RALEIGH, N.C. — Jala Bronson isn't your ordinary 21-year-old. She spends her days at home finding ways to stay active, always by mom Torey Britton's side.

"It's two full-time jobs at one time during the day," Britton said.

What You Need To Know

  • Graduating high school is a milestone for any child, with possibilities like a career and college on the horizon, but for children with Down syndrome, options can be limited

  • A 2015 survey found roughly 57% of people with Down syndrome were employed, and only about 3% were paid, full-time employees

  • Employment was limited to fields like food, janitorial work, landscaping and office work, the survey found

  • North Carolina has an "innovations waiver" providing money for supported employment and integration into the community. Jala has been on the list for the past 13 years

​Britton's a single mom who works from home and is a master at multitasking. It's a skill she's had to perfect since Jala​ graduated high school.

"The days that I'm in meetings, it's very hard. Everyone tells me I have good hearing because I have to watch out to see what she's doing and I can tell by her movement what she's doing," she said.

Jala​ walks on the treadmill for an hour every day — it's one of her many activities to keep busy and productive.

"With Down syndrome there are many levels, you have mild cases to severe cases. She's not capable of supervising herself or being alone," Britton said.

​With Britton's help, Jala also exercises her mind by practicing math and reading skills. The last thing Britton wants is for Jala to be isolated.

"They can go lacking and then that is how they get confined to the bedroom," she said.

That's exactly what happened to Jala in 2020 and it's the reason Britton is so motivated to raise the money it will take to open up Lala's Dream Center.

"Just getting her back out there in the world and making sure she's growing as an individual," Britton said.

Using money from grants, donors and sponsorships, Britton hopes to open the center in late spring. It will provide free, 24/7 care for kids with Down syndrome, a service she and many others couldn't afford in the private sector.

Britton can't wait to help kids like Jala enjoy the feeling of being productive and belonging to a world outside her bedroom.

"I know that she is able to be a productive adult. All it takes is time and patience," she said.

Britton says the center will serve the southeast Raleigh community. Right now, she's looking to hire passionate employees who love to work with special-needs kids.

Aside from helping kids brush up on their reading and math skills, the center will teach important life skills like how to cook and clean.

Jala's goal is to work at Chick-fil-A, and Britton hopes with the right training and patience, her dream will be reality very soon.