Aubrie is a 19-year-old student enjoying a busy life as an active
member of her community.
Despite a long list of challenges related to Kabuki syndrome, Aubrie is determined to enjoy the same opportunities and experiences as her peers. She has been fully included in her neighborhood school for all of her educational career except 2 years when she chose to commute daily to nearby Illinois School for the Deaf. She returned to several camps every summer, was a top cookie-selling Girl Scout, has received a variety of school awards, was active in her church youth group, and participated in her school drama productions, Quiz Bowl team, chorus and marching band. Aubrie was recognized as the 2014 Illinois Statewide Transition Conference Student of the Year.
Aubrie has been an advocate as long as she can remember. She once visited the state capitol and sat at the governor's desk! She's attended statewide conferences, rallies at the capitol, and met Temple Grandin.
After learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. in third grade, Aubrie said, "Martin Luther King, Jr. said we should treat everybody equal. But we're not doing a good job of that!"
Aubrie Westmaas
Co-Founder and Director of Outreach
Click the photo for larger view
Click the photo for larger view
Michele Westmaas
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Michele had been an elementary school teacher, a preschool teacher, a day care provider, and was mom of a blonde, snake-loving young boy when Aubrie was born. Michele and her husband, DJ, were shocked to find
that the baby girl they'd long anticipated was born with a host of medical problems due to a genetic syndrome.
Michele became a full time learner - about medical issues, early intervention, balancing the needs of two very different children, navigating the special education system, and understanding disability rights. When she finally returned to the work force, Michele entered the world of disability advocacy. She has worked for Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Outreach, Illinois School for the Deaf Outreach, Family Support Network, The Arc of Illinois, and most recently served as Central/Southern Illinois Organizer for Illinois Association of Microboards and Cooperatives. Michele began a Facebook group for local parents to connect about special education concerns and has provided informal support for local families - which has been the foundation for ExtraOrdinary eduational advocacy. Michele initiated an exciting project in her community, EPIC: Everyone in Pike Included & Contributing, a one-year project funded by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. Expect ExtraOrdinary Communities is the continuation of EPIC.
Michele has been delighted to partner with Aubrie in creating Expect ExtraOrdinary, Inc. and changing the world... one extraordinary person at a time.