Raising Kellan

Katie Moore is a dynamic self advocate from East Tennessee who will be holding a virtual conference in collaboration with community partners on January 22-23, 2026 from 5-7:30 PM. This promises to be an exciting opportunity to learn about resources and network with partners. Here is your link to register - LINK https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SobJ2FNKTUjIgFGtg_WANm_qcv85xtqfCGSuR9qpTHc/edit?usp=d...

Jerri Green is a mom, a lawyer as well as a public servant raised right here in Tennessee. She will be running for the next Governor of Tennessee in 2026. Timeline 1:25 Who is Jerri Green? 3:39 What are the role and responsibilities of Governor? 7:04 How does your current work position you for Governor of TN? 9:51 Jerri Green's position on school vouchers? 11: 47 Jerri Green's position on...

In today's podcast I chat with Zack Wilson, and his parents Anne Marie and Tom Wilson. Zack is an individual with Down syndrome, a recent graduate of Eagle Access here in Dyersburg TN, an avid CrossFit competitor and an artist. He will he hosting his first art exhibition at McIvers Grant Public Library in Dyersburg TN on November 6, 2025 from 4 - 6 PM. Please come see us if you can!

Today's episode is a great conservation with Maleia Evans from the Authentically You Network Podcast. I chat with Maleia about how her concept for 31 in 31: Conversations with Proverbs 31 women - a series she launched on her podcast. I often get asked about the origin story of Raising Kellan. I am super grateful to Maleia for telling our story on Episode 8 of the 31 in 31 series centered on fa...

Steve Chatman is Vice President of Rising Above Ministries and host of the Rising Above Dads Podcast. Steve and his wife Lori have five children and four grandchildren. Steve is a special-needs dad as two of his children are living with Down Syndrome. Steve spent 30 years in church ministry before joining Rising Above Ministries in 2022. He loves encouraging and equipping families and churches. In...

We have exactly two weeks till U.S. Values and the Constitution, a free 4 part series taking place at McIvers Grant Public Library from Sept 11, 2025 to October 2, 2025- 5:30 to 6:30 PM. In today's episode Mary Palmer and Marsh Naidoo chat with some of the student leadership namely: Mickie Thach and Myren Hurst about their roles in the program. Timeline from unedited podcast: 3:35 Introductions 4:...

In today's episode I chat with Clare Saum, Marketing Director at Discovery Park of America about an exciting upcoming event: Pediatric Day. This day connects families with a wealth of local resources and services to support children’s health, learning and well-being. • When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Where: Discovery Park of America (Union City, Tennessee) • What’s happeni...

Marsh Naidoo, Mary Palmer, and Dr. Matthew Stafford chat about a four-part series on U.S. values and the Constitution that Dr. Stafford will be teaching at the McIvers Grant Public Library in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The series will cover the history and values behind the U.S. Constitution, with the aim of inspiring pride and hope in the audience by connecting them to the American story. The sessions...

On today's episode, Kate Mudge leads the discussion centered on Care Farming and the collaborative network. Please check out their interactive website. https://carefarmingnetwork.org/ Timeline: 01:54 Introductions 3:08 Origin Story and the Red Wiggler 6:00 Care Farming Network Conference 8:23 Old School Farm in Nashville 10:30 Benefits of Care Farm Models to Rural Communities 13:41 How to cont...

Call the US Capitol at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your Congress Representative.

On June 14, 2025, we were in Cookeville, TN, to participate in the Special Needs Resource Fair at Vine Branch Church. We got to chat with families, exhibitors, and service providers, including: Dawn Fry - Attorney at Law Selena Stewart with Omni Family of Services . Ashley McCloud with WorkAble TN Blake Shearer with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities Jessica Moreles with Tennessee...

Today I chat with Torben Jensen. He is the Ministry Relations Manager for Joni and Friends in Nashville, TN. His job focuses on helping churches of all shapes and sizes become better at including and serving families affected by disability. Timeline of our conversation: 01:30 Torben's origin story 02:40 Joni & Friends and its beginnings. The Story of Joni Eareckson Tada. 05: 00 Programs an...

Jessica Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host at Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the documentary "Unseen", and caregiver advocate.  She is the founder and executive director of ⁠ The Lucas Project⁠ , a non-profit dedicated to providing recognition, resources, and respite support for special needs families. She and her husband, Ryan live in Michigan with their 8 children, includin...

