dan on the cover of The Times Herald

Wednesday July 25, 2001

click on the image to read the caption.

I Like To Be Me

2008-03-12T00:47:00.000-04:00

I can't quite date this document but the first page is a family tree (which I won't be including) with a "Baby expected, 2/26/90". All my sources point to that expected child being Emily, but let's not rule out family secrets I have yet to uncover. It's definitely safe to say my brother was probably 4, and I was probably 3. This stapled packet of papers must have been sent home as an assignment in one of Dan's earliest classroom environments. These pictures were collaged into the stapled handout as well. It was titled "I Like To Be Me" and written in our mother's handwriting. I will do my best to type it up:

All About Me

This Makes Me Happy:

1. Spending time with his "Grampy" ("B.A.") and Grandy ("G"). Daniel sees his grandparents often but always receives them as if he hasn't seen them for a long time. He really loves and enjoys them.

2. Playing with blocks - he is very creative - stacking, lining up vertically, sorting by color, building airplanes, busses, cars, chairs...

3. Musical instruments - playing "Marching Band" with his brother William.

4. Playing in the pool and with the hose.

5. Eating out at restaurants and ordering milkshakes.

6. Pretending he is having a picnic (in our living room) with a blanket and play dishware and food.

Helping put away the groceries

This Makes Me Sad:

1. Getting nails cut - has always screamed and fought very strongly - we think it is related to CP and how he perceives this internal stimuli.

2. When Daniel can't do something and he is aware of it without even tring, i.e. riding the tricycle - especially when his brother, William can do the particular task.

3. Afraid of certain animals - big dogs.

4. When his brother takes a toy from him - Daniel cries rather than attempting to retrieve the toy.

5. When his brother, William is ill or away for extended periods in the hospital - watching William in pain - Daniel will pout and hold his hand.

Dan on the original Apple 2e - With a touch screen

I Do This Best:

1. Creativity with blocks - best block stacker since he was a baby!

2. Throwing and catching a ball (has a future in the major leagues)

3. Charming people - has a real way of winning people over and melting their hearts - can be a master manipulator.

4. Making friends

Bookworm

I like this best:

1. Likes doing things by himself - has real pride.

2. Milkshakes and cookies.

3. Rides and carnivales.

4. Reading books with Mom and Dad.

5. Playing with neighborhood friends, ages varying 3 1/2 - 10 yrs.

6. Dancing at Grampy's house to Benny Goodman.

7. "Winnie the Pooh and the Slushy Day" - "Pooh Day" he calls it.

8. Learning new things.

9. Swinging on swings at playgrounds or in our yard.

10. Playing at the computer.

11. Going to church (since very little), talking to priest, putting money in collction basket, praying.

12. Watching any type of musical.

Daniel and brother William (always serious) at the church carnival.

One of William's many hospitalizations - lots of tubes and pain, very tough for Daniel.

Click Images to enlarge them and see the looks on some of those faces.

My Brother Lifts Me Up

2008-03-11T14:25:00.000-04:00

When I was a boy, I was terrified of virtually everything. My brother, Dan, has always acquired my fears for himself. Today, long after my fear of dogs has evolved into a love, Dan remains afraid of dogs. One fear of mine lasted long after dogs. I was forced to confront it at Camp Swatara every summer when we were given the chance to scale a great climbing wall. As a camper I never could make it to the top. The first year Dan was a camper at Swatara I was his one-on-one aide, a counselor in training. As with every summer, the afternoon arrived where we all put on harnesses, learned how to tie special knots, practiced trust falls, and gathered beneath the great climbing wall that had eluded much of my childhood. Dan and I had walked past the wall before and Dan had made it abundantly clear he would not be climbing it. I had done my best to psyche him up as we approached the climbing day but he was staunchly opposed.

Back below the climbing wall, I found myself to be something of a hypocrite. How could I make him do something I was too afraid to do? As I was preparing to belay him up the wall, I saw a look in his eye that said, “Please, don’t make me do this”. After a moment, I rearranged our ropes and switched places with him. I instructed another counselor to help him belay me and took my first position on the wall. As I climbed, Dan tightened his end of the rope, keeping me snug in my harness. Halfway up the wall it occurred to me that this was not a fear I had outgrown. I stopped and looked down at my brother. We were tied together. He was keeping me suspended two stories above him. “Yeah, Will!” he shouted. I continued to climb. It slowly realized the mess I'd gotten myself into. The irony, the symbolism, and the humor failed me at the time.

Three quarters to the top, I slipped. Dan caught me. I hung in the air for a moment, terrified, doing my best not to show it. That’s when I looked down. Dan was so small. For some reason, from the ground no one on the wall looks small, but from the wall, everyone below seems so far away. Dan sensed my fear. “Go, Will!” I found my footing and began scanning the holds, plotting my final ascent. I knew what I wanted to do but my body was paralyzed. I began to tremble. On previous attempts, this was where I always threw in the towel and repelled down slowly, in shame. I held tightly to the wall, and hoped no one below could see how violently I was shaking. By now, Dan had rallied all the other campers and counselors to cheer me on. Shouts of encouragement cushioned me as I hung on for dear life.

