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  • Monday, February 20, 2023 8:57 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
    ‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

    I am so grateful for this walk God has given me with Morgan. Through it, He is continuing to help me grow in my relationship with Him each day. He is forever teaching me what I thought I knew, But Didn’t. 

    Recently, our pastor presented a message about serious faith, like that of the centurion in Luke chapter seven. He sent his request to Jesus, “I’m not worthy to come to you or for you to come under my roof, but JUST SAY THE WORD and my servant will be healed.” His faith even Amazed Jesus. The centurion returned home to see his servant healed.

    This brings me to a situation I’ve faced on more than a one occasion. Someone, who is very well intended, tells me if I had enough faith, my child would be healed. A while back, when I brought this up to my pastor, he said “Well, bless their heart.”  ❤

    I don’t say this to offend anyone. It’s something I’ve had to reconcile with myself, my understanding of faith and trust. I remember in my early years of parenting, someone telling me an issue they were facing with their child. I flippantly said “I just pray.” Now I realize how that may have come across, that maybe I thought they weren’t praying enough. Wow, as believers, we really have to be thoughtful about our words.

    In Hebrews chapter eleven, we are told “without faith, it is impossible to please God”. I know and believe the importance of faith. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours, so I trust He is always working in ways I cannot see. It’s not just about Morgan, or me. It’s about a plan that’s So Much Bigger than any one of us. And yet, it’s about His Love for each and every one of us.

    I do believe in miracles, BIG and small. Over the years, I’ve prayed for others and myself. I’ve felt the prayers of family and friends. I’ve seen the physical results of prayer first hand. I have no doubt when it’s God’s will to heal, He does.

    I’ve prayed countless times for hard things to be removed. Still do. The truth is, no matter how fervent our faith is, sometimes we don’t get the physical results we long to see here. We’re told Jesus prayed for a cup to pass, but trusted His Father’s will. What if He didn’t? What if He hadn’t gone to that cross? Where would we be? Jesus knew His Father’s Love for Him. I know God’s perfect love for me. So therefore, I TRUST His will for me.

    There was a time when my number one prayer was physical healing for Morgan. I still pray against the things she struggles with, but now I understand, it’s our hearts that need healing the most.

    Until Next Time,

    Know The Hope!


    **Disclaimer::The information and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Tuesday, January 17, 2023 11:38 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Thank you Miriam for offering this useful information to families considering entrepreneurship. Miriam and Douglas Neal created AbleHope (ablehope.com) to show that although it’s challenging to care for an adult child with a disability, just a little dash of hope is enough to power you through from one day to the next.

    It's tricky to juggle the responsibilities of parenting and business ownership, and doing so while living with disabilities can be even more of a challenge. Knowing what steps to take, when to take them, and what help is available to you will make this trio of stressors far more manageable. So here are some tips and resources to help you get started.

    Write a Business Plan

    A lack of planning is the best way to fail before your venture even begins. When you’re starting a new company, a viable business plan details what your company does in terms of products and services, how those commodities are sold to your customers, what profits you can expect, how much funding you'll need, and any other factors you feel are important to articulate in writing. Your plan should also reflect what scale your company will be starting at, whether it's to be housed in a home office or a physical storefront.

    Plan your organization with accessibility in mind. Though your specific disability may not prevent you from climbing stairs, for instance, keeping your store accessible to every kind of person will attract a wider clientele. Your local laws and regulations may also require certain disability accommodations for your business to legally operate.

    Your business plan will not only provide you with a roadmap, eliminating the stress of guesswork while you attend to your other limitations and obligations, but it will also attract potential investors. Banks and private funders will want to know that you're capable of delivering on your business's promise. A properly developed plan will assure them of just that. But be aware that potential lenders may also run your credit report to see if you have a history of repaying your debts. If your credit score is too low, you may be denied. It’s best to check your own rating before making any formal financial requests.

    Know Your Local Requirements

    With a plan and funding secured, you should make sure your business can operate legally as well as effectively. Your local laws may require your organization to have an Employee Identification Number. An EIN functions the same as a social security number but is used for government processes regarding businesses rather than people. Setting this up early on will spare you from a tax time scramble later.

    There are a variety of licenses and permits your company will also require depending on your region and field of work. For example, restaurants will require staff to have food service certifications while a manufacturer will need to provide certifications for the operation of heavy machinery. There's no shame in seeking professional help to make sure your company is obtaining all the proper permissions before you begin operating.