In Episode 143, Megan Schwalm chats to us about the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and how this nonprofit provides support to over 1 million caregivers in Tennessee. Timeline of our conversation: 00:00 Introduction 01:36 How did Megan come into her role as President and CEO at Tennessee Caregiver Coalition? 04:42 Definition of Respite. 07:00 Programs offered by TCC include the respite voucher progr...

In this conversation, I chat with Kristie Kirby, whom I met at Partners in Policy-Making, a leadership program held by the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disability . This is a free 8 month advocacy training program. Timeline of conversation 1:00 Introduction 2:00 Kristie is a teacher's assistant. 2:12 What is SACC? 4:00 How does the SACC program work? 5:15 Recruiting Volunteers 6:00 Upcom...

In today's episode, we chat with Leo Cuello, J.D., a Research Professor at the Center for Children and Families in the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University . Leo helps us understand what Medicaid is and the roles it performs as the U.S. largest health coverage program. Timeline of the conversation: 2:00 What is Medicaid and how does it impact the disability community? What serv...

Jessica Awsumb and Hilary Travers are co-leads at Transition Tennessee Timeline: 2:15 Introduction 3:15 Hilary's work at Perkins School of the Blind and what led her to Vanderbilt and transitional planning 5:00 Jessica's pathway to transitional training and employment for students with IDD. 8:13 How do we prepare for transitions (legal and evidence-based practice), which starts at Age 14 i...

I am excited to introduce you to Abby McCage, who will be one of our presenters at the upcoming Resource Ability Employment Expo to be held on May 7 at the Lannom Center in Dyersburg, TN, from 9- noon. Hello, my name is Abby McCage, and I am a young woman with a disability who is passionate about advocating for accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities. My personal experiences with disabil...

In this episode, I chat with Emily Moscoe about Catalyst Sports . Timeline: 1:30 Introduction to Emily Moscoe and her involvement with Catalyst Sports 3:34 Gol Ball 5:00 Catalyst Sports origin story 8:40 What does adaptive hiking/camping look like Freedom Chair 12:00 Overview of Catalyst Sports Programs 14: 00 Great Smoky Mountains Bike Program 14: 50 Contact Information and Conclusion

Marsh Naidoo welcomes self-advocate Peach Chinratanalab and Milton Neuenschwande from the Department of Disability and Aging for an engaging discussion on the transformative power of technology in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Peach, a dedicated co-trainer at My Tech for All , shares her experiences and insights on enabling technology to enhance independence and improve daily living...

In Episode 136 of Raising Kellan, Marsh Naidoo sits down with Lindsey Lind from East Tennessee to discuss their shared experiences in the Partners in PolicyMaking program, a leadership initiative by the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. Lindsey, a dedicated mother of three, shares her journey navigating the complexities of disability advocacy, particularly focusing on her son who ha...

Maribeth Watson talks about Partners in PolicyMaking , Morningstar Ministries in Sweetwater TN, and proposed Medicaid budget cuts in 2025 #Protectmedicaid Timeline: 2:00 Introduction 3:00 Maribeth Watson's backstory 4:00 Morningstar Ministries 8:30 Assessing the needs of your community 11: 00 Respite Resources: J ⁠oni and Friends⁠ and A Mother's Rest 13:00 Proposed Medicaid Changes 16:00 C...

In Episode 134 of Raising Kellan, Marsh Naidoo engages in a heartfelt conversation with Tamara Tuckson, a passionate disability advocate and co-author of the book ⁠ McKenzie Can Talk⁠. Tamara shares her journey as a mother to McKenzie, who was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, and how that diagnosis ignited her advocacy work to eventually found⁠ Mission2Advocate ⁠. This episode delves into the challen...

In this episode, Anna Fields discusses her journey from a homeschooled upbringing to creating an inclusive workplace that champions individuals with disabilities. Learn about her experiences working with children in China, her challenges when starting  Bubble Love , and how she found innovative ways to integrate employees with disabilities into her business. This conversation highlights the import...

Plant for a Change is a for-profit social enterprise based in Nashville, Tennessee, aiming to create an inclusive and accessible conservation workforce. The company sells native plant seeds and provides employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Timeline of our conversation: 1:44 Introducing Nathan Fields and Jason van Wulven 4:17 Nathan's proxim...