Support for this program is provided by the Weldon F Osborne Foundation.

The Schillhahn-Huskey Foundation.

And viewers like you.

Thank you.

On today's show, we will learn about two nonprofits that are making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

One offers creative spaces, connections, and experiences for disabled children and their families.

The other is an adaptive sports resource for individuals with disabilities.

We are stronger together.

Chattanooga.

Stay tuned to learn more.

Welcome to Chattanooga.

Stronger.

Together.

I'm Barbara mortar.

Theresa Nix is joining us.

She is executive director and founder of Downside Up the downside, a program provides opportunitie for children with disabilities to learn, grow, and make lasting connections.

Theresa, thank you so much for coming in today.

Thank you.

Tell me, why did you start the inside out?

I think back to the whenever it was born, my son Everett, when he was born, a couple days later, we found out that he had Down's syndrome.

We had no idea it was a, birth diagnosis.

And the feeling in the hospital, of just loneliness and, not knowing what was next and just thinking of all the worst case scenarios, and then doctors and famil and friends coming in and saying sorry instead of congratulations.

That was something that I don't want anybody else to go through.

And I think from the very beginnin I felt like I wanted connection and families to, feel stronger.

So, when he was about two, I met a bunch of moms who just taught me so much about what they've been going through and just the journey of having a child with the disability.

And, so I started my nonprofit when he was about two, and our very first thing was cam So your background, you tol me that you were a teacher.

Yes.

I taught for 22 years and coached soccer.

And yeah.

So teaching is a big part of everything we do and at down side up.

So about five years ago I quit teaching and, and started doing my nonprofit full time.

So your son is, what, seven, 12, 12 now?

Yes.

Oh, it's a big boy.

Oh, I know they're growing up, so.

Yes.

So those first two years did you feel like you were like, on an island all by yourself?

Where was the support?

Where was the information?

Where was.

I mean, you were the child 24 seven.

Did you?

Does he have other siblings?

No.

Okay.

But there are parents out there with other siblings with their child.

And how do you how does a parent create the time to give to these other siblings so that they don't feel that brother or sister is getting all the attention, and they're kind of left out?

Maybe in some situations there's not spousal support or other family members.

How does this mom or this single dad cope with this?

And so you create a downside, to come along side and just say, here's support.

Yes.

I often think of.

And what you're stronger together.

Reminds me, I think of, trees in the forest, the redwood forest, all these strong trees.

And you don't ever see a redwood all by itself because their root do not go deep, but they go wide and they connect with each other and build each other up.

So it would never be able to stand by itself.

So I feel like what we've create is just support in whatever ways we can from the very beginning to whatever age they are and whatever disability and the entire family.

So even if they have a typically developing sibling that might not be able to go to the same camp or, as drug along to all these therapies, we have the family, our family camp that has all of them.

Every everybod in the whole family supported.

We have mom's retreats, we have afterschool programs, we have a preschool program.

We do so many thing that invite the entire family.

So it's not just the child with the disability, but everybody and how they cope and how they manage through the journey.

So a preschoo what what would that look like?

What does that look like?

Well, we have right now we have about eight children in our preschool, and it's.

And you don't think about.

But these kids right now in preschool are the ones that went through Covid.

So they have maybe not even gone to Sunday school class or been out anywhere where they've had experience with other children.

So it's, you know, social especially is low right now for every kid that's young that has gone through that.

But, so yeah we have our preschool program.

And the difference is that w not only have a couple teachers, but we need almost one on one for every student.

So we have a two student to one teacher ratio, and we have OTS and PTS that come in and help out also.

So it's a very special program.

And now that Siskin Children's Institute, which is where my so Everett went, which is amazing.

Now that they've closed their preschool program, I think there's a huge need for that.

There is a huge need, and I hope our viewers will, you know, learn more from, you know, listening to you and learning more about what downside it's all about.

You mentioned a mother's retreat.

That's a is that a weekend long thing?

Yes.

And who in the heck is keeping the kids?

Yeah I know moms at the retreat.

That is the biggest deal because, many of us don't have any babysitters that can handle whatever's going on or family members that can.

And like you said, maybe not spousal support or family support.

And like, we have 1 or 2 babysitters, maybe, you know, and, so that's a big thing.

And most of our things that we do, we create an abilit for the kids to be taken care of during whatever.

But this moms retreat is a whole weekend.

So we, hope that they can find someone for that weekend so that they have that little break.

When we have our family weekend and we have our yoga, we have yoga for the parents, and we have, every family has a one on one support.

We have an otter or, student from UTC each at state covenant, different spread teachers who com and there that families support so that the parents can at least go for a walk or do something by themselves.

