Our Place Nashville
Adulthood Raising Kellan Adulthood Raising Kellan

Our Place Nashville

Jordan Collins is the associate Director at Our Place Nashville, an organization that partners with nonprofits to provide brick-and-mortar housing solutions for persons with disabilities in the Nashville area.

Read More
Adaptive Fashion  Wond’ry
Ongoing Support, Transitional Years, Adulthood Raising Kellan Ongoing Support, Transitional Years, Adulthood Raising Kellan

Adaptive Fashion Wond’ry

In episode #98 of the Raising Kellan podcast, host Marsh Naidoo is joined by Professor Alex Capps and four students from the Fab Lab at the ⁠Wond’ry Vanderbilt's Center of Innovation⁠. They discuss their work in adaptive fashion and the impact it has on the disability community and beyond. The students share their experiences and the skills they have gained through their work at the Wond’ry, highlighting the importance of collaboration and problem-solving. They also discuss the future of adaptive fashion and its potential to create a more inclusive world. The episode concludes with closing remarks from the students, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Wond’ry and their excitement for the future of their work.

Read More
Eagle Access Program
Adulthood, The Road To Independence Raising Kellan Adulthood, The Road To Independence Raising Kellan

Eagle Access Program

Today we are joined by an esteemed panel from Dyersburg State Community College to chat about Eagle Access, a program for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Joining me today is Nikki Erickson, who is the current director of the Eagle Access Program; Dr. Brigham Scallion, who is a co-founder of the program, as well as the Northwest Representative of the Tennessee Council for Developmental Disabilities; Dr. Jimmy Barham, who is the Dean of Arts and Sciences and Technology and part of the Planning and Implementation Committee at Eagle Access Program going at DSCC; and Dr. Amanda Walker the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the College.

Read More
Adaptive Fashion
Transitional Years, Adulthood, Ongoing Support Raising Kellan Transitional Years, Adulthood, Ongoing Support Raising Kellan

Adaptive Fashion

Today I chat with Alex Sargent Capps, Allie Schmidt, and Stella Barron about Adaptive Fashion. Alex has served on the Vanderbilt University Theatre faculty since 2001. She is currently the director of the Fiber Arts Build (FAB) Lab at Vanderbilt’s Wond’ry Center for Innovation. Allie Schmidt is the owner of Disability Dame Consulting, where she works with businesses to help create products and marketing campaigns that are accessible to the disability community.

Read More
Home Community Life
Adulthood Raising Kellan Adulthood Raising Kellan

Home Community Life

In today's episode, Dr. Jerry Kartzinel tells us more about the work he and his family are doing at Home Life Community and their goal of establishing a forever home for persons with disabilities to address the increasing housing crisis. Look what they have planned right here in NortWest Tennessee.

Read More
Friends Life Community
Adulthood Marsh Naidoo Adulthood Marsh Naidoo

Friends Life Community

In this episode, we chat with Waverly Ann Harris who has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families for over 15 years. She has been the CEO of Friends Life Community since 2016 where she has developed programs that provide opportunities for adults with IDD to grow personally, develop socially, and be actively involved in the community. She is a sociologist with a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis and enjoys solving systemic issues and collaborating with others to create meaningful change.

Read More
 "On The Avenue" Nashville TN
Adulthood Marsh Naidoo Adulthood Marsh Naidoo

"On The Avenue" Nashville TN

In this episode, we chat with Tom Woodard who together with his brothers Matt and John have created a unique workplace in Nashville TN that specifically employs persons with disabilities. On the Avenue is located in the Gulch. It is part distribution center that provides drug testing kits to the State of Tennessee and part advertising studio where the participants known as "citizens" have the opportunity to produce branded content including artwork, videos, podcasts, etc.

Tom Woodard states: " citizens can come to a safe place to build community and confidence."

Read More
Liz Persaud: Assistive Technology Professional
Adulthood Marsh Naidoo Adulthood Marsh Naidoo

Liz Persaud: Assistive Technology Professional

Briefing: Knowledge has power and controls access to opportunity and advancement. During this time, Liz Persaud will explore and share the collective role each of us plays in promoting successful independent living beyond the everyday “typical” environments for individuals with disabilities by recognizing and adapting to diversity, inclusion, awareness, and the powerful role of Assistive Technology (AT).

Read More
Thomas Coronado of Jordan's Grab 'n Go in Dyersburg, TN
Adulthood Marsh Naidoo Adulthood Marsh Naidoo

Thomas Coronado of Jordan's Grab 'n Go in Dyersburg, TN

Jordan's Grab 'n Go is a mom-and-pop convenience store that specializes in GOOD FOOD FAST. Thomas Coronado the co-owner/manager is a big brother to Jordan, a young adult on the Autism spectrum. This family business serves up unique and tantalizing dishes however the diversity here extends beyond its creative menu as Jordan's evolves into an inclusive workplace for several individuals with special needs.

Read More
Sweet Jordan's
Adulthood Marsh Naidoo Adulthood Marsh Naidoo

Sweet Jordan's

Sweet Jordan's opened it's door 2 years ago this September. It is a coffee shop, bakery and ice cream shop that sells homemade goodies. The motivation for starting this business is Jordan, their 26 year old son with Down Syndrome.

Read More