Nathan was born with Down Syndrome in Rochester MN on April 18 th , 1978. He grew up in Zumbrota MN and graduated from High School in 1997.
While in school, Nathan was active in band and choir and continues to enjoy music, dance movies and travel. He took dance lessons for a number of years and was a cast member in a local production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”.
Nathan was a member of the 1st adaptive cheer program in Minnesota that was featured on the Big Ten Network in 2009.
He has been involved in Special Olympics since the age of 8. In 2005 he was named the Special Olympics Minnesota Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.
As a trained Global Messenger for Special Olympics he has given over 100 speeches across Minnesota about his Life with Down syndrome.
He has been an active interviewer for the Quality Assurance Licensing program for group homes in SE Minnesota, and a board member of Arc SE Minnesota.
Advocacy for the disability community has been a big part of his life working with local and national leaders to improve laws and regulations to give opportunities for more independent lives for people with disabilities.
In the last few years he has been writing and publishing poetry with the Cow Tipping Press. CTP gives people with disabilities an opportunity to express feelings and emotions about their lives. He has also been an apprentice and co-teacher for Cow Tipping Press. Recently he has been part of the interview team for new apprentices.
He lives in Richfield MN in a duplex apartment owned by his parents. He enjoys a more independent life with some staff assistance.
