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“Four-year college?! On-campus housing in dorms?! Job placement?! Scholarships?!”
These were the bewildered comments I made talking to a screen the day I found out Ruby’s Rainbow existed. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Here I was, pacing the house and yelling “Whaaaaat?!” at Facebook like a crazy person, realizing all the educational dreams I’d always wanted for my daughter with Down syndrome were a possibility. Our dreams were a reality for students with disabilities at a handful of colleges across the country.
My mind was blown to learn that these programs existed, to support our students in their missions for career and independence. Just like all the other high school graduates. Sign us up.
That was the day that Ruby’s Rainbow became our North Star. They let me know that my then four-year-old Lyla had the path of any other student. This forever changed how we mapped out Lyla’s approach to school. We set her on an inclusion course entering kindergarten, with the goal of one day being included on a college campus. And it’s been that way ever since.
Lyla is now a thriving 11-year-old in fifth grade. She loves to snow ski, sail, surf, and be a fish in the school swim club pool. We love adventuring around the country to experience life’s fun, and one day will be road-tripping down the east coast for college-scouting of the now hundreds of programs that the pool has grown to!