May 19, 2025 • 25 mins
S4:EP11 Disability World with Norma Stanley ft Becca Van Galder
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
My name is Norma Stanley and welcome to Disability World. Hello,
(00:36):
and welcome to another segment of Disability World where we
discuss various issues of interest and impact as it relates
to the disability community as a whole here in Georgia
and around the country and around the world. I'm your host,
Normous Stanley. And on Disability World, we love speaking with individuals,
community leaders, parents, advocates, business owners and resource providers who
(01:02):
care about this vast and vital population of about seventy
million people in the United States alone. And today we're
excited to talk to two representatives of an organization called
larsh Atlanta. And this is a nonprofit that provides services
to the disability community. And we look forward to talking
(01:22):
with Becca van Golder and Amber and we're going to
introduce them and what they do on the other side. Hello,
(01:42):
Becca and Amber, how are you.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Hi, Arma, Thank you so much for having us. We're
doing great well.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Thank you so much for being a part of Disability
World today. And tell us a little bit about larsh Atlanta.
Like I said, I it was pronounced lache, so it
was something I learned today. So tell us about Lushant
and what you're trying to do and what you're working
to do for the disability community here in the Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Market, Great amber, do you want to take this one?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Lots of lantation and no proper organization that help people
with him without disability come together in the community, make.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Create aking, Yeah, create long lasting, lasting friendships among people
with and without disabilities. And a funny name that is
hard to pronounce or hard to remember, is rooted in French.
Because we are part of a global network of large communities,
so large Atlanta is just one of the places around
(02:49):
the world.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
I think one.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Hundred, yeah, about one hundred and forty, one hundred and
forty around the world, and then there are nineteen in
the United States of large communities.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So and you all around the world do the same thing.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
We have similar Yes, we have a similar mission of
bringing together people with and without intellectual disabilities and creating
those communities of friendship and mutual relationships.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I love that. And you know, as you may or
may not know, my daughter is a person with intellectual
and physical disabilities, and she is primarily nonverbal, and she's
thirty six now. And one of the things that I've
been doing, you know, ever since she's been born, is
making sure she gets out in the community and gets involved.
(03:43):
And she's pretty much followed me all over the place.
But she loves it. And it's so funny whenever I
take her out and we go to a Walmart or something,
and people are like, you, I know her. You know,
they know my daughter because you know, in the community
events that her day program takes her to or some
of the things that I've taken her to. She gets
recognized in the community a lot more than I do
(04:03):
these days. So it's funny, you know, and I think
that's so important for our family members to, like you say,
for the communities to come together and develop friendships.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
We we have a series of programs. Some are residential,
so Amber lives in one of our residential houses.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Live in a new where they just walked in.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
On.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yeah, so we have two residential houses. But then all
of our other programs are open to anybody in the community,
whether you live with LASH or not, and they are
just meant to promote social connection. So we have Valentine's
Dances and open mic nights that are all in person,
(04:50):
but we also have a virtual program where we play
games over Zoom trivia family fe another favorite.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
One which we do a Zoom game.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Some type of something on Zoom. Every Thursday of.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
The fourth Friday of every month, we play a Zoom
game on Zoom. And so it's all meant to just
find creative in different ways to connect people. Like you said,
you know, there are barriers to social connection and just
feeling welcomed, and our whole goal at LARSH is to
connect people to combat loneliness, and.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
That is so important. I didn't unfortunately get a chance
to go to your last open mic, but it sounded
like it was gonna be so much fun. How often
do you have that event?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
That event is once a year, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Okay, the holiday carry out.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
A tumuli the name Oh that should be fun to
make note of.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
That coming up, which is one.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
We do.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
And other events that we have throughout the year include
painting in the Park, which is like a guided painting outside.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It's very peaceful and connecting. And yeah, we we play
a lot of trivia and a lot of games.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Right Well, I mean so when when the code you know,
when the parent pandemic hit, did that impact the kind
of work that you guys were doing, because you know,
the whole point was to get together and all that.