    You will also need to find out which employee benefits are required and which you would like to add to your benefits package. You are mandated to offer things like FMLA, disability, social security, and worker’s compensation. But most employees also expect non-required benefits, like paid time off, health insurance, and retirement plans.

    Advertise Effectively

    A company isn't much of anything without customers, so it's a good idea to get the word out about what you're offering as early as possible. Advertising comes in many forms, the most obvious of which are flyers and print ads in local publications. This is fine if you're only marketing to people in your town, but an online presence is vital for online businesses or ones that are branching out.

    Consider developing your online presence. A large majority of consumers utilize social media to determine which businesses to support. Themeisle explains that a functional and accessible website is also a must in putting your best foot forward online so you can show your customers the professionalism and care you're bringing to the business. You may even consider highlighting the accessibility measures mentioned previously.

    While you can easily spread the word via social media, don’t neglect some old-fashioned approaches, too. For example, you can use a free business card design tool to generate cards that you can pass out to potential clients, or leave at key locations where potential customers are likely to gather.

    Advertise Effectively

    Once your business is ready to operate and your customers know where you are and what you sell, all that's left to do is open. With these complicated aspects in place, starting a business is far more manageable, even for a parent living with disabilities. Just remember to write a business plan, learn about requirements, and market effectively.

    Know the Hope is dedicated to helping both communities and parents embrace the wonder that is their child with disabilities. Visit them online for resources and more information about how you can support or be supported by our mission.

    By Miriam Neal Ablehope.com

    Until Next Time,

    Know The Hope!

    Tammy Vice


    **Disclaimer::The information and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


  • Monday, December 19, 2022 10:51 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    A Note From Mom - I remember all the attempts Allison made to connect with Morgan in their younger years, with very little reciprocation. My hope has always been for my daughters to somehow be able to build a sweet sister bond with each other. With six years, fourteen hundred miles, and a wall of autism between them, that hope still sits on the top of my list. ❤

     These days, Morgan talks about Allison a lot, when she’s away. She tells me things to tell her. She talks about wanting to visit her and Jabe at their “new old house”. Although Morgan still stumbles and struggles to reach out to Allison directly, I see her desire to. I see the knowledge and understanding Allison has gained over the years, and I am grateful. It takes two to dance, and I do believe they are both closer to learning the steps of a sweet sister dance that is uniquely there own.

    Allison’s Perspective - As Morgan’s sister, I have had my world view expanded. She taught me to see diversity in others and to practice patience and understanding because you never know what someone is going through. When she was diagnosed with autism when I was around 9, it didn’t change how I saw her. She was just my quirky sister that I connected with not in the typical ways of late-night girl talks but in singing silly songs together. However, if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been exposed to the wonderful and complex world of autism. When I began to meet others that supposedly had the same diagnosis as her, I was at first shocked and confused to see how none of them were really like her but how they all still felt similar. I fell in love with trying to figure out how to communicate and teach each one because they were all so different. This set me on a career path that started when I was a teenager and has continued into my mid 30’s of working in the special education field. This career choice has come with A LOT of ups and downs but has also made me into the person I am today…. someone who wants to help people by finding ways to customize supports to meet their needs while showing kindness and understanding. If it wasn’t for Morgan and her gift of autism, I don’t know what I would be doing with my life right now.

    Sister Dinner Date

    Morgan has also taught me what it means to be unselfish, as it is common knowledge for most individuals on the spectrum that they unashamedly assume the world revolves around them. You can’t be mad at them for that though because it comes with having social skills deficits. With that being said, I had to learn to put myself aside to meet her unique needs and strange demands as this would bring her joy. I also feel a responsibility though to use my special education knowledge to help push her and help her grow into experiencing the fullest potential for her life. My sisterly relationship with Morgan is at times more like a motherly one. I try to be careful of this though and remain as more of her sister since she already has a wonderful mother and needs a different connection with me.

    So, thank you Morgan for helping me learn more of what it means to love others for who they truly are and for expanding the way that I see the world and helping me find a sense of passion and purpose for my life.

    Love you sister!

    Allison

    Love you dearly Allison. ❤ Thank you for sharing,

    Mom


    *Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Tuesday, November 22, 2022 9:33 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Site logo image

    “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

    As the parent of an adult child with disabilities, I’ve experienced a Whole Lot of Love, but I’ve also seen a Ton of Injustice over the years. The song idea for “What The King Didn’t Know” came to me after seeing those who are powerful repeatedly abusing and bullying the powerless.

    We are called to look after those who cannot take care of themselves. In my frustration, I cried and questioned and prayed. God reminded me of the story of King Herod and the Christ child. That king had no idea who he was messing with. ❤

    One little baby, laid in a manger

    I find my peace and my HOPE in knowing I serve a God who is All Powerful, but is not without compassion.