Just then, I felt a tug on my rope. My body jerked upward. Dan, who is very strong, was pulling on our rope, raising me higher. This caused me to lose my footing, but forced me to focus. He pulled again. I went up another foot. I grabbed the wall once more and making a conscious effort not to look down, I climbed to the top, my brother pulling me the whole way. When I smacked the top of the wall with my palm, Dan’s cheer was most notable among the rest. It was like touching the sky.

A Letter From Unruh Street

2008-03-11T10:06:00.000-04:00

Here is a letter my Dad wrote.

June 19, 1990

Dear Sandy,

Here's a couple of stories for you.

My son Daniel, age 5, has Down syndrome and has captured the hearts of friends and family, in fact, the hearts of everyone he meets. But, through him we have learned that it is our own hypersensitivity that often handicaps us, sometimes hilariously.

We have a friend, Ellen, who's son, Jimmy, also has Down syndrome. Once Jimmy was about a year old his mother was strolling him down a hallway in a medical office building and encountered a stranger coming down the hall. The stranger kept looking down towards the stroller as he approached the mother and child from the opposite direction. Ellen was certain that the man was staring at Jimmy and she became more and more incensed as the distance between them shortened. Finally, as they passed each other, Ellen shrieked at the man, "What are you staring at?". The man shook his head, and as he walked on said, "Jeez lady, I was just going to tell you that your shoe was untied!"

Another episode we laugh about, now, was related to us by a friend of ours whom upon hearing that we had had our baby, asked my mom, "What did they have?" My mom, still smarting and overfilled with the emotion of being a new grandparents of a child with Down syndrome said, "They had a Downs!" She never did tell our friend that we had had a boy!

Sincerely,

Ned Drinker

Dad Shares His Thoughts

2008-03-10T23:26:00.000-04:00

My dad is a relatively taciturn fellow, but when he speaks, he doesn't waste a word. On the night before Dan's last day of school (shortly after Dan learned his teacher's husband had died), Ned Drinker talks about what Dan's life will be like without the structured public school environment he's known most of his life. Dan lived for school. When he was sick, he would conceal it in order to attend class. This was also the day Dan stopped working at APS, where he worked before my parents found Melmark.

Dan Calls Sarah

2008-03-10T20:15:00.000-04:00

Click here to view this scene on youtube

There's a first for everything. After his first date with Sarah, Dan called her for the first time. This scene is a little longer than it needs to be, and I doubt all of it will make the final cut. Still, I wanted to share what a struggle it is for him to have a simple conversation. I was going to edit a lot of the long pauses out, but our good friend, Evan insisted I keep them in. He was right. There's something very powerful about the moments he goes blank and doesn't know what to say.

They went on their Hannah Montana date yesterday. Dan says he's in love with her.

Dan's First Date With Sarah

2008-03-09T00:34:00.001-05:00

Click here to watch this scene on youtube

Dan has been pushing for me to complete this scene for weeks. I finally reached the finish line tonight and am pleased to share it with you all. It's important to understand how significant this date was in Dan's life. He has always had girls who were into him, sometimes to the point of obsession. But he has never reciprocated. He has always considered those girls to be "weird". If you've seen any of our scenes, you know just the type of people Dan would call "weird". Dan has always pined for girls that were realistically out of his reach (don't we all?). The fact that he asked Sarah to this dance was a very big deal.

His boss, Liza, told me how for the first few months at Melmark, he completely ignored his co-workers and peers. It may have been nerves, but he knew all his bosses names, and talked to them all. It wasn't until very recently that he even referred to one of his peers by name. Once he did, something clicked, and he soon asked Sarah to the dance. What you will see in this scene are a lot of things, but know that there is a real awakening happening, a slow acceptance of reality for Dan. At least that's what I hope. Sarah has brought a joy to him that only love can. She's the first girl he didn't think was weird. I hope you enjoy the scene as much as I enjoyed that very special evening.

Our Scenes So Far...

2008-03-08T12:37:00.004-05:00

DAN'S LOVE LIFE

Dan's First Date With Sarah
Dan Calls Sarah
Dan's Seventh Prom
Dan Drinker Is In Love
Dan Takes Sarah To His Sister's Show

Dan and Sarah's Birthday

Dan Gets a Haircut

Dan Meets Will's Girlfriend
Dan's April In Paris

Dan Breaks Up With Sarah

DAN IN REAL LIFE
Dan at School and Work
Dan Copes With Death

Dan's Dad Discusses His Transition

Dan's Last Day of High School
Dan Endorses Barack Obama
Dan Sees Barack Obama at Penn State
Dancing In The Street
Dan's Graduation Party at PW
Dan's Great Great Grandfather
Dan Votes for Barack Obama
Dan Drinker Hits New York City
Dan's Sea Isle Stories

Dan Stars In "The Sound of Music"
The Strongest Man In The World

Dan Watches the Phillies Beat The Braves

Dan Watches the Phillies Beat the Giants (NEW)

OLD SCHOOL
The Will Drinker Show: My Family
Danny Boy
Daniel
When You Smile
Star Wars - Paul and Dan Intercept the Plans
Dan and Dizzy Discuss Titanic
The Purple Alien
The All Girls Club