See ME. See My Ability

Schools out for Summer and teachers and students are worried about forgetting everything they learned last semester. We get some tips from Dr. Emma Cole, Pediatric Neuropsychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. One of the take-aways from host Rita Rich's conversation: Reading is fundemental.    

Episode 75 of the See Me. See My Ability: The Podcast of The Arc Southern Maryland features a conversation that podcast host Rita Rich had with 77-year-old Tim Gowen and his sister during DD Day in Annapolis. We met after members of our Arc and Tim spoke with State Senator Jack Bailey of St. Mary's County.  Tim is a prime example of a guy who doesn't know what it means to quit! He's thinking about his next goals as an athlete and is proud to represent our state, Maryland.

See Me. See My Ability. The Podcast of the Arc Southern Maryland recently talked with Ronnie Hammond, the director of the Maryland office for Statewide Broadband Development. He provides messages for our Arc Southern Maryland Advocates to share with state lawmakers on Developmental Disability Day on February 18th.  #arcmaryland #annapolis #love #guyton #dontyouforgetaboutme#breakfastclub #ddday   

See Me, See My Ability Podcast of the Arc Southern Maryland talked with the two organizers of the Art in Full Spectrum exhibition on the fourth floor of the Maryland House of Delegates. Listen as two colleagues, State Delegate Michelle Guyton and State Senator Sara Love talk about their lives as mothers of neurodiverse kids, and advocates for other families and friends of the IDD.  Our episode art is inspired by original art that is one of the 60 pieces on display now through mid April, 2026. Shout out to Akeem Young!  Artificial Intelligence helped podcast host Rita Rich insert the headshots of our guests. See the original piece of art and our guests during Developmental Disability Day in Annapolis next month! #arcmaryland #ddday #ArcSoMD   

Rita Rich talked with Arc SO MD clients about their wishes and hopes for 2026. For some, it was maintaining what made them happy. For others, they hope for big changes. Others quietly asked others to do their best to petition their government for a better life.  In the end, we are all asked to try harder to listen and hear what others are saying.   #2026 #resolutions #wishes #hopes #arc #southernmaryland.

These are just samples of some of our sound-rich podcast episodes released in 2025. It highlights podcasting class lessons of Arc clients, and others, about the use of background and other sounds and how podcasts can be created outdoors. It's another way that we learn to meet our community "where they are," whether it's via Zoom, or going out and about to interact with them. It also highlights our teaching about how horrible conditions have been for people all sorts of handicaps in our country and how our people are advocating that "we will not go back."   #arc #maryland #disabilityrightsarehumanrights #SouthernMaryland #SouthernChesapeake #2025

Welcome to our first podcast of December, 2025. It's been a hard year and financially for Arcs around Maryland. Thank goodness for some good news and positive developments for the Arc Southern Maryland and it's longtime support staff and the people we serve.  Listen as one of our friends Malek Stover stands up and speaks in front of the whole podcasting class, and our our executive director, Terry Long, explains how our Arc is  growing and taking on new turf.

It's been a rough fall for intellectual and developmental disabilities caregivers and support organizations. But we are so thankful to be doing the jobs we are doing and for the people we serve. Laughing with your friends is the best medicine. #thankful #thanksgiving #Washington #Commanders #laughterguru #arcsouthernmaryland #dba #arcsouthernchesapeake #boyfriendgirlfriend .  

Host Rita Rich is joined by Jane Bachman of Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center of Solomons Island to talk about the importance of this year's giving day, Tuesday, December 2nd.  There are over 800 nonprofit organizations throughout Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties, and now, more than ever, they are stepping up to help us during the Federal Government Shutdown.  Our Arc is serving people regardless of our access to funds, thanks to you. Please consider donating dollars to us via our website. We can use help with our dental fund and to fund unforeseen needs that pop up at these stressful times. Please consider joining our nonprofit friends associated with Leadership Southern Maryland and check out their website to find out how you can participate in the one day virtual fundraiser they are organizing for Giving Tuesday. You have a deadline of November 15th to sign up! Do you like the jazz we sampled in this podcast? There's much more where that came from. Rita Rich has produced this podcast with the permission of Ron Davis, the composer and pianist, who is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.        

Our guest has experience as both a client and a leader of community charitable organizations. She's used her passion for service to earn a law degree and consult with numerous non-profit organizations throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia. Meet Michelle Sullivan, the Southern Maryland liaison for the Chesapeake Charities Community Foundation. This foundation supports organizations that, in turn, support our communities and help keep our non-profit running.    

"See Me See My Ability" gets the lowdown on what Spark is from the leading expert on Autism and Autism Services in our state, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and its Dr. Erika Wodka. Listen as we discuss what you've been reading about all over social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Find out if the online community and aspects of research would be a good fit for you and your family, and get to know native Marylander Dr. Erika Wodka.    