So now you're doing it digitally virtually then more so
than in person. And is it you're just getting back
(06:54):
into the in person events And how long did it
take you to get back to that that groove.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
That's a great question.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So when prior to the pandemic, everything that we did
was in person, and we would have these big events,
there would be you know, fifty two one hundred people,
and obviously when the pandemic started, we needed to totally
stop those events and we just decided to get creative.
Zoom was a tool that we had at our disposal,
(07:24):
and from there we crafted our online connections games including trivia,
including family Feud some.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Of the other named that tune, and we found that.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
That actually filled a hole that has been there for
so much longer than the pandemic. Those of us, yeah,
those of us who maybe have a traditional job, or
have access to social spaces, or have access to our
own transportation, are able to connect with other people a
(08:01):
lot more easily than the people with disabilities.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
In our community.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
And we found that the loneliness and the disconnection of
the pandemic was not new for the people with disabilities
in our community. That was something that they'd been dealing
with for so much longer, and so we did once
once we were all vaccinated.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Within our community in twenty twenty one, we.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Started to have more outdoor events and sort of re
engage the in person element.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
But we felt like it was really important to keep the.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Virtual programs up and running too, because those problems hadn't
gone away, and it was a way for us to
stay connected to people who had transportation issues. It's more
accessible for people who have lower energy. If you want
to come to an event but you don't think you
have an hour and a half of energy in you,
you can log on and log off when you get tired,
(08:52):
or go off camera and just hang out. And then
it was also more accessible for people who moved away
who don't live close enough to lash Atlanta. We're in
the Decatur area and as we all know, getting around
Atlanta is really tricky. So it's just it solved more
(09:13):
problems than we ever recognized that we had. Yeah, Yeah,
it's been a really valuable, valuable tool. And our our
virtual programs just turned five years old this week, okay,
and they're still going strong.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
So well that's exciting. I have to make sure that
you know, Sea gets to some of these virtual programs
and so definitely ones in person. Like I said, she's nonverbal.
She could say a few words, but you know, uh,
she loves anything happened to do with music, so you know,
so the name that tune might be a lot of
fun for her and then definitely for me because I'm
(09:51):
very good at music.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Tribua. Well, we actually it can't, but it's so cheat
a bot. You say a B few D in the
cat Yeah, for events, usually a B, C and D.
(10:13):
That the test to diticipate that way too.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yeah, I could always help, but do that.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Because that's our tribute game.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
With that in mind that not everybody could give a
verbal answer, and so we have the option to put
your multiple choice answer in the chat or we have
some people who just hold up a piece of paper
that says A B, C or D with their answer. Okay,
if you try to make it as accessible as possible
for as many people as possible, and yeah, it's really
it's a fun time.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Yeah. Yeah. And so when you get together in person
and you said that the the in person events are
how often they're about once a month, once a month. Okay,
that's pretty cool. That's pretty regular. Yeah, you know if
you can't, if you miss one monthly, you can get
to another event, you know, And so are they are
there things like movies or I mean what type of
(11:04):
events other than the open mic things that you do
in person.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
Beltline teas there, we kind of got together and well
Mountain played like what games and stuff?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Yeah, and on the west side belt Line we we
did a little because it's quieter on the west side,
did a little beltline stroll, just kind of exploring.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
I think we also did like a coffey shop for
those who wanted their company.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
You didn't have to get coffy, but but who wanted
it could.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Where we were going to some of the restaurants over there.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That's very important because a lot of these places are
not used to being involved with our community. In a
large number, they get kind of a little bit weirded out.
But it's just a few people. Because I know, I've
taken my daughter to I'm a food I love going
to restaurants and checking places out and I'm and she's
(12:07):
a wheelchair user, so you'd be surprised how many of
these restaurants are not really prepared, you know, especially when
they're busy to handle that, you.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Know, editionvid breeze. So I know how it is.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
Even the places that they say are acceptable, I really
accept the boot.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
So you can't have to and that too, where we
can to get where can you done?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah? Yeah, so is that an area I know that
I'm on the board of an organization called show Ability.
