We opened a restaurant. The first one entirely run by people with Down syndrome. Located in Washington D.C., it opened the night before Congress resumed session. Senators and lawmakers were invited to the special event without any idea of what was in store. Once inside, they experienced firsthand how capable people with Down syndrome could be as they produced the perfect dining experience and a flawless evening.

Every detail of the night - the wine, the music, the menu, the bill, the table settings, the signage - was considered and designed with the objective in mind. Even the name of the restaurant itself, C21, was named after the 21st chromosome that defines the group’s condition, but not their limitations. The staff, entirely comprised of people with Down syndrome, created the perfect fine dining experience. The final call to action came in the form of the bill with the message “The bill is on us, changing the law is on you.”

We reached an impossible audience - members of Congress - and brought the plight of the Down syndrome community to their attention. Three months later, the new law passed. The “ABLE Act” was made into law, finally allowing people with Down syndrome to work and save more, and bringing independence within reach.

Our goal was to draw attention to the ABLE to work act, a bill that would amend an antiquated law that limits the amount of money people with Down syndrome can earn. Our strategy was to demonstrate how those living with Down syndrome are willing, wanting, and able to work through a tangible proof of concept and an experience that representatives would carry with them to the Congress floor. Through C21, we created pop-up jobs from bartender to host to entertainer to waiter, where all attendees would interact with the C21 staff throughout the night—gaining first hand exposure to their unique skill sets and capabilities. With every interaction, every detail, and every pleasant surprise, C21 removed the stigma that those with Down syndrome aren’t capable of holding a job like the one they held at C21.

People with Down syndrome are one of the most discriminated against groups in the US. An outdated law prevents these people from earning or saving over $2000. If they do, they risk losing their essential healthcare. This law leaves them unable to pursue a full time job, and with it any hope of independence. What makes things more difficult, is that the people with the power to change the law are amongst the hardest audiences to reach in the world - the United States Congress.