And almost every single tim their parents are crying in yoga because it's the only hou that they've had by themselves for a little bit of respite.

So the Moms retreat, this is our third year having it.

It'll be it's usually in January at the beginning of the year.

So you can start your year out with a bunch of moms who are looking for goal setting and and vision boards and just relaxing and maybe sleeping in.

That'd be that's just a gift that you take for granted.

True.

I mean, it's it's a retreat for them.

But it's also an opportunity to learn more, maybe come up with some, strategies because another mom may be i there and go, well, I did this and I really saw a good result out of it.

And somebody else might say, oh, that's what I've been needing I think that is.

And you created that just because that's what you were going through.

You, you know, you needed that support, but you also realized other from a teaching standpoint, other mothers were going throug the same thing, and you needed to create something.

And so this is going to evolve even into more programs down the road.

Yes.

You know, as you see the need and everything, which I absolutely love.

we talked about the camp.

How long does that last?

Is that a week long?

It's a weekend, a weekday to Sunday at camp.

Look out.

This is our 10th yea that we've been doing it, and, and it's 150 people, completely full every single year.

Have a waiting list.

It's just a fabulous weekend.

It's very magical, but it supports the whole family.

And and there are friends that have grown through that.

Like you said, just moms.

And one year we had, for some reason we had a bunch of baby under two, but it's all age groups.

So we have adults and with disabilities too that are counselors also.

But but it's neat for th families of little ones to see what the older ones are doing and to be encouraged by, oh, you have a job and you break dance or you, you know, you're into soccer or whatever your things are.

So for a mom with a little baby, they have all these milestones to look towards.

They see this adult is that there is potential for them to not only survive, but also to thrive, but in their own unique way with whatever their skill sets and their capabilities are.

I love that.

So we talked about the preschool.

What is training wheels?

We did have a space downtown for four years from 20 to 2024.

And then this past year it wa an activity and learning center.

That was that we pretty much created.

And then we're looking for our own space.

We were leasing that space.

So, now we're at a church where United Methodist and we've been using that church and they're fabulous.

But, we're still looking for, again, our own space tha we can have outdoor garden area, a therapy garden, and, you know, just different thing that we can continue to create because, like you said, it's evolving.

So as my son gets older, I'm always trying to do the next thing.

What's what's his job going to be?

What is it?

You know, s we have a middle school program.

He's in middle school right now.

So we have a middle school weekend program that we have.

And and then the next thing would be, his job, which I have a little camper in the backyard that we're converting into a coffee and ice cream truck.

So there's always something I'm tryin to get ahead of the game for him and his little buddies.

And we just started a Boy Scout program.

That's the first one of the few that has al children with disabilities in it in the area.

So, you are very open and willing to collaborate with other nonprofits out there where you can maybe come alongside and offer some of your programing, to kind of collaborate with them on some things, like the Boy Scouts know, having a troop and everything, because the troop leader has got to b somebody who really understands and can work with them.

So all of this stuff that you're doing, you've got to need a lot of volunteers.

Yes.

What?

My dears, with our preschool program, we need volunteers who just want to maybe interns or, people who are going into OTP or special education, high schoolers.

We always need people for we're doing our cookies with Santa.

That's December 14th.

It's always in December, obviously, but that's a whole day where parents get 30 minutes with Santa and their own special time.

They're not waiting in line and crying and then sitting and saying, wow.

So, we need volunteers for that.

We have A5K, we have fundraisers all throughout the year a golf tournament, five K that we always need volunteers for, but the special ones are camp walk through our family camp and summer summer camp.

And I think, maybe some, teachers like in the summertime, some teachers that, do special education, like you said, students from, you know, either covenant or any of the colleges that are specializing either i special education or in nursing or any of the those type of occupational therapy type things that could come alongside, and volunteer with you guys in all the different programs.

So, if they want to volunteer their services, their time, whatever, for any of these things, what's the best way to reach out through your website for.

Okay.

And then there's a contact number there.

Yes.

On our website.

Down set up, dawg.

There's a volunteer section and then we'll contact them for sure.

Teresa, thank you so much for actually creating things up and giving parents, especially moms, an opportunity to realize they're not alone.

There is a community out there, and they're just one of many redwood trees.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Up next, we'll have Jerr Hightower, president of spark.

You don't want to miss it, so stay tuned.

you serve your community.

Send us photos or videos of you or your family volunteering, and we may feature it on a future episode.

Email stronger@wtcitv.org or use the hashtag STRONGERWTCI on social media.

welcome back, we're joined by Jerry Hightower, president of Spark.

This organization offers individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience adaptive sports which build their physical strength and confidence.

Jerry, welcome.