I'm the board chair. And one of the areas that
we did we did with with you know, trying to
bring awareness to issues like accessibility for performing artists with
disabilities and making sure that some of these stages and
(13:03):
venues have accessible you know, areas for people in wheelchairs
or you know, people who are sit and paired or whatever.
And so that's one of the things that we work
on and we were finding as we are doing some
of these events, how many places simply don't understand, even today,
with all the ADA information, how to accommodate.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
People with disabilities, yeah, networks and just the.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
The creativity that comes into accommodations that it's not just
about putting in a ramp, but it's about considering like
how close are your tables to one another, and how
high or low is the lighting that there is just
a lot of the sensory input.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
Yeah, you're right, boccommodation, Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Yeah, there are so many things, and I think that
there are places that have maybe the best of intentions,
but a lack of information.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So another at show ability. We're trying to do we
can to help educate the community. How are you guys
at LASH Atlanta doing you know that that type of education?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So part of my role is actually going and speaking
in different organizations to talk about accessibility considerations and inclusion,
because social inclusion, I think is also a really important
piece of access not just making sure that you're building
is accessible, but that your community is inclusive. And so yeah,
(14:42):
talking with faith communities, different organizations and businesses, but also
just practicing what we preach. When we have an event,
we are constantly checking in with our community members.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
How how accessible did this feel to you?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Do you have any recommendations, whether that's an in person
event or like we were saying with the virtual events,
trying to get creative with how can we open this
up to more people?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Right?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Right? And so what would you say, are you have
more you know, the things that you guys enjoy you
and Becka, Becka and Amber, what do you guys enjoy
in terms of all the community engagement events that you
guys do, which ones are the most fun for you?
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Wait? Vincam uh huh?
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Probably the open mic, send their kaoke, the holiday kaok.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Okay, and the auction. There really been been action that
we have. Really it's pretty fun.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Too, Yeah, gotta get all fancied up for that.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
When do those things take place?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So our benefit typically happens in the fall, so we're
in Stember, October, depending on the year. I think my
favorite events I really love facilitating games and so when
we have even within our our houses, the two large
houses get together for monthly potlucks and we typically play games,
(16:18):
and so I get to be the game.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Show host on that Okay, I get to tell the
music to.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
The and Amber gets to make fun of my music choices.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Just anything that brings people together and like has some
element of competition to.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Me is really nice.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
How long had Lush and have been here in Atlanta?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Two yep, thirteen, coming up on thirteen years. We open
our first house in August of twenty twelve.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Okay, okay, And so how many people do do your
houses accommodate eight?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
They have come with it everybody. Now we have seven
people returned to Hells.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Yeah, so the people with disabilities who receive services, there
are four in each house. It's a very small family
like atmosphere, and our structure is actually open to having
live in supports. We have a combination of live in
and live out direct support professionals. So the houses really
(17:28):
are meant to feel like an intentional community. We've got
people who are living together, forming those relationships, and it's
less about I'm coming into your house to provide a service,
which is important and is helpful for so many people.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
We really try to emphasize that.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
Amon is accomody work, they're within without.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Yeah, that family aspect among people with and without disabilities
is really kind of core to who we are and
what we do. And so, like Amber said, we have
space for eight people with disabilities. Right now, we have
seven who are living in our house, and we have
some exciting applicants to fill that eighth spot.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I'd like to say, I'm sure there's a bit of
a waiting.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
List, and our process for welcoming new people into the
community it can be time consuming.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Yeah, a new way to the community. I've only been
here a year in that so I'm pretty new.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, Amber is our our newest community member a year
and a half. Because many of the members of our
community choose to live at large for the rest of
their life, and so it really does become their home,
not in a temporary way, but in a very rooted
(19:07):
and permanent, permanent way.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
So it's like a family away from family in a way.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, you think it'd be building any more homes in Atlanta,
So it sounds like it would be something that would
be a big need.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
Yeah, feel quickly working towards that goal.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, So we try to take our time in building.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Rooting the houses in ways that are going to be sustainable,
rather than just duplicating over and over and over again.