    “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

    He sent His own Son as a baby, fully divine, yet fully human, to experience every injustice we have and more. He knows the heart of every man. I rest in the fact that one day nothing will be hidden, and He will ultimately right every wrong. Below are the lyrics to the song.

    What The King Didn’t Know

    One little baby, laid in a manger

    Two knelt beside Him while angels sang

    Three came the wise men. Then Herod, the stranger

    vowed he had plans for the small Nazarene

    But the king didn’t know the Power of God

    How the meek get their strength from the Staff and the Rod

    Where that little child lead, wise men still follow

    ‘Cause we can believe in, what the king didn’t know

    Herod passed on, but Christ lives Forever

    In every heart of those born again

    Deaths Keys were snatched from the Master Deceiver

    Salvation was given to mere mortal man

    But the king didn’t know the Power of God

    How the meek get their strength from the Staff and the Rod

    Where that little child lead, wise men still follow

    ‘Cause we can believe in, what the king didn’t know

    We must remember when we’re feeling small

    The One who is with us, will Rise Above All

    But the king didn’t know the Power of God

    How the meek get their strength from the Staff and the Rod

    Where that little child lead, wise men still follow

    ‘Cause we can believe in, what the king didn’t know

    Yes, we can believe in, what the king didn’t know

    Tammy Vice (c) 2000 J Rees music BMI

     

    Two knelt beside Him, while angels sang

    Until Next Time,

    Know The Hope!

    Tammy

    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


  • Monday, September 26, 2022 1:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

    Autism’s cousins are anxiety and OCD. Add the end of summer, pedal to the metal scheduling, returning to fall activities, and before long we are all hyperventilating. Every year that this season comes around, I have to remind myself that we don’t have to be present at every gathering.

    Morgan checking her September calender

    We are a family of planners. As I sat down with my mom for a visit recently, she pulled out her calendar. It had brightly colored highlighted circles on most of the days. I find myself checking my phone calendar regularly, still being surprised by upcoming events. And both of my girls are attached to their calendars.

    Morgan has an ongoing list of dates she is looking forward to, and items she needs when she gets there. She becomes agitated when dwelling on things that are too far off. So. Do. I. When I feel like the ball is rolling out from under us, I call a break. We have both been working on this skill for a long time. We take a few deep breaths and say “Let’s Just Do Today”.

    Fall Practice - S’mores in the backyard

    Our backyard is the perfect “Just Do Today” spot. No calendars. No planners. Just calm, quiet, shady time.

    To all our friends, Hope you’re able to get s’more backyard time this Fall.

    Autumn Hugs! 

    Know The Hope,

    Tammy


    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Monday, August 22, 2022 1:17 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    “Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.” Mary Manin Morrissey

    This summer, we had the chance to visit Allison and her husband, Jabe. Morgan was excited to see them and their “new old house”, a beautiful home in Bucksport, Maine.

    “New Old House” Backyard View

    They kept us busy touring the towns of Bucksport, Belfast, and Bangor. But mostly, it was just good to see their faces and get some hugs. ❤ We can see why they love the area. We collected some sweet memories from our visit there.

    Allison and Jabe in Belfast

    Right now they are busy with a serious kitchen renovation. Since Allison’s birthday is coming up, we thought she’d enjoy receiving her Mamaw Vice’s china for the new kitchen. Morgan supervised, while I gathered all the pieces to take to the “Brown Truck Store”. Soon, Allison will be “Waiting on a Brown Truck”

    Kazooing Allison a Happy Birthday!

    When Dad came in and saw the dishes being packed, he said it reminded him of Mamaw Vice’s gumbo. He would always try to grab a large serving bowl for his portion. Mamaw would get on to him, and hand him a regular bowl.   We hope Allison and Jabe enjoy making new memories with it soon.

    Until Next Time,

    Know The Hope!

    Tammy


    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


  • Thursday, July 21, 2022 11:15 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    “I praise You. For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14 NKJV

    Recently, Morgan began to get grumpier, specifically with me. Every interaction brought a harsh response. I noticed she was also having more trouble following through with simple directions. From past experience, this is usually a sign she’s in pain, sick, or about to be. Sure enough, after a couple of days, she began to complain, saying there was an “airplane in her ear”. A checkup revealed an ear infection. The day after beginning treatment, she was back to her normal, lovable grumpy, self. 

