Kayla McKeon – First Lobbyist in DC with Down Syndrome

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. and has been since the 1980s. We want to share an inspiring example of someone leading the way in awareness and change around this issue.

Kayla McKeon is an awesome example of someone raising awareness and making a difference. She’s the first registered lobbyist in Washington with Down Syndrome, and she’s advocating for legislation to help individuals with disabilities lead independent and thriving lives.

She’s worked with the National Down Syndrome Society since 2016 and is now proud to represent them in DC, as well as working with them on her podcast Kayla’s Korner.

Two of her notable accomplishments as a lobbyist include helping pass the ABLE to Work Act and the ABLE Financial Planning Act, both of which help qualified individuals with disabilities work and build savings while still receiving state benefits

In addition to advocating in Washington, Kayla has also competed in the Special Olympics, even winning silver and bronze in Athens Greece for playing bocce!

We are proud of Kayla’s example and can’t wait to see the impact she continues to make!

(Cover photo created on Canva.)

In the News, Legislation and Community Action

October 5, 2022

Joan Vaughn

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Written by Joan Vaughn

I’m Joan, and I know home care from the inside out. I’ve navigated my daughter through 24/7 home care nursing and managed her PCA’s. I’ve helped my parents move into (and out of) assisted living, Medicare episodes, skilled nurse visits, home health aids, and PCAs. Sandwiched in all of that, I’ve helped coordinate home care equipment and supplies, physical therapists, occupational therapists, county workers, and medications (oh, the medications). I know emergency departments, children’s hospitals, cancer wards, cardiac floors, and specialty units. I can recite health insurance policies (and call their bluff). I know a lot of other things in life too, like Shakespeare, where to sit to see a great sunset over a lake, how to keep myself healthy, how to read a profit/loss statement and state statutes, when to use a comma, and that gratitude is one of the keys to success. So I’m going to have this blog and write about home care from time to time. I’ll include topics like current legislation, professional boundaries in a tricky environment, and being a caregiver. I’ll also post some guest blogs from clients and nurses. Join me in the conversation.

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