Meet the Founder: Kayla Rothstein
Since sixth grade, some of my closest friends were my peers in the special education class. One of my best friends is Ella, though, at this point, she’s more like a sister to me. Growing up together consisted of shopping days, lunch dates, and competitive rounds of our favorite game – Uno. After learning from Ella, her family, and disability workforce specialists, there is a common concern about what young adults with disabilities’ opportunities will look like post-high school. For many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (or IDD), this looks like joining a group home or apprenticeship program that, though helpful for other needs, fails to teach skill development in a setting that gives professionals with disabilities the autonomy to make their own decisions and find jobs and skills that they are passionate about.
Coming to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I’ve spent the past two years learning and creating a community like the one that was so important to me as a child. I am an undergraduate student at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business minoring in Writing and (potentially) Public Policy. My academic experiences have largely centered around what an inclusive workforce looks like, such as conducting a literature review on the business benefits of hiring people with IDD or writing published and awarded research on the future of work for women after Covid-19. Looking forward to my upperclassmen years at Michigan, I am hoping to learn about sustaining corporate social responsibility and the legal implications of DEI in the workplace, as well as write my senior thesis on hiring models for employees with IDD.
Beyond the classroom, my greatest joy has been building friendships through programs that foster inclusive friendships and inspire social impact. As the Membership Director of Best Buddies, I have had the privilege of forming close relationships with an incredible community of adults with disabilities. Best Buddies’ mission is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, accessible housing, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Outside of involvement with my university’s chapter, I am so honored to be appointed to the Advisory Board for Best Buddies Michigan. For the next two years, I will be working as the youngest board member to expand Best Buddies Jobs programs across the state of Michigan and fundraise for the organization's initiatives.
The people I have met through the University of Michigan’s chapter of Best Buddies and other members of the IDD community have shared their experiences with workforce training programs in the area that are unengaging, like spending months performing mundane tasks such as wiping tables, assembling boxes, or sweeping hallways. My friends deserve so much more, and the PPD Project seeks to change that.
Kevin is one of my good friends and my right-hand man for the PPD Project. We met through Best Buddies and our favorite hangout spots are Pizza House and Pinball Pete’s on campus. Kevin has shown me success of the PPD Project’s model by doing a prototype. He’s curious and passionate about advocating to the federal government, so together, we write letters to the President and Congress. It’s given him the chance to explore his interest and gain confidence in written communication. In return, this has helped him to complete personal and professional tasks, such as articulating how he feels to his doctor or filling out a job application.
This program has blossomed with the support of individuals and resources alike. Our choices, from the language in the vision to the specific curriculum, have come to fruition with the guidance and creativity of individuals with IDD, education students, community mentors, and advocacy programs. One of my favorite memories is the creation of the program's name. Thanks to OptiMize, a social innovation project incubator, I sat around a big whiteboard with thoughtful individuals committed to the program. We listed every word we could think of that embodied our mission. Empowerment, autonomy, vision, growth, passion – the list goes on. The inspiration struck as we paired the two core words together: professional and disability. You rarely see a person with disabilities labeled as a professional. This is an injustice, and I believe that this simple yet tactful title has the power to change how we view equity and inclusion for people with disabilities. Every choice we make stems from this belief.
The PPD Project is an accumulation of everything I love and believe in – empowerment of professionals with disabilities, expression of creativity and leadership, and dedication to wellness. These core values are something I seek to incorporate into my everyday life, and I am beyond excited to grow with our professionals and project mentors throughout the process.