    I used to blame everything on autism. Time, experience, and a very wise developmental pediatrician have taught me not to give autism so much credit. All behavior is NOT autistic behavior. It is just a piece of Morgan’s makeup. She is So Much More than that. Viewing everything through the lens of autism not only limits my ability to help her. It limits her possibilities.

                                                   Ms. Morgan’s Sunday Best

    Like each and every one of us, Morgan is remarkably made. She is an opinionated young woman, with a strong personality. She is creative and imaginative. While autism plays a partial role, bringing her unique strengths and weaknesses, it’s far from the whole picture. Each experience, each challenge and opportunity she’s given by those of us who see her as MORE, continues to help her grow.

    Until Next Time,

    Know The Hope!

    Tammy

    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.



  • Monday, May 23, 2022 9:29 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”
    ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭118:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

    I am so grateful God allowed me to be a mom, because it has given me a much deeper understanding of His love and care for me.

    I have two daughters, ages 34 and 28. If either of them truly has a need, there’s nothing, within my power, I wouldn’t do to provide encouragement and support.

    Me and My Girls

    While Allison is a fully independent adult, autism has kept Morgan my forever child. She requires a full time caregiver. Two of the biggest challenges for Morgan, and many others on the autism spectrum, are communication and social skills.

    When you are providing care for someone who isn’t always able to communicate their needs, and doesn’t have the social skills to respond appropriately to disappointment, it can be very daunting at times. I am always walking that tightrope of challenging Morgan to be her best, and giving her grace for behaviors that I believe are beyond her ability to control. On most days, she rises above the challenges. ❤ On her hardest days, regardless of my best human efforts to meet her needs, anxiety and OCD can bring on panic and a meltdown.

    On my hardest days, when I catch myself dwelling on the negatives, the what ifs, and my heart starts to pound out of my chest with fear of tomorrow’s unknowns, I don’t have the words to speak in my prayers. But the beauty of God being my caregiver, is that He knows me inside out. He is able to interpret my cries. He knows my every need. He reminds me that He Has given me the ability to control my thoughts. He challenges me, corrects me, and gives me grace just when I need it most. He calms me and gives me hope.

    “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

    I am so amazed that we can simply speak to God anytime we wish, that He is there to listen and meet the deepest needs of our hearts. The song below was written by John Swaim and myself. Hope it brings you the joy and strength you need for this day.

    https://open.spotify.com/track/2yl1kDsjkRv0epKyokLJeb?si=16aoggFqSHaDIm2mu8Et2Q

    Ordinary Day on Youtube

    To sum it all up, as hard as some days can be, the best days outweigh them by far. I’ll say it again. I’m grateful to be a mom, and a caregiver. And I am eternally grateful for my Caregiver.

    In closing, I’d like to leave you with a smile from Morgan & Mom on one of our daily drives.

    “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 11:15 NKJV

    Recent Car Navigation Conversation: Morgan and I use Siri to deliver meals on wheels. Part of her job is to call out the street number to Siri, then I call out the street. I decided to challenge her this week to start saying the street names. Turns out Siri was the one who was challenged.

    Me, pointing to S. Valley Rd. - “Say South Valley Road”
    Morgan - “Salley Valley Road”
    Siri - “I could be a little off…”
    Me, pointing again - “Say South Valley Road”
    Morgan - “Salley Vath Road”
    Siri - spinning, no reply
    Me - laughing hard and writing the word “South”
    Morgan, getting it perfect “South Valley Road”
    Me- still laughing in the background.
    Siri - “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
    Morgan - “Mom’s fault”  ❤

    Know The Hope!

    Tammy


    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Tuesday, April 19, 2022 10:45 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Morgan’s first job was at a sandwich shop, acquired through vocational rehab, the summer she left high school. She was there for four years, maintaining her position, until the shop shut down during the pandemic. While waiting for things to open back up, she began delivering Meals on Wheels as a volunteer. She has found this more meaningful and fulfilling, seeing first hand what she is doing matters to the people she serves. We love seeing her contributing to community and enjoying it. She says, “I’m doing a good job!”

    The path to success looks different for everyone. Appreciate Ed Carter from Able Futures offering this article on employment possibilities for disabled entrepreneurs.


    Home Business Opportunities

    “My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you from doing well and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” Stephen Hawking.

    According to The World Bank, approximately 15% of the world’s population is living with a form of disability, either visual, hearing, mobility, or any number of health conditions that prevent them from being able to work at 100% capacity. But the desire and need to work doesn’t go away when the disability is there. It’s just that the conditions of that work will require some out-of-the-box thinking~~the traditional box, that is.

