Raising Kellan

Mia Fox DPT, is a yoga teacher, physical therapist, and rock climber. Mia talks about how she got started in rock climbing and the therapeutic benefits it provides. The conversation then shifts to discussing  ⁠Memphis Rox⁠ , a rock climbing community, and the adaptive climbing program they offer through the ⁠Adaptive Climbing Group.⁠   Mia explains that the adaptive climbing program aims to create...

Join host Marsh Naidoo in this episode of Raising Kellan as she talks with Dennis Anderson, CEO of Anderson Consulting. Dennis shares his expertise on digital accessibility and safety, providing valuable insights for parents navigating the digital world. 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Dennis Anderson's background 05:00 Business IT services and government contracts 10:00 Residential IT services and a...

In this episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo sits down with Jeff Strand from the Tennessee Disability Coalition to delve into the significant legislative changes in 2024 and what's on the horizon for 2025. Jeff provides an insightful update on key bills, including the successful passage of the TCA cleanup bill, the impactful Right to Repair legislation for wheelchair maintenance, and t...

In this enlightening episode of Raising Kellan, host Marsh Naidoo is joined by Rev Dr. Felicia Ingram, the newly appointed pastor at Salters Chapel AME Church in Dyersburg, TN. Felicia is a native of Dyersburg and a graduate of Dyersburg High School. She highlights her plans for engaging the youth and fostering a supportive community. Don't miss out on the upcoming Youth Fun Day on June 8, thi...

In early May 2024, our Dyersburg First United Methodist Church church family went on a camp retreat to Camp NaCoMe in Centerville, Tennessee. In this episode, Kellan journals his time at Camp as he builds his capacity to tell his story. Enjoy! Other links: https://youtu.be/yWNwOpg_qbA?si=gqPGtHI4V9vqzNBO

Welcome to episode 115 of Raising Kellan, where we delve into the harmonious world of music therapy. Our guest is Martha Summa Chadwick, a virtuoso pianist, music educator, and advocate for the transformative power of music therapy. Join us as we explore the neural symphony of music's impact on the brain and how it can be a powerful therapeutic tool for individuals across the lifespan. This ep...

In today's episode 114, Carolyn Kiel from Beyond Six Seconds Podcast joins us. Carolyn talks to neurodivergent entrepreneurs, creators, advocates, and more about their lives and identities, their stories, shatters misconceptions, breaks stigma, and showcases the vibrance of neurodiversity. As always, remember, the content on this podcast is for your information only, and if you seek specific a...

Thank you for joining us on Raising Kellan, a podcast to empower parents raising children with disabilities. Kellan is starting to build his breath control and confidence on the mike! You will be hearing from him more as he begins to tell his own story! Today's episode is dedicated to the memory of Steven Harrell

Levi, Drake and Kellan chat on their annual meetup to honor CP Awareness Day. Timeline: 2:52 Drake's new job at Dyersburg State Community College 3:37 Kellan's first podcast! 4:21 Levi's 7th Grade will be at High School! 5:16 Drake's upcoming engagement 5:52 Levi's Trip to Gatlinburg 7:17 Levi's therapy 9:11 Kellans' classes 10:03 Levi's favorite subject 11:30 Coach...

Jeff Strand Coordinator of Government and External Affairs from the Tennessee Disability Coalition will discuss the Priority Bills for Part 2/2 of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly. Here is a link to what we discussed last year (2023) on Episode 78 TDC Priority Bills for 2024 1)  TennCare for Working Adults , where persons with disabilities can potentially buy into TennCare services (like HCBS)...

In this podcast episode, Leanne Pirece from Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) talks about this unique program through the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Pre-ETS is a program that helps students between the ages of 14 and 22 with disabilities prepare for life after high school. The program offers services such as career counseling, advocating for oneself, budgeting, and basic li...

In this episode of the Raising Kellan podcast host Marsh Naidoo interviews Jennifer Cunningham, Vice President of Client Services at the Star Center in Jackson, Tennessee. They discuss assistive technology services such as pencil grips, screen readers, and augmentative communication devices for those who cannot speak. The Star Center provides vision services, including orientation and mobility tra...

Host Marsh Naidoo interviews Dr. Jennifer Graves, the president of the Star Center in Jackson, Tennessee . Dr. Graves discusses her connection to disabilities and her passion for helping individuals with differing abilities. She explains how the Star Center was founded by Margaret and Chuck Doumitt who wanted to provide services for their children with Batten's Disease. The center offers a wid...

In this podcast episode, the host, Marsh Naidoo, interviews Kim Larrick about their experience at Hope Heals Camp. Kim shares that her son, Ben, has a rare genetic condition called Menkes disease, which affects his mobility and other aspects of his health. Her daughter, Kelsey, has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Kim and her family learned about Hope Heals Camp through Instagram and decided to apply....

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...