Something new is on the horizon: a new era of support for adults with disabilities and their families. NeuroNav is one of three initial investments made by K. Ventures, a firm investing in technology and services for those with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities. With support from the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation and leaders in the disability space, NeuroNav will reach more people – and change more lives – than ever.
The Story of K. Ventures
Before beginning K. Ventures, co-founders Christopher McKelvy – a former tech executive and a grandson of Patricia Kennedy Lawford – and Judd Olanoff – a former JPMorgan Chase banker – were already familiar with the disability community. The pair had worked together on public policy advocacy for people with disabilities at the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.
Their work supporting people with disabilities and their families brought up an important realization: disability advocacy can’t rely solely on philanthropy. It also needed businesses dedicated to uplifting the community.
In other words, government agencies and nonprofits won’t be the only ones with the resources to support people with disabilities. The business sector can now also play a powerful role in introducing innovation and new goods and services to empower the disabled community.
In 2023, McKelvy and Judd made the bold choice to leave their jobs at the foundation to start a venture capital firm focused specifically on the disability community.
It’s their hope that investing in businesses that offer new services to people with disabilities will allow them to usher in a new era of valuable work: one where businesses that serve the community get the resources they need to make a lasting impact.
A Look at the Kennedy Family’s Work for Disabilities
McKelvy certainly isn’t the first member of the Kennedy family to bring new and revolutionary change to the Disability Rights Movement. Let’s take a stroll through the past to explore the Kennedy family’s connection to some of the biggest moments in disability history.
July 1968 – Eunice Kennedy Shriver Founds Special Olympics
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy, noticed that people with intellectual disabilities were often treated with little respect or justice.
After spending time in college as an athlete, Eunice came to recognize that sports could be a common ground where people from all walks of life could come together and create meaningful experiences.
Inspired in part by her older sister, Rosemary, who had an intellectual disability, Eunice set out to create a program that would give people with disabilities the same opportunities as everyone else.
In 1962, she put her vision to work. Eunice invited young people with intellectual disabilities to a summer day camp she hosted in her very own backyard, which she called “Camp Shriver.” What started as a small-scale summer camp blossomed into the first International Special Olympics Games, which took place in July 1968.
1974 - Jean Kennedy Smith Founds Very Special Arts
Also inspired by Rosemary Kennedy was Jean Kennedy Smith, another sister of Former President Kennedy.
In 1974, Jean sought a way to create opportunities in the creative arts for people with disabilities. She decided to found a nonprofit organization called Very Special Arts, which would become an educational affiliate of the Kennedy Center.
Today, the program still thrives, offering people with disabilities opportunities to perform musical instruments, take art education classes, attend special events, and more.
July 1990 – Senator Ted Kennedy Introduces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
While many members of the Kennedy family were making waves in popular culture and the nonprofit space, others made a difference by supporting legislation that would solidify disability rights as we know them today.
Senator Ted Kennedy was a long-time supporter of the disability community and worked on many pieces of legislation that would protect people with disabilities from discrimination. But perhaps the most notable of his achievements was his cosponsoring the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was enacted into law in 1990.
What Comes Next?
NeuroNav is honored to join K. Ventures on its mission to shape a new generation of disability services and supports. With more support than ever, our independent facilitation services will continue to help more and more people throughout California connect with the resources they need to live an independent, self-determined life. We hope you’ll join us in creating a future for the disability community, by the disability community.
