Meet Grace! A funny, competitive, and determined 18-year-old who brings joy and energy wherever she goes. She’s an incredible athlete, known for sinking three-pointers, hitting baseballs, and beating just about anyone in bowling. She loves swimming, dancing with her peers with disabilities, and watching football and gymnastics videos. Through Special Olympics, she competes in at least one sport every season, a true reflection of her drive, courage, and love for staying active.
Grace has a rare genetic condition called SYNGAP1-related disorder, caused by a change in the SYNGAP1 gene, which affects how brain cells communicate. This leads to learning, movement, and neurological challenges — for Grace, that includes intellectual disability, speech delays, autism, and epilepsy. As a toddler, her parents noticed differences in her speech and development, but after years of uncertainty and being told she was “developing typically,” the family moved from Jacksonville to Chapel Hill. At age 10, Grace was finally diagnosed, bringing relief and understanding after a long search for answers.
When Grace was around 14 or 15, she began experiencing myoclonic seizures — small jerks of her arms or legs — leading to an epilepsy diagnosis and, ultimately, the discovery of her SYNGAP1-related disorder. Though she’s faced many challenges, Grace continues to inspire everyone around her with her strength, resilience, and joyful spirit.
When asked about her biggest sports dream and Grace said, “my sports dream would be to wear a UNC gymnast leotard and do gymnastics with my favorite team!”
