On ADA Anniversary, Kenyatta Scott Shares How Healing, Motherhood and Advocacy Inspired WomenEMPowered

As communities across the country recognize the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the conversation often centers on accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity. For Kenyatta Scott, the anniversary is also a reminder of the daily realities families experience long after policies are written.

As the founder of WomenEMPowered, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women through mental wellness, physical fitness, and leadership development, Scott's mission is rooted in helping women become healthier, stronger, and more confident. But before she began creating spaces for others, she first had to rebuild herself.

Raised in Fayetteville, Georgia, by Caribbean parents, Scott grew up in a household where education was highly valued and self-sufficiency was expected.

She describes herself as an introverted child who often struggled to find acceptance.

"I didn't have many friends, and like many children who are quiet and different, I experienced being picked on at school," she says.

Looking back, Scott says she spent much of her younger years seeking love, acceptance, and validation.

"Over time, I've come to understand how those experiences influenced my relationships, my confidence, and ultimately my passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, supported, and valued."

Years later, she found herself facing another defining season.

Around 2023, Scott says she was two and a half years postpartum, navigating a difficult diagnosis, challenges within her marriage, and weighing 255 pounds.

"My confidence was gone, and I no longer recognized the woman staring back at me."

Determined to change the direction of her life, she joined a local gym in Locust Grove.

"Fitness became more than losing weight," Scott says. "It helped me rebuild my confidence and gave me the mindset, resilience, discipline, and motivation I needed to keep moving forward while managing the challenges happening at home."

That experience became the foundation for WomenEMPowered.

"Through WomenEMPowered, I want to help other women in our community experience that same transformation," she says. "I want women to know that no matter how low life may bring you, you still have the power to rise, rebuild, and become the best version of yourself."

Today, WomenEMPowered is built on three pillars: mental wellness, physical fitness, and leadership.

"True empowerment and healing cannot happen when only one area of a woman's life is addressed," Scott says. "These pillars are interconnected, and lasting transformation occurs when they work together."

As Scott's own wellness journey continued, motherhood deepened her understanding of advocacy.

As a mother of two children with autism, she says advocacy has become one of the most emotionally demanding responsibilities her family carries.

"We are often navigating long waitlists for specialists and services, coordinating multiple therapies, advocating in schools, managing insurance, and fighting for resources our children need... all while balancing work and our own mental health," she says.

"The emotional labor is immense."

Scott says one of the biggest misconceptions is that families raising children with disabilities already have the support they need.

"The reality is that many families are navigating incredibly complex systems with very little guidance."

One of the moments that strengthened her resolve came during her son's first year of school.

Because of his autism, he struggled with aggression in the classroom and was repeatedly suspended.

"As a mother, it was heartbreaking to watch him be disciplined for behaviors that were rooted in his disability rather than intentional misconduct."

Scott found herself meeting regularly with teachers, school administrators, behavioral specialists, district representatives, therapists, and advocates to develop a plan that focused on identifying the triggers behind his behaviors and implementing supports that would help him remain in the classroom.

"I quickly realized that no one would advocate for my son the way I would."

While she spends much of her time caring for others, Scott has learned the importance of caring for herself.

She schedules HIIT and strength-training workouts throughout the week, practices mindfulness and meditation, recently added yoga to her routine, and intentionally sets aside one day each week to completely disconnect from work.

"Creating these boundaries has made a tremendous difference in my stress levels, energy, and overall quality of life."

In recognition of the ADA Anniversary, Scott hopes the conversation moves beyond awareness and toward practical action.

One issue she believes deserves greater attention is elopement, or wandering, among children with autism.

"What may seem like a simple trip to the park, a community event, or a public space can quickly become a safety emergency," she says.

Scott believes communities can better support families by designing inclusive playgrounds with secure fencing, training educators and first responders on autism and elopement prevention, offering sensory-friendly events, and creating public spaces that are welcoming and safe for everyone.

"True inclusion means designing communities where children with autism are not simply accommodated but are able to safely participate alongside everyone else."

Looking ahead, Scott envisions WomenEMPowered becoming a leading community-based organization for women's mental wellness, physical fitness, and leadership development throughout the region.

She hopes to expand services across the four counties the organization serves, impact at least 1,000 women each year, and one day open a brick-and-mortar wellness center offering fitness classes, support groups, leadership training, educational workshops, and access to trusted community resources.

"My vision is not simply to grow an organization but to build a lasting movement that changes lives for generations."

Above all, Scott hopes every woman who connects with WomenEMPowered leaves with one lasting belief.

"My hope is that every woman who walks into our community leaves knowing she is enough, she belongs, and she never has to face life's challenges alone."

As the nation marks another ADA Anniversary, Scott's story is a reminder that advocacy often begins with one person willing to speak up, healing begins by taking the first step, and empowered women create stronger families and communities.

To learn more about WomenEMPowered, follow @WomenEMPoweredCo on Instagram and Facebook and sign up for the organization's email list for wellness resources, community updates, and opportunities to get involved.

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About Kenyatta Scott

Kenyatta Scott, MPH, BSN, RN, OCN is the founder of WomenEMPowered and a registered nurse and educator with experience in oncology, critical care, research, bone marrow transplantation, and healthcare leadership. She is passionate about empowering women through education, mental wellness, and fitness-based healing, believing that true wellness requires both inner and outer strength. Scott is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership and Learning in Organizations as she continues building community-driven solutions that help women thrive mentally, emotionally, and physically.