Kai Penic smiling for a photo at a cooking clinic hosted by So Kids SOAR. Photo provided by Pier Penic  

By Myla S. Roundy 

WASHINGTON—Ten years ago, Kai Penic was nonverbal and his mother struggled to bring him out of his shell. Today, the mother and son have full conversations and Kai has made an impact in the music industry by performing at the Kennedy Center and singing for the band Earth, Wind & Fire.  

There is a longstanding myth that individuals with disabilities are not capable of being functioning members of society but the nonprofit So Kids SOAR (SKS) always presumes competence over assuming inability. The organization provides free in-person and virtual adaptive clinics for youth with physical and developmental disabilities.  

“We always say ‘let participants lead the way,’” said Glenda Fu Smith, executive director for SKS. “Sometimes we just have to be patient with letting them form their thoughts…[by] giving them time to process.” 

Kai’s mother, Pier Penic, attributes so much of his success and development to SKS. They attended their very first clinic in 2015 and she says that is when their lives changed forever.  

“Every clinic I took him to I saw a little improvement,” said Penic. “It came to the point where I decided everything else is secondary and optional. So Kids SOAR is important, it’s number one.” 

Kai, who has autism, is a 2020 graduate of SKS’s vocational mentorship program, “Your Path to Success” (YPTS). This program gives young adults with disabilities access to a mentor and skill-based workshops to prepare them for employment opportunities and independence.  

After graduating from this program, Kai has gone on to have multiple opportunities including curating the music at the 2024 Kwanzaa Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  

Other graduates of YPTS have gone to work at coffee shops and Disney World.  

Multiple even come back to SKS to lead clinics and even work full-time like the current Programs Analyst, Kierra Johnson.  

As of January 2025, over 50% of the graduates are currently employed.  

Having a disability is not holding back these youth at all. With the support of SKS they are being given access to opportunities to thrive and accomplish their dreams.  

“I always tell them [YPTS participants]…that no dream is too big, we just need to figure out how to modify it if we have to,” said Executive Director Smith.