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 …

Read more

Do you follow Waves Early Learning (@earlylearningwaves) on Instagram? If not, you’ve been missing the Expressing Emotions series created by Waves Early Interventionists. This week’s episode welcomes these authors Jennifer Choate, Gwen Valiquette, and Cheryl Vooris to talk in depth about the Expressing Emotions series. These Interventionists share why it’s important to teach children how to properly express their emotions and tips on how families can help them do this. Hosts Staci Davis, Matt Moore, and Christy Webb ask questions on what to do when you are frustrated and how to help others express their emotions. Hear what Christy and …

Read more

The Extended Option is offered by the Tennessee Early Intervention System to families who are eligible as a resource to extend the services they are receiving for their child with disabilities or developmental delays. This episode of Waves of Awareness welcomes Chelsey Herron to better understand what this means to families. Along with Staci Davis, Gina Wilson, Matt Moore, and Eric Wilson, the group begins by hearing Chelsey’s story. Chelsey’s daughter, Hazel, received a diagnosis of Down Syndrome during pregnancy and began receiving services from Waves Early Learning not long after Hazel was born. Because of Covid, however, Hazel’s first …

Read more

What is a Holistic Approach and how does it apply to Adult Services and Early Learning? This week’s Waves of Awareness episode welcomes back Gina and Marci from the Waves Early Learning and Adult Services Departments to discuss how a Holistic Approach can positively impact the individuals Waves supports. Waves Development and Community Relations Director, Staci Davis, leads the table alongside Christy Webb, Eric Wilson, and Matt Moore to shed some light on Holistic Approaches and how it is incorporated into the services Waves offers. Learn about a person-centered approach to IDD and how looking at an individual as a …

Read more

This episode marks the start of season 7 for Waves of Awareness! To kick start the season, we welcome guests from both Waves Early Learning and Adult Services Departments to speak on goals. Gina Wilson and Marci P. Cohen join the table alongside our host Trent Denson. Additionally, WOA welcomes Matt “the Man” Moore, Eric Wilson, Tripp Abney, and Christy Web! With the table packed, the group dives into their goals for the year and what they hope to work on in the coming months. We hear everything from work goals to personal health, as well as a few off-the-mic …

Read more

For WOA’s final episode, guests from the Residential Program, Day Program, and ECF Program gather around the mic to talk all things Thanksgiving. Trent, Matt Moore, Christy Webb, John Lynch, Beth Hughes, Waves Executive Director Lance Jordan, and Waves Development and Community Relations Director Stavi Davis start the show with Thanksgiving traditions. Listen to the group share who invested in the food and who’s there for the Thanksgiving parade. The group dives into past Thanksgivings together, having known each other for years through Waves. As the conversation goes through what everyone has planned for the holiday season, we also hear …

Read more

When it comes to treatment for Autism, WOA welcomes Jenny Baggett to share the best, current information for you to learn from. Jenny Baggett works with Vanderbilts Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) as a Behavioral Analyst. Jenny is joined by Waves Early Learning Director Gina Wilson to talk about their many collaborations together over the years, having supported the same families and assisted their growth. Trent and Matt listen to Gina and Jenny discuss how research and treatment have evolved over the years for autism and how some of the treatments would be useful for anyone …

Read more

WOA heads to Fairview for this week’s episode and it’s a packed house! With Trent, Hannah Rose, Jimmy, Jeff, Eric, Adam, Paul and our special guest Debbie Rainey the episode is packed with conversation. Debby Rainey currently works for United Way in Fairview but first connect with Waves through Meals on Wheels, where she worked for 14 years. She regularly saw the Waves Fairview Day Program Adults volunteer there and built a bond with the group. Jimmy shares her connection with Debbie and how they’ve built a positive relationship through community outreach. The rest of the group shares there plans …

Read more

This week’s episode features a special event for the entire Waves family. This year marks 50 years of spreading awareness and supporting adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities for Waves. To celebrate the amazing community Waves supports, Waves hosted their annual Brews & Grooves Fundraiser featuring performances by Aaron Bucks and Waves Adults. Additionally, the event hosted an online auction with an amazing array of items for anyone to bid on and support Waves. During the event Waves of Awareness host Trent Denson set up and interviewed guests you’ve heard on the podcast and newcomers supporting the fundraiser. …

Read more

Waves of Awareness can’t let October go by withour a special Movie Review! This episode features The Addams Family (1991 v.) Movie Review with Trent, Matt, Christy, and Eric. Listen to the group talk about their thoughts on a classic Halloween movie. Trent asks the group who their favorite characters are, which scenes stood out, and if they’d recommend it to a friend. This podcast is made possible through partnerships with Spread the Positive, TN’s Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the Community Foundation of Middle TN. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend and …

Read more