Good support can change the direction of a person’s life. But finding it often requires persistence, informed advocacy and people willing to look beyond easy answers.

In this episode of the On Target Podcast, Dr. Matthew Ramsey speaks with Darlene Richeson about her son Tory, an adult with Down syndrome, and the support that has helped him pursue a healthy, active and meaningful life.

Darlene shares Tory’s experience with weight-related health concerns following the pandemic. After receiving little practical guidance, she sought specialized medical care and worked with a larger support team to create an individualized plan. Through appropriate medical treatment, nutrition, exercise and consistent support, Tory lost 44 pounds and improved his overall health.

Their conversation also explores a larger problem: People with disabilities are not always included in medical research or given equitable access to emerging treatments. Darlene explains why families must sometimes challenge assumptions, ask better questions and find professionals who understand the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Tory’s life extends far beyond his health journey. He works, lives in his own home with support, attends Montgomery College, participates in inclusive theater and continues pursuing his interest in acting. Darlene also discusses the need for more evening educational programs so working adults with disabilities can access the same opportunities as other nontraditional students.

This episode is about more than one family’s experience. It is a conversation about health equity, lifelong opportunity and what becomes possible when people receive the right support.

Please consult a qualified medical professional before making decisions about medication, nutrition or treatment.

Learn more about Target Community at TargetCommunity.org.

Every life deserves to be remembered.

In this special episode of the On Target Podcast, Dr. Matthew Ramsey and Adam Stultz honor the life of William “Bill” Keene III, a longtime participant at Target Community who died unexpectedly at age 66.

Dr. Ramsey reads the eulogy he delivered at Bill’s celebration of life and reflects on the privilege of helping preserve his story.

Born with autism during a time when institutionalization was common, Bill spent part of his early life at Maryland’s Rosewood Center. His sister, Lou Ann, visited him every day to make sure he received care, clean clothing and the love of another person.

Bill joined Target Community in the mid-1980s and remained part of the organization for approximately 40 years. With consistent support, meaningful relationships and a home in the community, he had the opportunity to become the person he was meant to be.

Bill loved music, including ABBA, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. He enjoyed watching the Twilight films, taking vacations and spending time with his friends. In the final years of his life, he became more comfortable attending public events and participating in the community. He attended a Janet Jackson concert, accepted recognition for his 40 years with Target Community and celebrated his final birthday surrounded by people who cared about him.

This episode also considers a larger question: How do we remember people with disabilities, particularly when their lives may not be documented through traditional obituaries or public recognition?

Bill’s life mattered. He was a brother, friend, roommate and valued member of the Target Community family. His story demonstrates what becomes possible when a person receives dignity, belonging and the support needed to live a full, productive life.

May his memory be a blessing.

What makes a day meaningful?

For Morgan Nickoles, Meaningful Day Director for Target Community & Educational Services in Carroll County, it starts with giving adults with disabilities real choices, opportunities to learn and ways to participate fully in their community.

In this episode of the On Target Podcast, Morgan shares how the Target–McDaniel Graduate Program introduced her to Target Community and helped launch a career that has now spanned 13 years.

Morgan explains what happens inside Target Community’s Meaningful Day Program. Participants choose classes based on their interests while building practical skills through activities such as cooking, theater, American Sign Language and reading. Beyond the classroom, they volunteer, work, explore new interests and build relationships throughout Carroll County.

The conversation also examines what genuine inclusion looks like. It is not simply inviting adults with disabilities into community spaces. It means recognizing them as coworkers, volunteers, customers, neighbors and friends. It means focusing on what each person can contribute rather than allowing a diagnosis to define them.

Morgan also reflects on what participants have taught her about gratitude, patience and celebrating achievements that others might overlook. She discusses the importance of community partnerships and how businesses, volunteers and local organizations can help create new opportunities—often by simply being willing to give someone a chance.

This episode is a reminder that meaningful support is not about filling time. It is about helping adults with disabilities pursue their goals, develop their abilities and live full, productive lives.

Learn more about Target Community and ways to get involved at TargetCommunity.org.

What is the Olmstead Decision, and why are disability advocates across the country paying close attention to it today?

