Kayla McKeon and Ashley Helsing from United States talk to us about good support:

Speaker biographies

Kayla McKeon

Kayla is the Manager of Grassroots Advocacy for the National Down Syndrome Society. She resides in Syracuse, New York. Kayla is a Special Olympics athlete and Ambassador. In 2011, she competed in the Special Olympic World games in Athens, Greece winning a silver and gold medal in International competition. Kayla attends Onondaga Community College, where she has successfully completed 33 credits toward her Associates degree. She is active in her church and an avid reader. Kayla is the 2016 recipient of the National Down Syndrome Society Self Advocate of the Year award and a member of the National Down Syndrome Self Advocacy Advisory Board. Prior to joining the NDSS team, she interned for Congressman John Katko (R-NY). Kayla is best known as the first registered lobbyist with Down syndrome.

Ashley Helsing

Ashley Helsing is Director of Government Relations for the National Down Syndrome Society. Originally from the West Coast, she has worked in the political world since 2011, previously working for a political consulting firm where she worked directly with a senior Member of Congress in Leadership to design and implement political development strategies. Ms. Helsing graduated from New York University with a B.A. in International Politics. In her role, she works with Members of Congress and their staff, federal agencies and state and local leaders to help pass legislation that is beneficial to the Down syndrome community.

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