Kyle Gaughan

Pronouns: He/Him

Kyle brings a unique set of experiences to The Kelsey as he joins the team as the Resident Services Director. From a young age, Kyle has been deeply impacted by adults and teens with developmental disabilities, which is rooted in a volunteer opportunity at a summer camp in the Chicagoland area. During his undergraduate years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Kyle received a degree in Landscape Architecture and practiced for 5 years where he learned about the extraordinary impacts design can have on people and looks forward to harnessing this expertise at The Kelsey. 

After his time in Landscape Architecture, Kyle chose to pursue more mission-driven work at a local nonprofit in Chicago where he directed an independent living program for adults with developmental disabilities, and then quickly transitioned into a role in permanent supportive housing when he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in early 2021. When Kyle saw an opportunity open up at The Kelsey, he was thrilled to apply and join our dynamic team where he gets to apply his combined knowledge from all three backgrounds with a stronger sense of purpose. 

What part of The Kelsey’s mission are you proudest to be part of / support?

When I first learned about The Kelsey, the mission immediately caught my attention and stirred an enthusiasm for this kind of work. What I find most admirable about the organization is how true they are to their mission. The Kelsey not only “talks the talk,” they go above and beyond when “walking the walk,” and live by these actions daily. 

What does it mean to you to be Disability-Forward? Why does it matter?

To be Disability-Forward, I find it of utmost importance to center the experiences of individuals with developmental disabilities, harness their lived-experiences, and bolster their knowledge to move this work forward in a way that is meaningful and inspires the change we wish to see.