{"id":1532,"date":"2021-06-03T20:16:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T20:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-583903-1890774.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=1532"},"modified":"2021-09-02T22:01:58","modified_gmt":"2021-09-03T02:01:58","slug":"man-with-down-syndrome-who-gets-a-permanent-position-at-ups-inspires-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inspirationpost.com\/2021\/06\/03\/man-with-down-syndrome-who-gets-a-permanent-position-at-ups-inspires-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"Man with Down Syndrome Who Gets a Permanent Position at UPS Inspires Scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

An Alabama resident with Down Syndrome — who got hired at the Birmingham, Alabama UPS facility as a seasonal package runner — has inspired UPS to make a donation of $25,000 towards Down Syndrome of Alabama.<\/p>\n

Jake Pratt first landed a seasonal gig with UPS in December of 2020, and is now being asked to join the team permanently as a part-time employee. A UPS spokesperson told\u00a0PEOPLE<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0that the $25,000 donation will go towards establishing the Jake Pratt Fund, for scholarships for individuals with Down syndrome who want to pursue further education.<\/p>\n

Pratt himself is a graduate of Clemson University\u2019s LIFE<\/strong> <\/a>program \u2013 a program designed to prepare young men and women with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living. LIFE offers a combination of academic coursework and career exploration.<\/p>\n

Pratt\u2019s sister Amy Hyde told PEOPLE that completing college was one of Pratt\u2019s biggest dreams. \u201cPost-secondary education was once not even a consideration for those with intellectual disabilities,\u201d she says. \u201cWe are so proud of Jake and the way he serves as a role model to others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back in December, a photo posted by Hyde on Twitter went viral<\/strong><\/a>. It was a photo of Pratt standing next to a UPS truck in his work uniform. She captioned the tweet \u201cThank you @UPS for giving my brother a chance & promoting inclusion in the workforce. Jake has Down Syndrome but that doesn’t stop him!\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Hyde, Pratt \u201cwants to continue to raise awareness of the capabilities of people with Down syndrome and to be a positive role model for them and their loved ones.\u201d And as for what’s next: \u201cHis next goals are to get his driver\u2019s license (right now he has his permit), get his own house, and eventually get married to his girlfriend Grace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch the video below of Pratt’s family and friends — and his colleagues at UPS — discussing how proud they are of him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n