Bradley Carlisle

Self-Advocate & Community Advisor

Bradley Carlisle is a nationally recognized self-advocate, community leader, actor, and passionate voice for adults with Down syndrome. With years of experience advocating for disability rights, independence, and inclusion, Bradley brings something invaluable to Down Syndrome Love Society: a lifetime of experience and a determination to make sure people with Down syndrome have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.

Bradley's advocacy extends from Georgia to the national stage. In 2023, he was elected by his fellow self-advocates to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), one of the country's leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. He also serves on the organization's Self-Advocate Council, contributing to conversations about disability rights, representation, and opportunities for adults with Down syndrome.

Closer to home, Bradley has served on the Board of Directors of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta (DSAA), where he was named Self-Advocate of the Year in 2020. His advocacy has included supporting the passage of Georgia's Gracie's Law, legislation protecting individuals with disabilities from discrimination in organ transplant decisions.

Bradley has also been actively involved with GiGi's Playhouse Atlanta, participating in programs focused on advocacy, employment, education, and independence. His dedication to continued learning has helped him achieve personal milestones, including developing his literacy skills and delivering speeches at major community events.

Outside of his advocacy work, Bradley has built a life filled with professional accomplishments and personal passions. He works at Chupito's Azteca Grille, performs in theatrical productions with Habima Theatre, and lives independently. His love of performing has taken him from the stage to an extraordinary role as the first professional Santa Claus with Down syndrome in the United States, earning him recognition in the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.

His work has challenged stereotypes, created visibility, and given countless families a different picture of what adulthood with Down syndrome can look like.

But Bradley's influence on Down Syndrome Love Society is especially meaningful.

His friendship with founder Elizabeth Carroll, alongside his mother, Debbie Shadrix, helped inspire the creation of DSLS. Their conversations and experiences brought attention to something often missing from discussions about disability and independence: the opportunity to date, experience romance, and build meaningful relationships.

Bradley isn't simply an inspiration behind the organization. He's part of the community whose voices and experiences should help shape its future.

Through his involvement with DSLS, Bradley continues the work he has spent years doing: challenging expectations, advocating for opportunity, and showing the world that adults with Down syndrome have their own ambitions, interests, relationships, and dreams.

And when it comes to love, Bradley believes those possibilities deserve to be just as big.