At last week’s 2024 InterHab Conference, Holly Taylor was honored as the InterHab Outstanding Youth. Her family and Rainbows’ supporters were there to cheer her on. We’re so proud of you!
A skilled artist with a unique style, Holly Taylor’s artwork is always praised by art teachers and others. The detail Holly puts into her art makes her drawings jump off the page. She often gives the finished pieces as gifts to thank and encourage others. While her main media is colored markers on paper, she has a talent for 3D work as well. For instance, she recently made a cap and gown out of paper for one of her dolls.
Born in South Korea with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Holly came to her forever family at age 4. She learned a new language, acclimated to a new country, and adapted to a new home complete with parents and siblings who adore her.
A teenager who enjoys pink, purple, nail polish, dolls and anything sparkly, Holly is learning life skills and has a job. Through Chisholm Life Skills, Holly works in a production center shredding paper and sorting parts for aircraft manufacturing. “She is learning job skills and excited to be earning money,” said her mother, Carrie. “Making the transition from high school to job training is a real accomplishment. We are proud of her for staying the course and growing into this phase of her life.”
In addition to her art, Holly enjoys everything music. She enjoys listening to music and watching movies with popular music in them. At the Camp Woodchuck Talent Show last summer she performed a solo singing one of her favorite songs on stage in front of the crowd. Holly and her mother sing duets in church. She also is an enthusiastic acolyte on Sundays and enjoys filling in when those scheduled are not available.
Along with her creative skills, Holly can be found telling jokes or “pulling your leg” with some story or tale she makes up. “She has quite a sense of humor,” says her dad, Paul. “Holly can make us all smile with her humor. Her face lights up when she knows she’s making you laugh.”
Holly plans to attend Rainbows’ Camp Woodchuck again this summer, she receives Targeted Case Management through Lifeworks in Wichita and will attend Chisholm Life Skills another year. She recently has become interested in the election process and got registered to vote in the presidential election this November. She is proud to be able to exercise her right to vote this year.
She’d like to be an art teacher some day and she is also interested in being elected to an office or to work on elections helping others get elected.
Holly lives with her parents, Paul and Carrie and has 3 brothers ages 22, 21 and 18. At age 19, she is closest to her oldest brother Will, who sometimes picks her up from the bus and takes her on adventures for sweets.
