Serving Individuals with Developmental Disabilities with Sam Shepherd

In this episode of the Phoenix Prosperity Podcast, Tim Fergestad sits down with Sam Shepherd, founder and CEO of 3DA (Delegation for Developmental Disability Advocacy). Sam shares his journey from Minnesota to Arizona, how a college job turned into a calling, and why he started a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for people with developmental disabilities.

Sam explains the challenges individuals face when transitioning from school into adulthood, the importance of legal rights and self-advocacy, and how assistive technology can change lives. From low-tech tools like adaptive utensils to high-tech solutions like AI assistants, Sam shows how technology can foster independence and dignity.

He also opens up about the realities of starting a nonprofit from scratch, balancing restaurant work with advocacy, and his vision of making 3DA a nationwide household name in the coming years.

If you want to better understand the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities—and how one person’s passion can grow into an organization making real change—this is a must-listen conversation.

 

----------------------------------------------- Interested in being part of this? Please visit our guest invitation page where you can learn more and fill out a brief questionnaire to get started: https://phoenixprosperitypodcast.com/guest It’s going to be enlightening and, most importantly, a lot of fun. I’d love for you to be a part of it!