Using writing to learn valuable life skills

A Cambridge children's author is using writing to gain helpful skills and taking steps to become more independent. 

Lauren Dawn Davidson, who has Down syndrome, is about to release the sixth installment in her Lucy and her Talkative Pets series in only three years. 

“There's a new book coming out soon, it's about going all around the world. I picked some countries like Japan and China and I picked some foods for them to eat,” said Davidson.

The 23-year-old author uses writing to help her with valuable skills like socializing and even managing money. She has always been an avid reader and loves reading to children at camp, so writing a book was the next step.

Her mother Caroline Davidson along with step-father Richard Stephens are some of her biggest supporters. With Stephens being a published writer, the family is very familiar with the book industry. Together, they created a publishing company called, Up With Down Publishing to help print and distribute Davidson’s books. 

“Up With Down Publishing is Lauren's own company. We created a business for her and it's all part of trying to create something that's meaningful and that will help her out in the future,” said her mom.

When she was born in 1998, doctors had informed her parents that she had down syndrome. Pediatricians suggested the outlook was grim and she would never learn or live a meaningful life. The family ignored doctors advice to institutionalize her and brought her home, where she started to thrive. 

Davidson’s dream to become a children’s author started when she began interacting with small children while volunteering at camps and daycares. Being an avid reader and seeing her step-father writing books, she said, “I want to do that too.” So, in October, 2019, she released her first book titled Lucy and Her Talkative Pets.

The goal for Davidson and her family is to help her gain valuable life skills and ultimately allow her to be financially independent from government and social assistance. She sells her books on Amazon, Facebook and at local book fairs. 

Stephens is also setting up a book fair at the Galt View Restaurant on March 6th from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. to help Davidson and other local authors after a rough couple of years due to the pandemic. 

“Richard decided that he was going to create this book event because, we're starting to come out of the pandemic and for authors, it's been really tough, a lot of the book signings have been gone,” said Caroline Davidson. 

At the book fair they are also partnering with Waterloo region based organization, Bridges to Belonging. This organization has been very important to Davidson and her family, helping achieve her goal of independence. 

Davidson looks forward to releasing her new book in the spring of 2022.