& 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,
Noah
Meet Noah, Melissa's son!
Noah is navigating life with multiple disabilities, including intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. His journey hasn’t been easy—and it hasn’t looked like anyone else’s—but it’s entirely his.
He was once expected not to walk and to rely on a feeding tube long-term. Neither of those predictions held true. Noah does things on his own terms, in his own time.
He is nonverbal, but that has never limited his ability to communicate. If anything, it’s made it clearer. He lets you know exactly what he wants—with gestures, sounds, and plenty of well-timed eye rolls. Subtle is not his style.
Noah knows what he likes:
- pools
- TV time
- wrestling and laughing with his brothers
- Goldfish crackers, mini muffins, and a good buffet
He experiences the world in a very direct way. Loud noises can overwhelm him—unless it’s his own. He’s stubborn when pushed and unapologetic about his routines (especially sleep).
Noah is full of personality, determination, and clarity.
He doesn’t pretend. He doesn’t filter. He shows you exactly who he is—and expects you to meet him there.
Ryker
Meet Ryker, Alysha's son!
Ryker’s life changed early. At just nine days old, he contracted bacterial meningitis, which led to two strokes, two aneurysms, and significant brain damage.
As a result, Ryker lives with cerebral palsy, seizures, mobility challenges, and cognitive impairments. These are part of his daily reality—but they don’t define the way he experiences people or the world around him.
Ryker loves people—completely and without hesitation.
He doesn’t measure worth.
He doesn’t hold back.
He doesn’t need context or history to decide if someone matters.
To him, you’re already enough.
He never meets a stranger, and he connects in a way that is immediate and genuine. There’s no filtering, no second-guessing—just presence.
He’s happiest with the things he loves:
- Dr Pepper
- music (anything from Dolly Parton and Jelly Roll to the ABCs)
- bubbles
When he smiles, it changes the entire feel of a room. It’s the kind of joy you don’t have to look for—it finds you.
Ryker doesn’t overcomplicate things. You matter to him. Period.
Zach
Meet Zach, Teresa's son!
Zach lives his life without filters. What he feels, he expresses—fully and honestly, in real time.
He has autism, but he isn’t a stereotype or a comparison. He’s Zach. And he moves through the world in his own way.
He feels everything deeply—joy, love, excitement, worry—and instead of holding it in, he lets it move through him. There’s something rare about that kind of honesty.
Zach shows love through action. He checks on the people he cares about. He makes sure they’re okay. In his world, loving someone means taking care of them—and he carries that with him everywhere he goes.
He wants to be part of what’s happening. He loves being around his people, dressing up, and showing up—even if that doesn’t always look traditional. His presence is intentional. It’s how he connects.
He’s also loyal in the most specific ways:
- Red Baron Brick Oven Cheese-Trio Pizza
- Dr Pepper
- Little Debbie Iced Honey Buns
Music is a big part of his world—“Country Roads,” “We Are Family,” “Uptown Funk,” and what he calls “Jesus music” every morning.
Zach is observant, funny, strong, and deeply intuitive. The more time you spend in his world, the more you realize—he’s not the one who needs to change how he shows up.
Meet Our Producer
Callie Lamb
Callie Lamb is the producer behind the buttons for Exceptional and Unfiltered. With a degree in Communications and Journalism and a career in communications and marketing, she loves turning big ideas into meaningful conversations.
As a member of the Special Needs Collaborative, Callie is passionate about creating new resources, amplifyin
Callie Lamb is the producer behind the buttons for Exceptional and Unfiltered. With a degree in Communications and Journalism and a career in communications and marketing, she loves turning big ideas into meaningful conversations.
As a member of the Special Needs Collaborative, Callie is passionate about creating new resources, amplifying community voices, and helping Mercer County families feel a little more informed, supported, and connected—one episode at a time.
In her free time, Callie enjoys adventuring with her two daughters, painting, playing outside, reading, and getting a good workout.