We really want each house to have its own, its
own identity and stability, and that takes a lot of time,
not to mention some of the red tape that has
(19:54):
to come from setting up new residential houses. So many
large munities have five, six seven homes. We're one of
the smaller ones.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Are I think I don't even know the answer to that. Yeah,
it is, I will because I might do it well
and I can they have like Delmers inside the house
you do something.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Wow, that's pretty cool. Yeah, it has some of the
you know, some of the changes that we're seeing society
in society has negatively impacted you guys all, how are
you navigating some of the changes that we're seeing in
society when it comes to you know, people with disabilities
and the services that are provided for this community and
(20:50):
some of the cuts that they're talking about making.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yeah, so the cuts to Medicaid would definitely impact Marsh itself,
but more importantly, the people who rely on Large for
services and just the members of our community that that
we've become friends with that come to our events. We
don't necessarily provide paid services for them, but we care
(21:13):
about their well being deeply. So Large partners with some
other advocacy groups throughout the state. Amber went to the
Capital for the Georgia Council Disability Days.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
The Advocacy Days. I went to some of them too.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
We think advocacy is super important and yeah, raising up
those concerns, but definitely the cuts, it's it's hard to
say how the impact is gonna look.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
I mean, it.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Feels like it's a different concern every day.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
But yeah, is there anything that you would like to
share with the audience? Could be almost about finished with
our talk, but you know, in terms of people may
want to support or you know, how they can get
in touch with you, things like that.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Yeah, So we are currently in the middle of a
fundraising campaign to raise funds to purchase a new wheelchair
accessible van.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Amber here has a van that is kind of not great.
We need to replace it very soon.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
We've worked some temporary workarounds, but the ramp doesn't quite
work correctly. We have a fold up suitcase ramp that
we're using to get in and out of the car.
It's a whole thing that I'm sure you can relate to.
And so we're doing a campaign called Walk and Roll
that is all online, and folks who are interested in
(22:42):
supporting in that way can go to our website at
www dot larks Atlanta dot org. We have all of
our information there. That's also where you can find how
to get involved as far as joining us for our events.
All of our events one hundred percent of our events
are open to everyone disability, non disabled family members. If
(23:02):
you have a connection, if you have anybody in your
life that you want to help, connect with a supportive
and loving community. We are here and all of our
events are totally free to join and you don't have
to fill out any sort of membership. You'll find all
that information on our website and we would love to
see folks well.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Awesome. I so thank you so much, both of you
for taking a few minutes out of a busy schedule
to come and share that information. And I would definitely
my daughter and I would definitely be a part of
some of the upcoming events because I think they are
very cool. And you know, thank you again, and we
look forward to doing whatever we can show mobility and whatever.
(23:44):
But whoever out there who want to support Large Atlanta,
please look them up and do what you can to
assist because you know things are changing and we out
here who are trying to do what we can to
enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and
their families need all the help that you guys can
(24:06):
provide because it's gonna be the community at large. It's
we're gonna need to depend on each other. We need
each other, yeah, I need each other. Yeah, So thank
you again, and you know we will be in touch
definitely so much. Norma Thank you so much. Thank you
for coming forward, Amber and look forward to seeing you
in one of your in person events. Thank you, Be blessed,
(24:30):
Take care. So it was such a great opportunity to
talk with both Amber and Decca with Large Atlanta and
as you can see, they are doing that organization is
doing some amazing work, not just here in the Metrolanta area,
but around the world. So you guys definitely look up
their organization and if you're here in the Atlanta market
(24:53):
and you are connected in any way to someone with
the disability, you know, share the information and come out
support their events. So that's it for today's segment. Thank
you for tuning in to Disability World today. I look
forward to bringing you some other exciting guests within the
Metrolandic community as well as around the nation and sometimes
(25:14):
around the world, and to sharing what it is that
they do to help enhance the quality of life for
individuals and families with disabilities and to improve what needs
to be improved, because there's so many different things, but
we're all trying to do what we can to make
a difference. So thank you for being a part of
our show today and we will see you next time.
