OCTOBER 2022

We send our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make Advocates 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament a success! Advocates would like to express gratitude to our Presenting Sponsors: TOMRA, Schupan, and Ryder in addition to all of our community supporters and donors. Your generous contributions will directly benefit children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who are waiting to receive services. We thank you! We also share our deep appreciation to Advocates' staff members and volunteers for their tireless efforts!

We are already looking forward to next year's tournament, which is scheduled for September 2023, and are always looking for new sponsors! If you or your business is interested in sponsoring Advocates' Annual Charity Golf Tournament, please email

[email protected]

In need of some inspiration? This year's golf tournament reception featured a short video on Jin Sook, who we featured in last month's edition of Inclusion Matters.

We are privileged to have Jin as a part of the Advocates family, and are proud of all she does to contribute to our various causes!

Indoor Kickball is Back - New Time, New Location!

We are happy to announce that Advocates' kickball league is resuming! The 10-week fall session will run from October 12th - December 14th to for people ages 11+ who receive services from Advocates.

The session will be held on Wednesdays from 4-5pm at CNY Family Sports Centre (7201 Jones Road; Syracuse, NY 13209).

The fee for this session will be $40 per person. Payments will be accepted at the Liverpool office. Please make your check payable to Advocates Incorporated. Registration form and check may be mailed to:

Advocates Incorporated

Attn: Finance – Kickball

290 Elwood Davis Road

Suite 101

Liverpool, NY 13088

We will once again be able to sign up the first 60 people that register. A registration form and payment must be submitted to the Liverpool office as soon as possible in order to reserve a spot. For more information or to request a registration form, please email [email protected] or contact Justin:

(315) 412-2605.

Please provide the best phone number to receive text message notifications on the registration form. We will send a text message if we must cancel due to weather or other circumstances. If you feel the weather is not suitable, please do not feel obligated to attend. Safety comes first!

We look forward to seeing everyone back on the field!

Join us...if you dare!

Advocates is partnering with Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park to provide a unique opportunity to celebrate the spooky season! People receiving services from Advocates, their families, and Advocates employees are invited to join us on Sunday, Oct. 23rd for an evening of screams! Discount tickets may be purchased here or by scanning the flyer's QR code.

For questions, please contact [email protected]

Nestled in the back woods of Central New York, Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park offers a premier immersive Halloween experience. With four award-winning attractions, Frightmare Farms has become an annual tradition for those wishing to SCREAM. 

Join us for Advocates night at the Syracuse Crunch!

The Syracuse Crunch is offering discount tickets to people/families receiving services from Advocates along with employees.

Join us on Saturday, Oct. 29th at 7pm as the Syracuse Crunch take on the Cleveland Monsters.

Discount tickets ($18) can be purchased by contacting

Emily Kissinger: (315) 473-4444 ext. 126 or online at: www.syracusecrunch.com/advocates using promotional code: ADVOCATES

The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, Oct. 26th.

Planning for the Future: An informed discussion on supplemental needs trusts, wills, power of attorney,

and health care proxy

Presented by: Scott E. Koldin, Esq. | Koldin Law Center, P.C.

October 26th @ 6pm

Join us for a discussion on various legal and financial planning strategies for a child or adult with a disability. Topics of discussion will include supplemental needs trusts, wills, power of attorney and health care proxy.

Understanding and Accessing SNAP (Food Stamp) Benefits

Presented by: Alice Webster | Nutrition Outreach & Education Coordinator (NOEP) of Food Bank of CNY

November 16th @ 6pm

Join us to learn about the programs and services offered by the Food Bank of Central New York. In this training, our presenter will be covering:

• Other benefits you may receive just by getting SNAP benefits, such as HEAP and farmer market incentives.
• How you can stretch your grocery dollars through programs such as Food Sense, your local food pantry, fresh foods distributions and SNAP. 
• What the Food Bank of Central New York does and how they service Onondaga county and Central New York. 
• The difference between a food pantry and a food bank.  

Alice will also be available to prescreen and assist families residing in Onondaga County, with the application process for SNAP (food stamp) benefits. Those who live outside of Onondaga County will be referred to their counties NOEP. For those who are interested in applying, please see request a documentation list.

Lobbying for Change

“I’m the good kind of lobbyist!” Kayla McKeon, 35, assured us emphatically. Her words are validated by her mission to advocate for millions of people with disabilities just like herself. It is impossible not to marvel at Kayla’s resume and appreciate her massive accomplishments, which have come thanks to a supportive family, nearly

14 years of support through Advocates, and an indescribable amount of determination on her part.

