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| Today in ‘Time of Our Lives’ we meet Nikela, an inspiring woman with Down syndrome, challenging herself to achieve her dreams and ambitions. Fondly known as ‘Nikky’, Nikela works three days a week at Down Syndrome Queensland as an Administration Officer, is a prominent member of the DSQ Club and a member of the Queensland Down Syndrome Advisory Network. Nikky also regularly hosts DSQ’s ‘Lunch Club’, engaging with and supporting other community members with Down syndrome. On the weekends, Nikky is an avid tennis player with a passion for bettering herself and her skills. She also strives to maintain an active social life with family and friends. Nikky has many achievements to her name. Tennis-wise, she has competed in a range of competitive championships and achieved outstanding results, making us all proud. She is also a published author, with ‘Nikky’s Cookbook’ providing a range of healthy gluten-free recipes for people of all ages and skill levels to enjoy. However, on a personal note, Nikky says her biggest achievement overall is simply coming to work each and every day at DSQ. Nikky is incredibly grateful to be a part of the DSQ team and is proud of her professional achievements in her Administration Role. After being involved with Down Syndrome Queensland for over 20 years, Nikky couldn’t be more passionate about the work DSQ does for the community. Ranging from connecting families, to aiding individuals in meeting new people, Nikky is a strong believer in the benefits of DSQ for the community. She loves that, through participating in DSQ events and workshops, she is continually pushed out of her comfort zone, most recently “overcoming my fear of heights at the recent Challenge Weekend to ride the Giant Swing”. When asked about her advice for others, both with and without Down Syndrome, Nikky says you must “challenge yourself not to be scared of who you are. It is a matter of getting out of your comfort zone and having a go. Believe and trust yourself that you can do it.” We thank Nikky for her time and are incredibly grateful to have her as part of our team at Down Syndrome Queensland. We wish her all the best for the future and look forward to hearing of her continued achievements For more information on how Down Syndrome Queensland can support your school, contact one of our Education Consultants, Phone: (07) 3356 6655, email: education@downsyndromeqld.org.au or visit our website https://www.downsyndrome.org.au/qld/ #downsyndrome #inclusion |