Be blessed,
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
My name is Norma Stanley and welcome to Disability World. Hello,
(00:36):
and welcome to another segment of Disability World where we
discuss various issues of interest and impact as it relates
to the disability community as a whole here in Georgia
and around the country and around the world. I'm your host,
Normous Stanley. And on Disability World, we love speaking with individuals,
community leaders, parents, advocates, business owners and resource providers who
(01:02):
care about this vast and vital population of about seventy
million people in the United States alone. And today we're
excited to talk to two representatives of an organization called
larsh Atlanta. And this is a nonprofit that provides services
to the disability community. And we look forward to talking
(01:22):
with Becca van Golder and Amber and we're going to
introduce them and what they do on the other side. Hello,
(01:42):
Becca and Amber, how are you.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Hi, Arma, Thank you so much for having us. We're
doing great well.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Thank you so much for being a part of Disability
World today. And tell us a little bit about larsh Atlanta.
Like I said, I it was pronounced lache, so it
was something I learned today. So tell us about Lushant
and what you're trying to do and what you're working
to do for the disability community here in the Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Market, Great amber, do you want to take this one?
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Lots of lantation and no proper organization that help people
with him without disability come together in the community, make.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Create aking, Yeah, create long lasting, lasting friendships among people
with and without disabilities. And a funny name that is
hard to pronounce or hard to remember, is rooted in French.
Because we are part of a global network of large communities,
so large Atlanta is just one of the places around
(02:49):
the world.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
I think one.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Hundred, yeah, about one hundred and forty, one hundred and
forty around the world, and then there are nineteen in
the United States of large communities.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So and you all around the world do the same thing.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
We have similar Yes, we have a similar mission of
bringing together people with and without intellectual disabilities and creating
those communities of friendship and mutual relationships.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I love that. And you know, as you may or
may not know, my daughter is a person with intellectual
and physical disabilities, and she is primarily nonverbal, and she's
thirty six now. And one of the things that I've
been doing, you know, ever since she's been born, is
making sure she gets out in the community and gets involved.
(03:43):
And she's pretty much followed me all over the place.
But she loves it. And it's so funny whenever I
take her out and we go to a Walmart or something,
and people are like, you, I know her. You know,
they know my daughter because you know, in the community
events that her day program takes her to or some
of the things that I've taken her to. She gets
recognized in the community a lot more than I do
(04:03):
these days. So it's funny, you know, and I think
that's so important for our family members to, like you say,
for the communities to come together and develop friendships.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
We we have a series of programs. Some are residential,
so Amber lives in one of our residential houses.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
Live in a new where they just walked in.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
On.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yeah, so we have two residential houses. But then all
of our other programs are open to anybody in the community,
whether you live with LASH or not, and they are
just meant to promote social connection. So we have Valentine's
Dances and open mic nights that are all in person,
(04:50):
but we also have a virtual program where we play
games over Zoom trivia family fe another favorite.
Speaker 6 (05:00):
One which we do a Zoom game.
Speaker 5 (05:06):
Some type of something on Zoom. Every Thursday of.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
The fourth Friday of every month, we play a Zoom
game on Zoom. And so it's all meant to just
find creative in different ways to connect people. Like you said,
you know, there are barriers to social connection and just
feeling welcomed, and our whole goal at LARSH is to
connect people to combat loneliness, and.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
That is so important. I didn't unfortunately get a chance
to go to your last open mic, but it sounded
like it was gonna be so much fun. How often
do you have that event?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
That event is once a year, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Okay, the holiday carry out.
Speaker 6 (06:00):
A tumuli the name Oh that should be fun to
make note of.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
That coming up, which is one.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
We do.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
And other events that we have throughout the year include
painting in the Park, which is like a guided painting outside.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
It's very peaceful and connecting. And yeah, we we play
a lot of trivia and a lot of games.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Right Well, I mean so when when the code you know,
when the parent pandemic hit, did that impact the kind
of work that you guys were doing, because you know,
the whole point was to get together and all that.
So now you're doing it digitally virtually then more so
than in person. And is it you're just getting back
(06:54):
into the in person events And how long did it
take you to get back to that that groove.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
That's a great question.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
So when prior to the pandemic, everything that we did
was in person, and we would have these big events,
there would be you know, fifty two one hundred people,
and obviously when the pandemic started, we needed to totally
stop those events and we just decided to get creative.
