Kirsti Lewis

We help educators and therapists use the performing arts to create more inclusive and more effective learning environments for students with developmental disabilities. PeopleLikeUsDoc.com

Inspired by her sister, who has Down syndrome, Kirsti Lewis, helped develop an inclusive theater troupe in Florida, which inspired her thesis on society’s misguided assumptions about people with disabilities. As a senior in college, she produced a full-length documentary showcasing her research, which premiered to an audience of over 1200 viewers in the historic Polk Theater. In 2016, she founded People Like Us, and currently serves as the nonprofit’s Executive Director. Kirsti leads a team of therapists, consultants, and performing artists who consult with organizations across the country to help them build their own sustainable, inclusive performing arts programs. She authored Raising the Curtain: A Comprehensive Guide for Creating a Musical Theater Program for All Abilities and has developed a four-course curriculum consisting of twenty hours of professional development to help educators use the performing arts to create more effective learning environments for students with developmental disabilities. Kirsti also serves as an Executive Board member for Georgia’s Council of Exceptional Children (GACEC).