Waves of Awareness - WOA it's A Podcast STP Productions

Earlier this season Waves of Awareness welcomed Chelsey Herron on to discuss the Extended Option with the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS). We heard from a mother's perspective and now we welcome Angie Sexton from TEIS to discuss the state's perspective on this week's episode! Stacie Davis, Jimmy Parnell, and Hannah Rose host Angie along with Waves Early Learning Director, Gina Wilson, and Waves Early Interventionist, Jen Choate, to chat about TEIS and how the Extended Option has impacted thousands.

The group first learns about Angie's background working with children and how her passion led her to TEIS. Working at TEIS, Angie is able to connect with the IDD community at a young age and help them find the resources that will support them long past childhood. Jimmy and Hannah take turns asking Angie what the Extended Option is and how TEIS has seen a significant increase in referrals over the past few years. The Extended Option allows children who began services with TEIS before the age of 3 to opt for the Extended Option if they would like to continue receiving services through TEIS until the start of the school year following the child’s 5th birthday. Angie, Gina, and Jen all share amazing success stories of families who chose the Extended Option and are now celebrating so many milestones achieved because they were able to continue receiving services. Listen to the full episode and learn about the Extended Option with TEIS!

To learn more about the Extended Option with TEIS follow the link here or contact Angie Section Directly at Angie.Sexton@tn.gov. To learn about Early Learning services through Waves, follow the link here.

Friends of Franklin Park's Development Director, Scout Hardin, joins this week's episode of Waves of Awareness. Staci Davis and co-host Matt Moore get to know Scout, how she came to build a relationship with the IDD community, and what Friends of Franklin Parks has in store for the future.
Scout shares her past working at a non-profit supporting adults with disabilities and how it educated her on the world of IDD in an amazing way. 
Having joined Friends of Franklin Parks in the fall of 2023, Scout has enjoyed connecting with the community and learning about the rich history associated with their parks.

Looking to the future, Friends of Franklin Parks has been undergoing their Ellie G project which will become the first inclusive playground in Franklin, Tennessee. The park will be in memory of Elliot Grace, who was born with Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata (RCDP) and passed away at the age of 4 in 2019.
Ellie G received services through Waves and has continued to impact so many families and individuals, being an example of strength and joy. The group discusses how Ellie G's playground is progressing now and when we can hope to celebrate its opening. Listen to this week's and learn how parks impact the community and how Friends of Franklin Parks aims to create more that will help make an inclusive community. 

Listen to Waves of Awareness past episode with Elli G's mom here. To learn more about Friends of Franklin Parks and how you can get involved, follow the link here.

This episode features the State Director of Enabling Technology, Milton Neuenschwander, from the Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). Milton joins Waves of Awareness with Staci David, Matt Moore, and Marci Cohen to discuss what Enabling Technologies is and how it impacts individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Matt asks everything from what Milton loves most about Enabling Technologies to where he thinks it's going in the future. The group discuss Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence, how it's already integrated in today's society, and how it has helped those with IDD live more independently today. Staci shares how Milton played a key role in the grant that made Waves of Awareness come to life! Listen to Matt share life updates and the whole group discuss superpowers on this week's episode of Waves of Awareness.

Waves Fairview Day Program joins another episode of Waves of Awareness for National Down Syndrome Day! Staci Davis leads the table with Hannah, Eric, Roger, Stephanie, Adam, and Matt "The Man" Moore into a great conversation. First, the group discusses "Stereotypes" and what they can look like not only in the IDD community but everywhere around us. The group then dives into National Down Syndrome Day and what important message that lies behind it. Listen to updates from the Fairview team including Roger's newfound love for cats after volunteering at the Williamson County Animal Center! Matt shares how his job at Best Buy came about and how he's doing now. Hannah discovers a new interest and potential work venture, Adam and Stephanie talk about their relationship, and Eric makes sure the conversation stays entertaining with his favorite jokes. This episode is full of life, humor, and spreading awareness. 

Waves of Awareness welcomes Dr. Levi Harris, the Middle Tennessee Regional Director of the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, to discuss his journey into his current position that makes such an impact on Adult Services. Staci Davis opens the conversation to Matt Moore and Waves Executre Director, Lance Jordan, to hear some questions on the DIDD and Dr. Harris himself. Matt first asks Dr. Harris about how he became Regional Director and where is all started. Dr. Harris shares about his home in Alabama and the cases that slowly made it obvious Tennessee was where he needed to be. Originally planning on only staying in TN for a few years, it became clear to Dr. Harris and his wife that TN was his new home.
Lance Jordan picks Dr. Harris' brain on how parents can first start gaining information on receiving Adult Services and where to even begin. Together the group go over where to gain information, what makes Adult Services so important, and how those services have evolved to become focused on the individual.
Listen to an important look inside Adult Services through Waves and DIDD along with fun questions that keep everyone coming back for more. 

This week's episode goes mobile and heads over to the Waves Fairview Day Program. With Staci Davis taking the lead, she welcomes our Fairview Adults Jimmy, Eric, Vonda, Adam, Hannah, Stephanie, and Roger! Filled with excitement, the group takes off discussing life updates.
Eric shares about his trip to the Williamson County Animal Center, Stephanie about her trip to the movies, and Jimmy on his upcoming plans.
Staci takes the discussion into everyone's favorite movies, the movies we love and the movies we hate. The conversation dives deeper into how losing loved ones makes you value the good memories you have across the board. Roger takes the mic and leads us into his favorite topic ever, Elvis Presley. 
We even get to hear Roger sing his favorite song and come up with new content you might spot on our socials (hint hint: be sure you're following @waves_serves on Instagram). 
Don't miss the amazing rollercoaster conversation in this week's episode! Let us know what you're favorite part was on our Waves of Awareness Instagram (@waves_awareness_pod).