Zoom was a tool that we had at our disposal,
(07:24):
and from there we crafted our online connections games including trivia,
including family Feud some.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Of the other named that tune, and we found that.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
That actually filled a hole that has been there for
so much longer than the pandemic. Those of us, yeah,
those of us who maybe have a traditional job, or
have access to social spaces, or have access to our
own transportation, are able to connect with other people a
(08:01):
lot more easily than the people with disabilities.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
In our community.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
And we found that the loneliness and the disconnection of
the pandemic was not new for the people with disabilities
in our community. That was something that they'd been dealing
with for so much longer, and so we did once
once we were all vaccinated.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Within our community in twenty twenty one, we.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Started to have more outdoor events and sort of re
engage the in person element.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
But we felt like it was really important to keep the.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Virtual programs up and running too, because those problems hadn't
gone away, and it was a way for us to
stay connected to people who had transportation issues. It's more
accessible for people who have lower energy. If you want
to come to an event but you don't think you
have an hour and a half of energy in you,
you can log on and log off when you get tired,
(08:52):
or go off camera and just hang out. And then
it was also more accessible for people who moved away
who don't live close enough to lash Atlanta. We're in
the Decatur area and as we all know, getting around
Atlanta is really tricky. So it's just it solved more
(09:13):
problems than we ever recognized that we had. Yeah, Yeah,
it's been a really valuable, valuable tool. And our our
virtual programs just turned five years old this week, okay,
and they're still going strong.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
So well that's exciting. I have to make sure that
you know, Sea gets to some of these virtual programs
and so definitely ones in person. Like I said, she's nonverbal.
She could say a few words, but you know, uh,
she loves anything happened to do with music, so you know,
so the name that tune might be a lot of
fun for her and then definitely for me because I'm
(09:51):
very good at music.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Tribua. Well, we actually it can't, but it's so cheat
a bot. You say a B few D in the
cat Yeah, for events, usually a B, C and D.
(10:13):
That the test to diticipate that way too.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Yeah, I could always help, but do that.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Because that's our tribute game.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
With that in mind that not everybody could give a
verbal answer, and so we have the option to put
your multiple choice answer in the chat or we have
some people who just hold up a piece of paper
that says A B, C or D with their answer. Okay,
if you try to make it as accessible as possible
for as many people as possible, and yeah, it's really
it's a fun time.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Yeah. Yeah. And so when you get together in person
and you said that the the in person events are
how often they're about once a month, once a month. Okay,
that's pretty cool. That's pretty regular. Yeah, you know if
you can't, if you miss one monthly, you can get
to another event, you know, And so are they are
there things like movies or I mean what type of
(11:04):
events other than the open mic things that you do
in person.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
Beltline teas there, we kind of got together and well
Mountain played like what games and stuff?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Yeah, and on the west side belt Line we we
did a little because it's quieter on the west side,
did a little beltline stroll, just kind of exploring.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
I think we also did like a coffey shop for
those who wanted their company.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
You didn't have to get coffy, but but who wanted
it could.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Where we were going to some of the restaurants over there.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That's very important because a lot of these places are
not used to being involved with our community. In a
large number, they get kind of a little bit weirded out.
But it's just a few people. Because I know, I've
taken my daughter to I'm a food I love going
to restaurants and checking places out and I'm and she's
(12:07):
a wheelchair user, so you'd be surprised how many of
these restaurants are not really prepared, you know, especially when
they're busy to handle that, you.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Know, editionvid breeze. So I know how it is.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
Even the places that they say are acceptable, I really
accept the boot.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
So you can't have to and that too, where we
can to get where can you done?
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yeah? Yeah, so is that an area I know that
I'm on the board of an organization called show Ability.
I'm the board chair. And one of the areas that
we did we did with with you know, trying to
bring awareness to issues like accessibility for performing artists with
disabilities and making sure that some of these stages and
(13:03):
venues have accessible you know, areas for people in wheelchairs
or you know, people who are sit and paired or whatever.