I appreciate you coming in today.

I want to really learn more about spark.

But first, what does spark stand for?

Well, thank you for the opportunity to speak about spark.

We're we're very, very proud of it.

It stands for Spark Sports, Art and Recreation in Chattanooga.

We are a chapter of Move United.

Moving on.

It was founded in 1967 by veterans who were coming back from the Vietnam War with very serious injuries.

They thought life was over at that point.

And so, veterans got together and found a way to get them out of their houses and, and find a way for them to exercise.

But it started out with actually, snow skiing was one of the main, first sports that they did, getting them out on the mountain and, not only exercising enjoying the outdoor activities, but but also socializing, you know, so, making them have a, develop that independence that they thought they may have lost.

Spark itself was founded in 1991 by my wife, was a studen at Chattanooga State and their, physical therapy assistant program over there.

And, we were runners, one year at Peachtree Road Race, which we did many years.

We saw that they have a wheelchair division there, and we were very impressed by that.

We, went and talked to, Atlanta, the, Shepherd Spinal Cord Senate Rehab center, which is fantastic.

Yeah.

Talked to them about their adaptive sports programs, and we realized that Chattanooga does not have such a program.

And so after she graduated in 1991 she and some friends from there, got a startup grant from the state.

And, we founded that, founded spark, and we became a chapter of of Move United.

So that's that's really the, the basic of it, but it was trying to provide something that was not in Chattanooga, some sports opportunities to for individuals with various disabilities and various ages.

We want to serve veterans.

You know, that's that's obviously, one of our, primary service areas, but we also serve basically anyone, who has a disability as appropriate for each individual sport.

And age and, and ability and ability, you know, so what kind of programs do you actually offer all year long?

So I know there's a whole list of and they keep growing every year.

There is and it is, it has changed over the 33 years that we, been in existence.

But, the so the year starts ou when in, in the, in the spring.

Excuse me.

In the well in the spring.

Let's start there with cycling which runs between April and September.

And it's held over at the Tennessee River Park.

We partner with city charities, therapy, rec, therapeutic recreation.

They're fantastic.

In fact, we help them get started many years after we got started, they didn't have a program at the city.

Know.

And so we, we talked to their, director of their Parks and recreation at that time and helped them get a program started over there.

And they have some great programs that that we don't offer.

All right.

We're an all volunteer organization.

No, no paid staff.

So we have to rely on, volunteers, very able to do all the work.

Yeah.

And so we need, we need to partner with so on this that let's just kind of stay with that Riverwalk cycling.

So what kind of cycling are we talking about?

And kind of walk me through that.

I mean, do you provide the vehicle that they're participating with?

Is there a cost to it?

How do they register?

Kind of walk me through that.

Well, I thank you for asking all of our all of our programs are free.

No charges to on any of our programs.

So and that's part of the fact that we're all volunteer organization.

We can do that.

We've we have a, a a fleet, I'll call it, of, of different types of cycles, that we have not my wife is is one of those she's the primary force for deciding which cycle is appropriate for each individual according to their ability.

So we have we have pedal bikes.

We have hand cycles for those who may be a paraplegic or have, cannot, pedal a bike.

Right.

But they can do this.

They can do that.

And we actuall have different levels of those.

So some may ride lower than others.

Some people feel more comfortable riding up high, and some people feel they have more stability if they're lower and they can get down lower and and they feel more comfortable there.

So we have hand cycles also tha are actually designed to race.

They're they're very low riding, very aerodynamic.

So they can actually race them.

Also very expensive bikes.

But but anyway we can offer those different options for free for those.

And then we also have some tandem.

So we have a number of visuall impaired who come out and ride.

We have we need volunteers who are strong and, and can, pilot a, a tandem bike ride on the Riverwalk.

So we have lots of options and, the ad adaptive part of it is trying to determine what each person's abilities ar and adapting to those abilities, and maybe even providing such things as moving control from one side of the cycle to the other side, so that, you know that person may have more strength on one arm than in any other.

We can actually do that, make that change.

is it just on the weekends or is it during the week that we, it's generall the second Monday of each month.

Yeah.

Between April and.

Okay.

And September.

And it's held at the Tennessee River walk and the Hubert Fry centers where we start.

We've bee we've been very blessed also by, by fantastic, relationship with the Rangers over there.

They know we're coming.

They, you know, they're very, adaptive to us.

They allow us to kind of take over that, that section for a while.

But, and we have, I didn't mention outdoor Chattanooga.

They actually provide some some cycles for our volunteers.

Also, we have some cycles for our volunteers.

We asked as volunteers to bring their cycles if they want to.

We have helmets.

And so, Outdoor Chattanoog provides some additional cycles.