    Here, blogger Tammy Vice and her daughter Morgan, who lives with autism, suggest job opportunities that people with disabilities may find interesting and lucrative. Then they offer tips on how those new entrepreneurs can structure and manage their own home businesses.

    Visually impaired persons, like The Blind Cook and Master Chef winner Christine Ha, have more opportunities for home-based work than ever before. Thanks to the great strides in innovations to assist the blind, the opportunities for owning their own home-based businesses have grown significantly. Working from home as a researcher is a job that’s not only in demand but where the income can average about $60,000 annually, while a research assistant will make about half of that. People who are visually impaired might also look into at-home jobs like podcast or radio broadcasters or creating their own YouTube channels that can be monetized

    People who suffer a partial or total hearing loss like Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin might find they can mix their love of painting, photography, sculpting, or mixed media with a home business. Sales platforms like Etsy and Shopify are popular for selling homemade goods and crafts, while Artfinder and Redbubble are good for selling art. These sites are extremely popular for shoppers who are looking for something unique. Rideshare drivers are always in demand and the Uber and Lyft apps let riders know their driver is deaf and will make sure all instructions are printed.

    For someone with mobility limitations like film and television actor Micah Fowler, opportunities to work a home-based business with jobs like a professional translator, customer service representative, tutor/teacher, or graphic designer can be quite lucrative. It’s also a great mood lifter because it allows a person who may spend a great deal of time at home an opportunity to interact with others regularly. Many novelists, video producers, political advisors, fundraisers, and social media managers have become successful despite having limited mobility.

    People with autism spectrum disorder, like screenplay writer and television producer Dan Harmon, are finding a wealth of opportunities in working for themselves from home. Animal care businesses like pet sitting or dog walking are in high demand, as are careers in engineering and information technology, fields where remote work is becoming the norm.

    Marketing and creating a business financial structure from home DIY style has never been easier with an abundance of software and apps to do things like creating business cards and logos to targeting audiences on social media sites like Instagram and TikTok. Free financial software is available to help track sales, taxes, income, and expenses.

    Getting a business off the ground will take a bit of forethought and planning, but with some expert advice into the step-by-step process, it can be done entirely from a home computer. Starting with preparing a business plan, choosing how to structure a business, and tips on smart marketing, people are finding they can, with the help of smart online tools and tutorials, create their own businesses themselves right from home.

    One last thing to keep in mind. Starting a business can be challenging and rewarding for anyone, and maybe a bit more so for those living with a disability, but finding what you love doing and letting that be your starting point means knowing that no matter how tough the obstacles may seem, it will make success all that much sweeter when it happens.

    Ed Carter


    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.

  • Tuesday, March 22, 2022 8:55 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    “Music is the universal language of mankind.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

    For communication and education, music is a wonderful facilitator. Songwriting has been a great way for Morgan and I to connect and for her to increase her vocabulary. We write about whatever she’s excited about at the time. I love to hear her perspective. She has such a unique way of phrasing things. When she sees me writing down her words, it encourages her to continue sharing.

    I’m not joking when I say songwriting is also my therapy. It’s a musical journaling of our family’s story; the hurts, hopes, and lessons learned. It’s always a privilege to share the songs and stories with those who are there with a listening ear. We appreciate you!

    After two years of Hitting the Brakes, we are back on April 12th for the 19th Annual Breaking The Chains Benefit to support Autism Tennessee. We are grateful to the Bluebird Cafe’ for partnering with us all these years.

    Morgan Vice, cutting the ribbon to open the show

    One of the biggest challenges for individuals on the autism spectrum (and the rest of the world lately) is meaningful communication. As the world’s best “listening room”, the Bluebird has always been the perfect venue to share our message of autism awareness. Music carries words to a place they’re unable to travel alone.

    Writers joining myself for the early show are John SwaimStephen Lee Veal and Suzi Ragsdale. We’ll also feature Morgan Vice and Logan Blade, a young man on the autism spectrum. He’s a man of few words who finds his voice through the music.

    The late show will be hosted by our dear friend Les Kerr. Other writers joining him are Wood NewtonDevon O’Day, and Casey Kelly. Many thanks to all the writers for sharing their time and talent.

    We hope you’ll join us on April 12th. Reservations are open online only, one week prior to the show on The Bluebird Cafe’ website .

    Until Next Time,

    Know The Hope!

    Tammy


    **Disclaimer: **The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views or opinions of Autism Tennessee. The author and the blog are not be held responsible for any misuse, reuse, recycled and cited and/or uncited copies of content within this blog by others.


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