It’s time to stop focusing on the disability and start seeing and recognizing what these beautiful people can do.
As they say, if you want to achieve something, don’t stop until you do. Use your dream and your ambition to reach your goal. However, when we hear that a person has a disability, all of a sudden, everything changes.
People often focus on the disability of the person rather than what this person can do.
According to the CDC, in the United States alone, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome. This means that Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 700 babies.
Down syndrome is a condition in which a baby is born with an extra chromosome. But did you know that they, too, can make a difference in this world? That their extra chromosome doesn’t limit or define them as a person.
A young man with Down syndrome is going viral because of his inspirational story.
Meet Jake Pratt, a young man who has Down syndrome but will prove to everyone that he’s no different from you and me. He can set goals and reach them; he can also inspire people and show the world how much he can contribute to society.
Last December 2, Jake’s loving sister, Amy Hyde, tweeted about Jake’s new accomplishment. He just recently landed another job at UPS as a package runner.
In her viral tweet, Amy said:
“Thank you @UPS for giving my brother a chance & promoting inclusion in the workforce. Jake has Down Syndrome but that doesn’t stop him!” she wrote beside a photo of Pratt standing next to a UPS truck in his work uniform. “I’m so proud of him!”
This isn’t the only accomplishment that Jake is proud of.
According to Amy’s interview with PEOPLE, her dedicated 21-year-old younger brother already works every morning at a golf course. His shift is from 6-10 a.m., and then he proceeds with his second job for UPS, which takes another eight hours each day.
Jake knows how to value his work, and he is dedicated to what he does.
According to Amy, Jake always wanted to live independently; from his school activities, projects, and now with his jobs. He is such an inspiration, not just to people with Down syndrome, but to everyone.
“Jake is so worthy and capable, so it’s just awesome for others to be able to see that,” Amy said to PEOPLE. “He has done a lot to break barriers and raise awareness that people with Down syndrome can accomplish anything they set their mind to.”
Jake is truly amazing, right? But did you know that Jake’s family had to fight for him? That they chose to believe in their son rather than what people had to say with babies with Down syndrome.
According to Amy’s story, when Jake was still young, his diagnosis came as a complete surprise. Unfortunately, one doctor even told them that their son “would never be a functional member of society,” as if tagging the boy that he won’t be able to have a life of his own.
“[The doctor] said that his impairment would keep him from living any sort of normal life and he might even need to be institutionalized,” she shared to PEOPLE.
Other families would already break down listening to this very negative assumption from a doctor. Jake’s family was different. They knew their son may have Down syndrome, but they also knew that he’s capable of accomplishing great things.
They refused to accept this stigma about a person with Down syndrome.
“My family has always embraced the philosophy that Jake is no different from you or I and that there are no limits on what he can accomplish,” Amy Hyde shared about her “loving, confident, funny and hardworking” brother.
Since then, his family became extra supportive of him. If he had a goal, then they’d all be happy and support him all the way. This proved to be very helpful because Jake has been breaking barriers ever since.
He was able to join his high school football team, he was even able to score a touchdown, he was able to go to college, and even got his driver’s permit, gaining a perfect score on the exam.
According to her sister, Jake loves everyone purely; he’s the type of person who doesn’t seem to see the bad in a person, a true gentleman.
UPS responded to Amy’s tweet by saying, “We are proud to have Jake on our team! Keep up the great work, Jake!”
Jake also has a very blooming love life with his girlfriend, Grace, who also has Down syndrome. Together, they support each other.
Amy, Jake’s sister, and his family and girlfriend are proud of what Jake has accomplished in life. He still has a long way to go, but what matters is that he has a very loving and supportive family that will be there for him all throughout.
Let us share this beautiful story, a way to let people know and understand that having Down syndrome won’t stop a person from dreaming, believing, and making these dreams a reality.
You might be surprised at how much they contribute to society.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Thank you @UPS for giving my brother a chance & promoting inclusion in the workforce. Jake has Down Syndrome but that doesn’t stop him! He loves his new job running packages up to 8 hours per day. That’s after working 6-10 am every morning at the golf course. I’m so proud of him! pic.twitter.com/mvlZ1ry8JW
— Amy Hyde (@Amy_Lissa) December 1, 2020
