Emily Kingsley
Encyclopedia
Emily Perl Kingsley is a writer who joined the Sesame Street
team in 1970 and has been writing for the show ever since.
Her son Jason Kingsley was born with Down Syndrome
in 1974. At the time of his birth, it was commonly believed that children with Down Syndrome could never learn to walk or talk. Kingsley's work as a writer and activist for children with special needs helped change this perception. Her experiences with Jason inspired her to include people with disabilities into the Sesame Street cast, including an actress who uses a wheelchair, Tarah Schaeffer, and even Jason himself. Jason's story was the topic of an hour-long NBC television special in 1977, titled "This Is My Son," and with co-author Mitchell Levitz, Jason wrote the book "Count Us In: Growing Up With Down Syndrome."
In 1987 Kingsley wrote "Welcome to Holland," a widely published and translated piece which compares the experience of raising a child with special needs with traveling to Holland. The same year a made for television movie she wrote "Kids Like These," premiered on CBS-TV. The film, about a middle-aged couple who have a son with Down Syndrome, won numerous awards.
Kingsley has written over 20 children's books and two Sesame Street home video releases (Elmo Learns to Share and Elmo Says Boo!
). She writes for other companies as well, and recently contributed to two Disney Interactive CD-ROMS.
She has won 12 Daytime Emmys and 9 nominations through her work with Sesame Street, three EDIs and a Grand EDI from Easter Seals
, and an award from the National Theatre of the Deaf.
Emily has won 17 Emmy Awards and 14 Emmy Award nominations for her work as a writer of Sesame Street.
In October 2008 Emily will receive a special award from the U.S. Government Department of Health and Human Services in recognition of her groundbreaking work including individuals with disabilities on Sesame Street for 38 years.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
team in 1970 and has been writing for the show ever since.
Her son Jason Kingsley was born with Down Syndrome
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
in 1974. At the time of his birth, it was commonly believed that children with Down Syndrome could never learn to walk or talk. Kingsley's work as a writer and activist for children with special needs helped change this perception. Her experiences with Jason inspired her to include people with disabilities into the Sesame Street cast, including an actress who uses a wheelchair, Tarah Schaeffer, and even Jason himself. Jason's story was the topic of an hour-long NBC television special in 1977, titled "This Is My Son," and with co-author Mitchell Levitz, Jason wrote the book "Count Us In: Growing Up With Down Syndrome."
In 1987 Kingsley wrote "Welcome to Holland," a widely published and translated piece which compares the experience of raising a child with special needs with traveling to Holland. The same year a made for television movie she wrote "Kids Like These," premiered on CBS-TV. The film, about a middle-aged couple who have a son with Down Syndrome, won numerous awards.
Kingsley has written over 20 children's books and two Sesame Street home video releases (Elmo Learns to Share and Elmo Says Boo!
Elmo Says BOO!
Elmo Says BOO! is a 1997 Sesame Street direct-to-video special celebrating Halloween. Elmo visits The Count's castle to tell him funny scary jokes...
). She writes for other companies as well, and recently contributed to two Disney Interactive CD-ROMS.
She has won 12 Daytime Emmys and 9 nominations through her work with Sesame Street, three EDIs and a Grand EDI from Easter Seals
Easter Seals
Easter Seals is an international charitable organization devoted to providing opportunities for children with physical disabilities. See*Easter Seals *Easter Seals *Easter Seals...
, and an award from the National Theatre of the Deaf.
Credits
- Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
: Writer (1970–present) - Elmo Learns to Share: Writer
- Elmo Says Boo: Writer
Emily has won 17 Emmy Awards and 14 Emmy Award nominations for her work as a writer of Sesame Street.
In October 2008 Emily will receive a special award from the U.S. Government Department of Health and Human Services in recognition of her groundbreaking work including individuals with disabilities on Sesame Street for 38 years.