Public speaking is one of the many gifts Kayla possesses that has partially led to her success – not only professionally, but also as a way of touching lives. She and others first noticed this strong ability of hers as a teen, when she delivered a speech at a Special Olympics reception. It was that speech, Kayla told us, when she realized she wanted to become a motivational speaker as a means of helping people. Since then, Kayla has been a keynote speaker on multiple occasions, at times speaking to crowds of more than 1,000 people. While large-scale events are exciting for Kayla, she said she gets just as much satisfaction from speaking to smaller groups at various educational settings.  

“I like talking to teachers and nurses about what it’s like to have Down syndrome,” Kayla said. “My hope is that it will provide them insight on how to approach children as well as the parents.” Educators and clinicians aren’t the only ones to be impacted by Kayla’s eloquence, cheery nature, and relatability, however. 

“A couple of years ago, Kayla went to Roxboro Middle School to give a speech,” said Elyssa Stallcup, one of Kayla’s best friends and Mentor through Advocates. “A young girl with autism immediately gravitated towards Kayla and even asked if she would attend her birthday party.” 

Kayla’s journey took an unexpected but welcome turn when she secured an internship with Congressman John Katko, whom she had met informally at two community events. The two conversed and exchanged contact information, at which point Katko asked Kayla if she would like to intern for him. Kayla’s mother, Patti, was present when the Congressman extended the offer, and recalled what an exciting moment it was.

“I remember standing there anxiously, wanting to jump and shout, ‘Yes!’” Patti said. “I looked at you and was thinking, Easy mom; don’t blow this for me,” Kayla interjected as the two laughed over the incident. Humor is another of Kayla’s many desirable characteristics.

Since 2017, Kayla has worked for the National Down syndrome Society (NDSS), acting as a lobbyist for people with Down syndrome. She works with members of congress on legislation that will better people’s lives, such as revoking antiquated laws that allow employers to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. Kayla travels globally to spread awareness about Down syndrome and fight for equal rights. Though speaking to high-ranking government officials and audiences in excess of 1,000 people would be intimidating for many, this isn’t the case for Kayla. "I’m not stressed at all when I talk to members of Congress,” she said. "We all put our pants on one leg at a time."  And regardless of who her audience is, her underlying message is the same – ‘Never give up and always persevere.’

This mantra of Kayla’s, in addition to her determination and hard work, is perhaps best demonstrated by her having graduated from Onondaga Community College this past May. Though it took her longer than she had hoped to achieve, Kayla’s degree is much more than a line on her resume that she hopes will advance her professionally. 

“It’s such an accomplishment, but one that wouldn’t have been possible without her Mentors at Advocates,” Patti said. “Everything she’s done, really...education, speaking, transportation…it all revolves around Advocates and the support they’ve provided.” 

Kayla agreed but was quick to give further credit where it’s due. “I couldn’t do it without Elyssa or my parents (pictured left),” she said. “They all have my back 110% and I’m very grateful for their love and support in all I do.” 

Kayla and Elyssa began working together in 2017, and since that time, they’ve become much more than a Mentor and mentee – they’ve become best friends. Because of their many shared interests and they work so well together, the two women moved into a shared apartment last November. This arrangement has enhanced their lives, and it’s enabled Kayla to live virtually independently. Though she is self-sufficient in most areas, Kayla needs support from her Mentors with things like cooking, cleaning, and time management. Still, her many abilities and accomplishments vastly overshadow the fact she needs ongoing support.

When traveling and flying for work, Kayla does so independently, and has even obtained her driver’s license. She is also in a select group of people who can claim they’ve won an Olympic gold medal, as she did this past summer at the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, FL. Winning the gold medal for the bocce singles event is something she’ll remember forever.

It’s these achievements and more that have earned her the recognition she deserves, such as being a “40 under 40” recipient and being inducted into CNS High School’s Wall of Distinction in 2018. Despite having achieved so much, Kayla only hopes to do more to help change the public’s view of those living with a disability. Among Kayla’s goals are to become the first person with Down syndrome on the NDSS leadership team, to continue advocating for people with disabilities by speaking publicly across the globe, and to write a children's book.

Kayla is living proof that much good can come from living with a disability. “Yes, I have Down syndrome, and I’m proud of it!” Kayla said. And we at Advocates couldn’t be more proud of Kayla, all that she has accomplished, and all she hopes to accomplish in the future.

If you have a caring family member or friend who is looking for meaningful work and the opportunity to support someone as inspirational as Kayla, please encourage them to

apply on our website. We look forward to meeting them!