In this episode of the On Target Podcast, Adam Stultz and Dr. Matthew Ramsey break down one of the most important disability rights decisions in American history—the 1999 Supreme Court ruling in Olmstead v. L.C.—and explain why it transformed the way adults with developmental disabilities live, work, and participate in their communities.

The conversation explores the history of institutional care, the importance of community-based services, and why a recent U.S. Department of Justice memo has raised new questions about the future of those protections. Along the way, they discuss why community inclusion benefits everyone, how the continuum of supports creates opportunities for independence, and why understanding our history is essential to protecting future progress.

Whether you're a family member, self-advocate, professional, policymaker, or simply someone who wants to better understand disability rights, this episode provides important context for one of today's most significant conversations.

Learn more about Target Community and Educational Services at TargetCommunity.org.

What if disability isn't defined by a person's limitations—but by the world around them?

In this episode of the On Target Podcast, Dr. Matthew Ramsey is joined by attorney, philosopher, and host of the Enabled Disabled podcast, Gustavo Serafini, for a thought-provoking conversation about the social model of disability, universal design, education, artificial intelligence, and the importance of building communities that recognize the value in every individual.

Together, they explore why accessibility benefits everyone, how curiosity leads to inclusion, and what society can learn when we move beyond the idea of "average." Along the way, they discuss influential books, educational philosophy, self-advocacy, and why meaningful change begins with listening and understanding.

Whether you're a family member, educator, disability professional, advocate, or simply someone who wants to better understand the world through a different lens, this conversation offers fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and inspire action.

Guest: Gustavo Serafini, Attorney, Philosopher, and Host of the Enabled Disabled Podcast.

Learn more about Target Community and Educational Services at TargetCommunity.org.

Dr. Matthew Ramsey welcomes Dr. Craig Escudé, President of IntellectAbility and host of the IDD Health Matters podcast, for a thoughtful discussion about healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician and advocate, Dr. Escudé shares how a single patient encounter changed the course of his career and led him to champion better healthcare training for clinicians nationwide.

Together, they explore health disparities, diagnostic overshadowing, rural healthcare access, lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing movement to ensure healthcare professionals are prepared to meet the needs of all people. At its core, this conversation is a reminder that every person deserves to be seen first as a person—and that better understanding leads to better care, better outcomes, and stronger communities.

On Target Mini: Building Skills, Confidence, and Careers

In this episode of On Target Mini, Dr. Matthew Ramsey sits down with Chip Gachot, Instructor of the Trades Exploration Class, to talk about how hands-on learning helps young adults with disabilities build real skills, confidence, and pathways to meaningful work.

Chip shares how a career in the trades led him into teaching, and why practical, hands-on experiences—like working with tools, building projects, and learning workplace safety—create powerful opportunities for growth. His students don’t just learn skills. They build independence, confidence, and pride in what they can do.

This conversation explores the impact of real-world training, supportive employers, and community connections. Chip explains why the trades are a strong fit for many young adults, how businesses benefit from motivated and capable workers, and why access to opportunity can change lives.

If you care about inclusion, workforce development, and helping people with disabilities build meaningful futures, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a reminder that with the right opportunity, people can thrive.

For decades, people with disabilities were told where they would live — often in large, isolated institutions far removed from community life. It was considered efficient. Practical. Necessary.

But history tells a different story.

In this episode of The On Target Podcast, Adam Stultz and Dr. Matthew Ramsey explore the rise and fall of institutional care, the movement toward community-based living, and why the right to live in the community remains one of the most important civil rights victories of our time.

As conversations about cost-cutting and “efficiency” resurface in policy debates, this episode asks a critical question: Have we forgotten what happens when people are separated from their neighborhoods, their opportunities, and their independence?

From the history of deinstitutionalization to the real-life impact of person-centered residential services, this conversation makes one thing clear:

Where you live shapes how you live.

And protecting community-based care isn’t just about disability services — it’s about dignity, inclusion, and the kind of society we choose to build.

🎙️ Listen now and join the conversation about why community isn’t a luxury — it’s a right.