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.
"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."
Workplace Initiatives and the Disability Rights Movement
I am truly honored to have you with us today, Colleen Starkloff. She is one of the founders together with her husband, the late Max. They founded the Starkloff Disability Institute, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri. The institute is described as a workforce workplace disability advisor.
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.
Biography of Jerusha Mather
Jerusha Mather is a Ph.D. student in the Medical Sciences at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. Jerusha presents with athetoid cerebral palsy and this is the motivation for her research work.
Parents open fast food restaurant to give daughter with Autism Purpose!
Christine Coronado expresses her concern about what to do with her child with special needs once she reached adulthood and what indeed she did!