Navigating into adulthood with disabilities
Episode description
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.
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
Produced by Andrea Tudhope.