So I love the collaboration.

It is fantastic.

Okay.

So so we've got that do basketball.

Yes, ma'am.

Wheelchair basketball.

Right.

So, wheelchair basketbal is between, November and March, and we hold that at on the the usually the first Saturday in each mont at the Hixson Community Center.

And there again, we we're partnering with the city Chattanooga.

They they help get that facility for us and they provide some volunteers for us also.

So wow we try to design our programs so that, where it's appropriate and then family members can also participate.

So this is one of those opportunities where family members can come out and play wheelchair basketball.

And these are these are special chairs that are have cambered wheels.

They turn very easily.

And it's just a lot of fun to get out there.

So I played basketball in high school and and so it's an opportunity for me to even get out there and play a little bit and it, you know, with everybody else, but, but, yeah, we, we mix them up and we switch them in and out but but it's, it's a lot of fun I love that, I love the, water skiing.

Water skiing is, we've been very blessed.

As I say, God has been.

We know that God has been involved in our program from the start, opening opportunities, for us, giving us fantastic individuals, family and families to serve, but also fantastic volunteers that make things happen.

And water skiing is one of thos areas where we've been blessed with fantastic volunteers who have, great boats.

True story.

Early on the days before we had any boats, any association with anybody who had a boat, a ski boat, I was actually we were running one day and saw a person with a good water ski boat over the river park and chased that person down and said, hey, how would you like to bring that boat out and help us out with, adaptive water skiing?

And that person that happened to be, turned out to be a great volunteer and actually helped us do that for for a few years until they moved to another city.

But since then, we found great, great, people up in the area near Possum Creek one big event usually it's usually in August, first Saturdays.

We've been doing it now.

So like, we in the most recent one, we had like 250 people there, including serving 35 or 40, 35 to 40 skiers with various abilities and then we also had like 150 volunteers that and then their family members also came out.

So along with the water skiing, we have tools that they can ride.

We hav we were running like six boats.

Some of them pulling skiers, pulling tables.

We had pontoon boat rides that they can go on.

We have stand up paddle boards that they can get on as they're able.

And we also had som adaptive kayaks that they could, they could enjoy on that da too.

It's a it's a huge event.

And we also have fantasti support from the Hamlin County with, their emergency rescue people, and Sail Creek, they rescue people from that area, come out and bring their boats and help us keep things under control, you know, so that keeps some of the other skiers and, kind of keeping slow and respecting what we're doing out there.

It's a it's a huge event, and it's a lot of fun.

And, a new when you started was tennis.

Is that correct?

We do have a tennis program now for individuals with, that we can either do wheelchair tennis or stand up tennis.

Either one.

So we have some amputees who play with us, and, individuals who use wheelchairs.

And so and we do that the Champions Club.

And we've been doing that, about twice a month.

Our the f a champions club.

Then the, the days very depends on their availability of the courts over there.

But generall it's in the middle of the week sometime after, you know, maybe 6:00 or so.

And, we've had great, turnout for that.

Hope to get into pickleball one of these days.

And we're, we'r we're looking in that direction.

But, because we know that's a up and coming sport for a lot of people and especially individuals with wheelchairs, they can play that pretty easily.

Yeah.

Listening to all that that you guys are doing 100% volunteer, no paid staff, that is such an opportunity for our community to get engaged with any and all of these programs that you're offering, because not only are you helping, with the helping them with their physical strength, but it's also, you know building the confidence level.

It's developing social skills.

It's it's getting them out into a community of others that are like them and that laughter and having fun and competitive spirit that comes in.

So thank you, Debbie, so much for doing this.

We really appreciate you.

Well, thank you for saying that.

And we really do need volunteers for all these events.

So like for cycling, for example, if we have 25 to 30 participants, then we need at least that numbe of volunteers to ride along with with the individuals with disabilities out on the Riverwalk.

And we try to sin2, as a matte of fact, if we can, with them.

We want it to be fun but we also we we concentrate on making all of our events safe also.

So I, I can say where you would need at least three times the, the numbers of, of, participants in everything but thank you so much for coming in today.

Really, really appreciate all this information.

And I encourage our viewers once they see yo and once they learn about this, to really get involved with spark, you guys are doing a great job.

So thank you.

Thank you very much for having us.

And thank you for joining us.

We hope you've learned more about the incredible and inspiring work being done by our nonprofits.

So tell us what you think.

Email us at stronger tv.or or use the hashtag stronger WTC.

On social media.

I'm Barbara marty and from all of us here at WTC, we'll see you next time.

Support for this program is provided by the Weldon F Osborne Foundation.

The Schillhahn-Huskey Foundation.

And viewers like you.

Thank you.