Maury County Nonprofits Work to Create an Inclusive Community for All Residents
Maury County’s businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations are working together to create opportunities for residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), fostering empowerment and a welcoming environment within the community.
Organizations, such as AU-some Maury, the Miracle League of Columbia at Maury County Park, Progressive Directions and The King’s Daughters’ School, provide a diverse and robust range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals with IDD, including vocational training, job placement assistance, educational programs and social integration initiatives.
Independence for All
Creating inclusive spaces is just one way nonprofits support residents with IDD. Progressive Directions, for example, offers a comprehensive range of services and programs tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals with IDD, including residential support, vocational training, day programs and community integration activities. Through person-centered planning and individualized support plans, Progressive Directions empowers individuals with IDD to set and achieve personal goals, pursue meaningful employment opportunities and actively participate in community life.
In the same vein, The King’s Daughters’ School educates children with IDD to become integrated into the community and develop semi-independence. The school accepts students from across Maury County and the country.
“When the school was founded, children with special needs either stayed at home or were institutionalized. The idea that children with intellectual delays could learn was revolutionary,” says Shauna Pounders, executive director of The King’s Daughters’ School. “But this group of volunteer ladies said, ‘Yes, they absolutely can.’ We’ve been here ever since, serving students with intellectual disabilities and autism.”
The school offers both an educational day program for school-aged children as well as a residential program for older students and adults. The school also hosts clubs and weekend activities that involve the community, including the Special Olympics and a school prom.
“Our students are learning to live as independently as possible and learning to live as part of the community. They’re learning social, adaptive, and leisure and recreational skills,” Pounders says. “For a lot of our students, it’s kind of like their college experience. They come to us and learn to live away from home and learn to be a little more independent. Some of our students graduate and decide they want to stay in Maury County.”
Maury County Fosters Inclusive Spaces
AU-some Maury County works with businesses to help them find ways to make their establishments more welcoming to autistic children and adults and their families.
“Autism touches so many people in our community, but many businesses aren’t aware of the sensory issues people with autism might face in their stores,” says Donna DeJaynes, president and founder of AU-some Maury. “For example, you walk in, and the music is a little too loud. For someone with sensory needs, that could make it hard for their families to visit or patronize that business because it would create overstimulation.”
“Our students are learning to live as independently as possible and learning to live as part of the community.”
– Shauna Pounders, The King’s Daughters’ School
DeJaynes founded AU-some Maury after participating in the Leadership Maury program sponsored by the Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance. Each Leadership class takes on a project intended to solve a community problem, and while DeJaynes’ idea for AU-some Maury was not formally adopted by the group, many of her peers expressed interest in helping get the concept off the ground. She says making Maury County more inclusive is good for quality of life and for tourism and economic development.
“Our business partners want to be more accommodating, so what we do is answer their questions and look at what they can realistically change, and then we provide them with some light training to be able to make those accommodations,” she says.
The Miracle League of Columbia at Maury County Park, a baseball program for kids with disabilities, was also started by a group of civic-minded community members. Brothers Mike and Daniel Uggla and Robin Estep wanted to create a welcoming space for athletes of all abilities. With a specially designed rubberized field and a team of dedicated volunteers, the Miracle League ensures that every player can participate fully and safely in America’s favorite pastime.
“Inclusion matters, and it is my goal to make sure these kids are seen and heard through programs such as this,” says Estep, founder of the Miracle League of Columbia. “Together, we can make a difference for these kids.”
Promoting Justice & Equality in Maury County
A celebration of diversity – both past and present – has helped make the Maury County region a more welcoming community that thrives both economically and in quality of life.
Founded in 2020, the Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative (CPJI) works to explore the rich history of African Americans in Maury County and how that legacy has contributed to making the region a great place to live, work and play, while actively promoting justice and equality to keep it that way.
“We encourage our community to explore all of Maury County’s history, to respect and treat persons fairly with human dignity, and seek to gain understanding from each other through meaningful dialogue,” says Trent Ogilvie, president of the Columbia Peace & Justice Initiative.
One of CPJI’s notable initiatives is the support for installing a statue of Thurgood Marshall, a towering figure in American legal and civil rights history.
“The Thurgood Marshall statue is an artistic expression that reveals hope, freedom, perseverance and justice. The legal and civil rights accomplishments of Thurgood Marshall are remarkable and historic,” Ogilvie says.
Central to CPJI’s efforts is education about the history and contributions of African Americans in Maury County. Through creative learning initiatives, CPJI highlights significant individuals, places and events that celebrate the enduring legacy of African American communities.
“We are not historians, but we do believe that the contributions of Black people should be included in Maury County history,” Ogilvie says. “We live in the present; however, we can learn from our pastto create a better future.”