& Me: Because every voice matters and every strength counts
Behind the Mic
Melissa
Melissa
Melissa
Melissa Kahle is an attorney at a nonprofit law firm, a mom to three boys (including a 21-year-old son with special needs), a stepmother, wife, proud Mimi to two amazing grandsons, and one of the voices behind the mic.
She is a longtime advocate for individuals with disabilities crediting her son for fueling her passion for this work. Mel
Melissa Kahle is an attorney at a nonprofit law firm, a mom to three boys (including a 21-year-old son with special needs), a stepmother, wife, proud Mimi to two amazing grandsons, and one of the voices behind the mic.
She is a longtime advocate for individuals with disabilities crediting her son for fueling her passion for this work. Melissa brings her problem-solving skills, her thoughtful approach to complex issues, and her experience in representing people in their most vulnerable moments as they seek special education services, housing and income reliability, protection in domestic violence cases, or stability for children in family law matters. She believes that knowledge is power and that knowing your rights is critical.
When she is not working or podcasting, you will find her planning her next trip, attending a concert, meal prepping for the week, watching WNBA, or spending time with family and friends.
Alysha
Melissa
Melissa
Alysha Crawford is the Homeless Services/ICARE Facilitator for Mercer County Schools in West Virginia, the founder of the Special Needs Collaborative, a mom to three boys (including a 21-year-old son with significant special needs), and one of the voices behind the mic. She brings professional insight and real-life honesty to conversation
Alysha Crawford is the Homeless Services/ICARE Facilitator for Mercer County Schools in West Virginia, the founder of the Special Needs Collaborative, a mom to three boys (including a 21-year-old son with significant special needs), and one of the voices behind the mic. She brings professional insight and real-life honesty to conversations about disability, parenting, and building support systems that actually work.
Alysha loves creating connection, challenging the status quo, and saying the things we’re all thinking but aren’t always comfortable saying out loud. When she’s not working or podcasting, you’ll find her running on coffee, juggling 47 tabs in her brain, and awkwardly using humor to keep from crying — while dreaming up big ideas to make life better for her son and families everywhere.
Teresa
Melissa
Teresa
Teresa Dinger is a special education teacher in Mercer County, WV, a mom to a 20-year-old son with autism, and one of the voices behind the mic. With experience teaching grades 3–5 in general education and now special education, Teresa brings both professional insight and real-life perspective to conversations about learning, parenting,
Teresa Dinger is a special education teacher in Mercer County, WV, a mom to a 20-year-old son with autism, and one of the voices behind the mic. With experience teaching grades 3–5 in general education and now special education, Teresa brings both professional insight and real-life perspective to conversations about learning, parenting, and advocacy. She’s passionate about exploring a balanced approach to care for her son, blending holistic supports with pharmaceuticals when appropriate.
When she’s not teaching or podcasting, you’ll find her loving all things home décor, clothes and shoes, crafting (sometimes), watching movies, listening to country music, or dreaming about the beach — her forever happy place,