Raising Kellan

In this podcast episode, Marsh Naidoo interviews Kali Decker, a pediatric physical therapist who recently went on a mission trip to Uganda. Kali discusses her journey to becoming a pediatric physical therapist and the need for specialized care for children with disabilities. She also talks about the equipment drive being organized to collect pediatric equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers for...

Today we chatted with Ashley Roberts, MRC, CRC vocational rehabilitation field supervisor here in NortWest TN. Timeline: 3:27 What is vocational rehabilitation (VR)? 3:54 Who does VR service and what services does it cover? 4:16 How can parents get connected with VR? 5:47 Is VR part of school and when do you enroll for services? 11:58 Does VR involve finding independent living solutions? 14: 06 Ca...

Drake Box and Marsh Naidoo recap the highlights of 2023, including our first-ever "Day At The Lake" live event held in Dyersburg TN on August 26, 2023. Savannah Pham has contributed a blog of the podcast highlights titled: Navigating Possibilities: A Year of the Raising Kellan Podcast, 2023. ( Link to blog) We are enthusiastic about 2024. Here is a list of upcoming events to mark your ca...

Melanie Westmoreland's Top 10 Christmas Kid's Gift List Melanie shares the therapy and fun-focused toys that she has discovered for her children. Here are her Top 10 suggestions: 1) Magna-Tiles 2) Bubble Puzzles 3) Kinetic Sand 4) Weighted Stuff Animals 5) Sensory Swings 6) Bubble Lamp 7) Yoto Audio player 8) Osmo Kit for Tablet 9) Amazon Fire Tablet 10) Gabb Phone DISCLAIMER: The suggesti...

In this episode of the Raising Kellan podcast, host Marsh Naidoo interviews Jordan Collins, the Associate Director at Our Place Nashville , an organization that provides housing solutions for individuals with disabilities in the Nashville area. Jordan shares his personal journey and how he became involved with Our Place. He explains that the organization aims to create inclusive communities where...

In this podcast episode, Naveh Eldar, host of The Landscape Podcast chats about his experience with Disability First Employment and the Project Search program. He highlights the importance of disability inclusion in the workplace and the progress that has been made in raising awareness and promoting employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Naveh encourages advocates to approach...

In today's episode, I chat with co-leaders Ashley Parks and Ginna Rauls who tell us the backstory of Joy Life 901 and the Memphis Disability Network! We discuss the origin story and programs such as the Breakfast Club, fitness programs, and the Memphis Joy Prom. They emphasize the importance of community and connection for parents and individuals with disabilities centered on Christ. Timeline:...

In today's episode of the Raising Kellan podcast, Marsh interviews Lori Green, the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South . Their mission is to empower and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome. Lori also talks about the various programs and services they offer, such as self-advocate classes, tutoring, and social events. She mentions their upcomi...

In episode #98 of the Raising Kellan podcast, host Marsh Naidoo is joined by Professor Alex Capps who was interviewed on Episode #92 , 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...

Houston High School in Germantown Tennessee is on fire!!! They host a transition school-to-work program and today I chat with Catherine Sadler and O'Malley two incredible teachers who lead the program together with Mr Brian. Timeline 01:29 Memphis Disability Network 02:27 Introductions 04:09 What is the backstory of the transition program at Houston High 11:24 When do you start transitional pl...

Today we are going to chat about the Eagle Access Program , a post-secondary program for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. We are joined by: 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...

Today we are joined by Rob Wrubel, CFP® AIF® AEP® . He is a best-selling, award-winning author of Financial Freedom for Special Needs Families , 30 Days to Your Special Needs Trust and Protect Your Family . He has been a contributing source for local and national media and is a sought-after speaker who regularly gives highly-rated, entertaining, and informative workshops on special-needs planning....

Today Jay Camperlino presents information on a new program being rolled out by the Tennessee, Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, called MAPs Timeline: 01:56 Jay Camperlino's background and how he came to join the MAPs initiative. 08:11. What is MAPs? 17: 46 Selection Criteria to enroll in the program: 1) Transitional-aged student that has a diagnosis of intellectual and...

In today's episode, I chat with Debra Run a global disability inclusion strategist. She is the CEO of Ruh Global Impact, as well as Chairperson of a nonprofit, which is called Billion Strong. Timeline: 02:30 What is the benefit of visual description in a podcast? 03:31 What put you on the trajectory to become a disability and inclusion strategist? 07:25 The Human Potential At Work Podcast 07:5...

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 , serving the Vanderbilt and Nashville community by providing sewing and clothing design instruction to support people of a...

Eric Jorgensen is the Founder of True North Disability Planning , the go-to resource for families who have children with intellectual/developmental disabilities and the professionals who serve them. He is the host of the “ABCs of Disability Planning” podcast which introduces listeners to organizations and resources they may have never heard of or weren’t sure how to use. And he is the author of Wa...

In today's episode, I chat with Kirst Nordstrom who is a Developmental Therapist in Nashville TN. Kirsti talks about the Family Guided Routines Based Intervention framework which she uses to coach families to help their children with developmental delays or disabilities maximize function with strategies to promote feeding, reading, play, movement, speech, and other milestones of development. T...

In this conversation Erin Riehle talks about Project Search as an intensive transitional program from high school to competitive integrated workplaces as part of a 9-month program Timeline 03:00 What lead to the formation of Project Search? 08:30 How does the program work? 21:30 How does it work as far as employer buy-in? 26:30 Project Search Conference in Milwaukee week of July 10, 2023 30:00 Con...

In today's episode, we chat with Sophie Poost, Director of Programs at Disability EmpowHer Network , an organization that empowers girls and young women with disabilities through skills building, community, and mentorship. Their flagship program is a Camp held in June in the Adirondack mountains of Northeastern New York, followed by a project completed by the participants and guided by their m...

I spoke with Colleen Starkloff of the Starkloff Disability Institute last year on Episode #66 when we discussed workplace diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, disability as part of the diversity, and the Disability Rights Movement. Today we talk: Universal Design and Accessibility. Timeline: 3:29 What is universal design? 4:46 Colleen's Kitchen Redo by Compass Design 7:57 Retrofitting...

Is toe-walking something we outgrow? These are some of the questions answered in today's podcast with Liesa Ritchie PT, DPT, PCS from Know To Change for both parents and health providers alike. 1:35 Liesa's Background. 4:57 What sparked Liesa's interest in toe-walking? 7:08 "KnowToChange" as a resource guide for both parents and healthcare providers. 9:13 Is toe-walking somet...

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. TimeLine: 03:00 Dr. Jerry's backstory 06:30 What is Home Life Community? 15:00 Work/Employme...

April is Autism Awareness Month. Today we chat with Rachel Jenkins and Colin Peterson. Rachel is an educational consultant, and part of TRIAD, which is an acronym for the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center which is part of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. As part of this work, Rachel is also a member of the All Access I...

Mark is the Founder & CEO of Camp Conquest, an overnight camp for children and adults with special needs and disabilities in Millington, TN. He and his wife, Amanda, are blessed with 5 great kids, ages 15 to 27, and 2 grandchildren. Mark and his family live in Arlington, TN. He grew up in Dallas, TX, where his parents took in 28 foster children when he was growing up, and several had a special...

In this episode of the podcast with catch up with our friends Dana Kramer and Levi Ervin (mom and son) from Georgia and Drake Box from the podcast, The Box Factor. We chat about what Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day means from the perspective of lived experience and what has been going on since we last talked two years ago on Episode 12 of the Raising Kellan Podcast. An edited transcript is available...