And so that's one of the things that we work
on and we were finding as we are doing some
of these events, how many places simply don't understand, even today,
with all the ADA information, how to accommodate.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
People with disabilities, yeah, networks and just the.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
The creativity that comes into accommodations that it's not just
about putting in a ramp, but it's about considering like
how close are your tables to one another, and how
high or low is the lighting that there is just
a lot of the sensory input.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
Yeah, you're right, boccommodation, Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Yeah, there are so many things, and I think that
there are places that have maybe the best of intentions,
but a lack of information.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
So another at show ability. We're trying to do we
can to help educate the community. How are you guys
at LASH Atlanta doing you know that that type of education?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
So part of my role is actually going and speaking
in different organizations to talk about accessibility considerations and inclusion,
because social inclusion, I think is also a really important
piece of access not just making sure that you're building
is accessible, but that your community is inclusive. And so yeah,
(14:42):
talking with faith communities, different organizations and businesses, but also
just practicing what we preach. When we have an event,
we are constantly checking in with our community members.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
How how accessible did this feel to you?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Do you have any recommendations, whether that's an in person
event or like we were saying with the virtual events,
trying to get creative with how can we open this
up to more people?
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Right?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Right? And so what would you say, are you have
more you know, the things that you guys enjoy you
and Becka, Becka and Amber, what do you guys enjoy
in terms of all the community engagement events that you
guys do, which ones are the most fun for you?
Speaker 5 (15:26):
Wait? Vincam uh huh?
Speaker 6 (15:31):
Probably the open mic, send their kaoke, the holiday kaok.
Speaker 5 (15:37):
Okay, and the auction. There really been been action that
we have. Really it's pretty fun.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Too, Yeah, gotta get all fancied up for that.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
When do those things take place?
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So our benefit typically happens in the fall, so we're
in Stember, October, depending on the year. I think my
favorite events I really love facilitating games and so when
we have even within our our houses, the two large
houses get together for monthly potlucks and we typically play games,
(16:18):
and so I get to be the game.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Show host on that Okay, I get to tell the
music to.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
The and Amber gets to make fun of my music choices.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Just anything that brings people together and like has some
element of competition to.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
Me is really nice.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
How long had Lush and have been here in Atlanta?
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Two yep, thirteen, coming up on thirteen years. We open
our first house in August of twenty twelve.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Okay, okay, And so how many people do do your
houses accommodate eight?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
They have come with it everybody. Now we have seven
people returned to Hells.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Yeah, so the people with disabilities who receive services, there
are four in each house. It's a very small family
like atmosphere, and our structure is actually open to having
live in supports. We have a combination of live in
and live out direct support professionals. So the houses really
(17:28):
are meant to feel like an intentional community. We've got
people who are living together, forming those relationships, and it's
less about I'm coming into your house to provide a service,
which is important and is helpful for so many people.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
We really try to emphasize that.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
Amon is accomody work, they're within without.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Yeah, that family aspect among people with and without disabilities
is really kind of core to who we are and
what we do. And so, like Amber said, we have
space for eight people with disabilities. Right now, we have
seven who are living in our house, and we have
some exciting applicants to fill that eighth spot.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I'd like to say, I'm sure there's a bit of
a waiting.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
List, and our process for welcoming new people into the
community it can be time consuming.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
Yeah, a new way to the community. I've only been
here a year in that so I'm pretty new.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, Amber is our our newest community member a year
and a half. Because many of the members of our
community choose to live at large for the rest of
their life, and so it really does become their home,
not in a temporary way, but in a very rooted
(19:07):
and permanent, permanent way.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
So it's like a family away from family in a way.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Yeah, you think it'd be building any more homes in Atlanta,
So it sounds like it would be something that would
be a big need.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
Yeah, feel quickly working towards that goal.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Yeah, So we try to take our time in building.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Rooting the houses in ways that are going to be sustainable,
rather than just duplicating over and over and over again.