The Arc Southern Maryland's Gene Nice is a Blue Ribbon champion numerous times at the Calvert County Fair. He encourages others who bake, create art, raise animals, and make things to enter their stuff in the fair because they just might get a ribbon! Gene Nice really is nice! He's an example of why those with disabilities need to be seen and heard.  

Joyce Allen, a native of southern Maryland, has been with the Arc Southern Maryland for a combined 30 years. Joyce says her mother told her to come back to the Arc after she left after her first five years. Joyce tells podcast host Rita Rich why she is so devoted to her people at the Arc. This is the first episode of Season Three of the See Me, See My Ability Podcast. 

Communications skills, or using one's voice, adaptive technology, mobile apps, and the written word, have been emphasized in recent See Me, See My Ability Podcasts. This episode, Horses Know Us Best, a visit to the Greenwell Foundation in Hollywood, Maryland, is all about horses' magical abilities to know what we want and need without using any sounds. For many in the IDD community, this is a godsend. The director of Equestrian programs at the Greenwell Foundation Melisa Kennedy, explains what makes the human/horse relationship special and beneficial.   Photo credits: Photos of Belle in Episode Art, Melisa Kennedy Photo of Ms. Kennedy, Danielle Barber Greenwell Foundation on Facebook. #IDD #Equestriaan #Therapy #Horses  Mr. Ed Theme, used for educational purposes. #arcsomd.org #nonprofit

Meet advocates and Arc allies, Lance McLemore is a member of ImpAACt Voices’ Board of Directors, and ImpAACt Voices volunteer and advocate Chris Klein, who recently authored a book titled My Big Toe: A Story of Perseverance. There's a reason why ImpAACt is spelled with two letter A's in the middle, as well as a capital C. Those A's stand for Augmentative Alternative and the "C" stands for Communication-such as devices and technology. Both of our guests have physical disabilities that affect their ability to speak, and they have plenty to say about their community of AAC users.  Click here to learn more about ImpAACt Voices. Much thanks to the President and the operations manager of ImpAACt voices, Jessica Ingle, for helping to set up our special Zoom session.   #listen #impaactvoices #Educate #Advocate #patience  

There's nothing that puts the brakes on your social life like not having some wheels at your disposal. But, the participants of Arc Southern Maryland, thanks to generous grants from The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) and the Maryland Department of Aging, have wheels. It's called the Ability Cab. Two St. Mary's County residents are in love and have grown their relationship thanks to the Ability Cab. You have to reserve it in advance.  Listen to how this pair says it's been an important part of their time together and how they'll continue to use it. Meet 29-year-old Christopher Reed and 38-year-old Tracey Norris. Contact Renee Seigley at the Arc Southern Maryland for more information about using the Ability Cab. Thank you for your gifts and grants to the Arc Southern Maryland.  We put your dollars to work to keep our people engaged and involved in communities.   

The IDD community loves to be social and together. But, sometimes those with intellectual or developmental disabilities have problems picking up on when people are flirting with them, or want to have a conversation with them, or just want to hang out. If you’ve ever watched programs on cable TV featuring those on the Spectrum, you’ll be interested in this podcast. It’s about the people who advise that show, and train hundreds the skills they need to get conversations, and hopefully, friendships started with others. Our guest is, Elina Veytsman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Clinical Services UCLA PEERS Clinic. Find out more here.

We're always in training at the Arc Southern Maryland. Our personal support staff and others are always learning how to be better teachers and aides to those who use our services.   An expert named Emoke Fox, a seventeen-year veteran of working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from a company specializing in teaching safe ways to have all sorts of relationships, visited our campuses through Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties.  Both staff and our program participants were taught how to have fun and be careful while forming relations in online communities, such as dating applications, games, and chat rooms.  

Suppose you are a parent or relative of a person who was diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability, and you want to learn more about post-grade school/public school help. In that case, Stacey Warner is your go-to person.  Ms.  Warner spoke to our podcast's host, Rita Rich, about the services she is helping families navigate in our three-county region of Maryland. Listen and learn more about what financial and other types of assistance may be available!   Here's a link for a brief description of Stacey's services for you and your family CORRECTION FROM STACEY WARNER:   I was so excited to share information with all of you that I misspoke about the age of eligibility for receiving DDA services. In the podcast, I said that the age is 22, but it is really 21. I am sorry if this caused any panic or confusion but, it just goes to show, even "specialists" make mistakes. Thank you all for taking the time to listen!    Email info@arcsomd.org and request an appointment with Stacey or to be sent information about where she'll be appearing at fairs and other informational gatherings.   #YouthTransition, #Charles #Calvert #St.Mary'sCounty  #IDDHelp