McKenna, Elizabeth: - Elizabeth McKenna is an early childhood educator from Columbia, SC. Having taught eight years in public school and now leading outdoor, play-based classes for children and their caregivers, she has always loved connecting with young learners. When her daughter was born with Down syndrome in 2018, she knew there was so much for her and her husband to learn about the condition. While on that journey, it became her mission to dismantle the harmful narratives around disability, specifically Down syndrome, and inform people of the realities of loving someone who has an extra chromosome. Her daughter has brought so much joy to her entire family and has even inspired Elizabeth to found Down Syndrome Families of the Midlands, a nonprofit committed to uniting, empowering, and celebrating their local Down syndrome community.