We really want each house to have its own, its
own identity and stability, and that takes a lot of time,
not to mention some of the red tape that has
(19:54):
to come from setting up new residential houses. So many
large munities have five, six seven homes. We're one of
the smaller ones.
Speaker 5 (20:08):
Are I think I don't even know the answer to that. Yeah,
it is, I will because I might do it well
and I can they have like Delmers inside the house
you do something.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Wow, that's pretty cool. Yeah, it has some of the
you know, some of the changes that we're seeing society
in society has negatively impacted you guys all, how are
you navigating some of the changes that we're seeing in
society when it comes to you know, people with disabilities
and the services that are provided for this community and
(20:50):
some of the cuts that they're talking about making.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Yeah, so the cuts to Medicaid would definitely impact Marsh itself,
but more importantly, the people who rely on Large for
services and just the members of our community that that
we've become friends with that come to our events. We
don't necessarily provide paid services for them, but we care
(21:13):
about their well being deeply. So Large partners with some
other advocacy groups throughout the state. Amber went to the
Capital for the Georgia Council Disability Days.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
The Advocacy Days. I went to some of them too.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
We think advocacy is super important and yeah, raising up
those concerns, but definitely the cuts, it's it's hard to
say how the impact is gonna look.
Speaker 5 (21:45):
I mean, it.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Feels like it's a different concern every day.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
But yeah, is there anything that you would like to
share with the audience? Could be almost about finished with
our talk, but you know, in terms of people may
want to support or you know, how they can get
in touch with you, things like that.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Yeah, So we are currently in the middle of a
fundraising campaign to raise funds to purchase a new wheelchair
accessible van.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Amber here has a van that is kind of not great.
We need to replace it very soon.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
We've worked some temporary workarounds, but the ramp doesn't quite
work correctly. We have a fold up suitcase ramp that
we're using to get in and out of the car.
It's a whole thing that I'm sure you can relate to.
And so we're doing a campaign called Walk and Roll
that is all online, and folks who are interested in
(22:42):
supporting in that way can go to our website at
www dot larks Atlanta dot org. We have all of
our information there. That's also where you can find how
to get involved as far as joining us for our events.
All of our events one hundred percent of our events
are open to everyone disability, non disabled family members. If
(23:02):
you have a connection, if you have anybody in your
life that you want to help, connect with a supportive
and loving community. We are here and all of our
events are totally free to join and you don't have
to fill out any sort of membership. You'll find all
that information on our website and we would love to
see folks well.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Awesome. I so thank you so much, both of you
for taking a few minutes out of a busy schedule
to come and share that information. And I would definitely
my daughter and I would definitely be a part of
some of the upcoming events because I think they are
very cool. And you know, thank you again, and we
look forward to doing whatever we can show mobility and whatever.
(23:44):
But whoever out there who want to support Large Atlanta,
please look them up and do what you can to
assist because you know things are changing and we out
here who are trying to do what we can to
enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and
their families need all the help that you guys can
(24:06):
provide because it's gonna be the community at large. It's
we're gonna need to depend on each other. We need
each other, yeah, I need each other. Yeah, So thank
you again, and you know we will be in touch
definitely so much. Norma Thank you so much. Thank you
for coming forward, Amber and look forward to seeing you
in one of your in person events. Thank you, Be blessed,
(24:30):
Take care. So it was such a great opportunity to
talk with both Amber and Decca with Large Atlanta and
as you can see, they are doing that organization is
doing some amazing work, not just here in the Metrolanta area,
but around the world. So you guys definitely look up
their organization and if you're here in the Atlanta market
(24:53):
and you are connected in any way to someone with
the disability, you know, share the information and come out
support their events. So that's it for today's segment. Thank
you for tuning in to Disability World today. I look
forward to bringing you some other exciting guests within the
Metrolandic community as well as around the nation and sometimes
(25:14):
around the world, and to sharing what it is that
they do to help enhance the quality of life for
individuals and families with disabilities and to improve what needs
to be improved, because there's so many different things, but
we're all trying to do what we can to make
a difference. So thank you for being a part of
our show today and we will see you next time.
Be blessed,
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