So often people with Down syndrome are told they won’t go far in life. It’s a common and horrible misconception.
Jake Pratt, 21, was always told he wouldn’t accomplish any of his goals or contribute to society, but one by one he proved his naysayers wrong.
And recently, he achieved something very few thought he was capable of, getting a job.
Jake Pratt, 21, is a young man from Vestavia Hills, Alabama, born with Down syndrome. The diagnosis surprised his parents, and they feared that it would cast an ominous shadow over his life.
His doctors even told Jake’s family that he would never be” a functional member of society,” his sister Amy Hyde says.
” [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 recalled.
But nothing could be more wrong – Jake is doing excellent and has the full support of his family.
”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 explains.
According to WTVM, Jake recently obtained a job with UPS helping to deliver packages.
His sister shared a photo of him on Twitter thanking UPS for “promoting inclusion in the workforce” and praising her brother for his hard work.
“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,” she wrote.
Jake has never complained about the fact that he was born with Down syndrome and has always made the best of the situation.
”He wanted to be on the high school football team when some people thought that was impossible, but he did it,” his sister said. ”He wanted to score a touchdown in a game, and he did. He wanted to go to college, and he did. He wanted to get his driver’s permit, and he scored a perfect 100 on the exam.”
Jake’s new job is great for his personal development and also helps him make new acquaintances. Meeting other people has always been important to Jake, and his colleague Richard has become a great friend.
But 21-year-old Jake has not only achieved professional goals – but he’s also found the love of his life. Since high school, Jake has been together with his girlfriend Grace. Jake is very social, and Grace is the shy type.
But they are a perfect match, and it was Grace who took the first step and invited Jake to dance. Today, they are more in love than ever and recently celebrated Thanksgiving together. The two lovebirds want to spend their future together and dream of a beautiful wedding.
It’s so disheartening how we put down others, especially those who have a disability. We should put people down, instead, we should encourage them and help them to achieve their dreams and goals.
Just because a person has a disability doesn’t mean they are unable to contribute to society.
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