Most K-12 schools offer support staff and specialized education classes for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But when those kids graduate, what’s next? Often, it falls on the parents to figure it out. If they don’t have the resources to hire a caretaker, or time to provide full-time care themselves, navigating this transition into adulthood can be really challenging. And that’s just care. What about finding opportunities for joy?
Today, we’ll hear from a few young adults living with disabilities and parents in Middle Tennessee. And a policy liaison from Tennessee Disability Coalition will round up some of the resources that are available in our region.
Plus, we’ll visit a rehearsal for Backlight Productions’ upcoming rendition of “Beauty and the Beast,” featuring nearly 50 actors with disabilities. The performance runs May 27 and 28 at the Nashville Children’s Theater.
First, This Is Nashville founding producer Rose Gilbert joins us to talk about her move to the WPLN news desk as our new general assignment reporter.
Guests:
- Clay Booker, Franklin High student in the Transition program, has autism and ADHD
- Barry Booker, father of two sons with autism
- Dave Krikac, father, founder of Our Thrift Store, regional VP of Adult Services at Health Connect America
- Melissa Smith, executive director, Backlight Productions
- Fernanda Aguilar, young adult with special abilities, Backlight student, employee at Full Circle at Brentwood’s YMCA
- Jeff Strand, coordinator of government and external affairs at Tennessee Disability Coalition
This episode was produced by Andrea Tudhope.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM