Happy Saturday, peeps!!! Kayla McKeon’s dad emailed us recently with an incredible update about what Kayla’s been up to, and omgoodness y’all, it’s kind of crazy-amazing!!! (Cray-mazing!?! ????) Kayla was one of our 2017 Rockin’ Recipients who’s been attending Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY. She has more than 30 credits toward her Associate’s degree and was all set to start her fall 2017 semester a few months ago when…wait for it…
The president and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, Sara Weir, called Kayla to offer her a position in Washington, DC, as Manager of Grassroots Advocacy!!! ????????????????????????
2017 Rockin’ Recipient Kayla McKeon
WOW, you guys, just…WOW!!! This makes Kayla the first registered lobbyist on Capitol Hill with Down syndrome ❤️❤️❤️ This is HUGE!!! For an incredible self-advocate like Kayla to be recognized as such, and now she’s representing for ALL the peeps out there who are rockin’ that extra chromosome… Girlfriend is MAKING HISTORY, and I for one could not be more PROUD of her!!!
Kayla’s dad says she’s been loving meeting with Congressmen and Senators as she works hard advocating for the rights of the differently abled. She also loves learning how to navigate living on her own and using the Metro – and she loves Ubers ???????? She’s also started her own podcast AND (as if all that’s not enough) she was recently awarded a permanent plaque on her high school’s Wall of Distinction in Cicero, NY. Well-deserved!!! ????????
Best of all, Kayla is a lifelong learner who plans to finish her Associate’s Degree in the future – with the hope of continuing on for her Bachelor’s after that!!! Yesss!!! Aim high and you can’t miss!!! ????
#KeepOnRockinItKayla #RockinRecipientsRule #NoLimits #SelfAdvocate #DownSyndromeRocks #DownSyndromeAwareness
This is absolutely amazing. I would love to meet Kayla and talk to her parents someday. Any chance we could arrange a Q&A through Ruby’s Rainbow? 🙂 Elizabeth