Jack Andersen and Dan Walker have been best friends since kindergarten. The friendship began naturally, but slowly Jack realized that his friend was different. "I didn't really realize Dan had Down syndrome when he was that little," Anderson said. "I just knew Dan was Dan." Down syndrome is a genetic condition that causes
intellectual disability and certain facial characteristics. But Dan's disability didn't changed a thing between them. Sixteen years and four schools later, it's clear they'll be friends for life. Here, Jack helps Dan with his final exam as Dan gets distracted singing to music at Dan's house in Kansas City.

Jack walks Dan away from his dorm at the
University of Missouri-Kansas City. Jack studies sociology at the university, and Dan is in Propel, a program for students with disabilities. As Dan's caretaker, Jack drives him to work and helps him with homework. Jack is also caretaker for another person, mentors people in the Propel Program and works at the Down Syndrome Guild.

Jack and Dan walk into Dan's favorite restaurant, the Peanut, with their high school friend Charley. While Jack may be Dan's caretaker, more than anything he is a friend.

Jack and Dan eat lunch with their friend Charley at The Peanut. "Down syndrome does not define a person," Jack said. "It's like having blue eyes or green eyes or brown eyes. It's a part of a person's personality and a part of their physical characteristic but it's not anything that slows them down or makes them any less of a
person."

Jack and Dan compete in Wii Sports. Jack likes to keep it close, but he never lets Dan win a game. Sometimes Dan gets mad. "Mrs. Anderson!" Dan yelled. "Jack's being mean." Jack had a different take "A lot of people give Dan whatever he wants," because he has Down syndrome, he said. Jack won five games in a row, until Dan beat him in a game of sword fighting.

When Dan's not in class, he often spends time in his dorm room, watching a DVD from his small collection. He is excited to get out with Jack when he has the chance.

Since kindergarten, Dan has been like family at the Anderson house. Here he wins a game of Uno against Jack's mom (right), Michelle, and sister, Elizabeth, as Jack throws his cards down in defeat.

Dan gets frustrated while picking out groceries with Jack. Jack asks Dan what he needs and helps him through the grocery store, item-by-item. Over time Dan has become more and more independent. He works at
McGonigle's Market, a different grocery store. For years Jack assisted Dan with his duties, but now he just drops him off.

Dan loves spending time with his best friend, as they did at Jack's house. Jack doesn't give him those weird looks that make him feel self conscious. Dan doesn't have to repeat his words three times before Jack
understands. Jack gets him.

Jack and Dan always celebrate Jack's birthday together. In 2018 they celebrated the night before because Jack had work at the Down Syndrome Guild the next night. Jack let Dan help blow out the candles. "I got a good wish for Jack," Dan said. Jack warned him not to say it out loud. "I wished for Jack to get a new girlfriend!" "Now it won't come true!" Jack replied. "I'm forever single!"