Meet Jake Pratt, the 21-year-old with Down syndrome who's landed a job at UPS

At 21 years old, Jake Pratt has been hired by UPS. The accomplishment is particularly amazing as Pratt was diagnosed with Down syndrome; the naysayers said he would not get anywhere but he is definitely proving them wrong. He currently works for the nationwide delivery service as a package runner, and his sister Amy Hyde could not be more proud of him. She first shared the news about his new job on Twitter, where she thanked UPS for giving him a job in a post, PEOPLE reports. In an interview with the magazine, she explained that Pratt had to overcome several barriers in order to get where he is today.

Hyde's original Twitter post included a photo of her brother standing next to a UPS truck in his work uniform. She wrote, "Thank you, UPS, for giving my brother a chance and promoting inclusion in the workforce. Jake has Down Syndrome but that doesn’t stop him! I’m so proud of him!" The tweet was an important reminder of how diversity and inclusion efforts must, in addition to minority races and genders, extend to those with disabilities as well. According to Pratt's sister, the gig at UPS has given him a sense of independence.

"This opportunity to work for UPS means everything to Jake because it is his dream to be able to live independently," she shared. "He has achieved so much, but none of it would be possible without people embracing him and giving him a chance. Jake is so worthy and capable, so it’s just awesome for others to be able to see that. He has done a lot to break barriers and raise awareness that people with Down syndrome can accomplish anything they set their mind to." In fact, Pratt's diagnosis was a complete "surprise" to his family.

His doctors had claimed he would never be "a functional member of society." Hyde recalled, "[The doctor] said that his impairment would keep him from living any sort of normal life and he might even need to be institutionalized." But their family simply refused to listen. She continued, "My family has always embraced the philosophy that Jake is no different from you or I and that there are no limits on what he can accomplish." Breaking down these barriers to acceptance is nothing new to her brother, who has left his own unique mark on all his endeavors.

"He wanted to be on the high school football team when some people thought that was impossible, but he did it," his sister explained. "He wanted to score a touchdown in a game, and he did. He wanted to go to college, and he did. He wanted to get his driver's permit, and he scored a perfect 100 on the exam." Pratt recently graduated from Clemson University's LIFE program in the spring. Hyde affirmed, "He never meets a stranger and loves everyone so purely. He makes all of our lives better and has taught me more than anyone else I know."