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[music] -Their goal is to help any person with any disability to realize their potential.

Hello, I'm Tom Britt.

On this edition of Tennessee is Talking, the topic is the STAR ..

Since 1988, they have provided services for education, employment, and independence for all ages and needs in West Tennessee and beyond.

Let the conversation begin.

-We are rolling.

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-West Tennessee PBS presents Tennessee is Talking.

Let the conversation begin.

-Thanks for joining the discussion here on Tennessee is Talking.

Hello, I'm Tom Britt.

The STAR Center has supported almost 4,000 people and helped employ 530 people and serve 95 Tennessee counties.

Here to tell us more is Michele Hughey.

Thanks for joining us.

Can you give us an overview on the STAR Center and its mission and how it serves West Tennessee and the clients?

-The STAR Center was started almost 40 years ago by the Dumonts because their two children were going blind.

That formed into wanting to reach out and find things that would help them in their daily life to live a full life.

That's where our mission sprang from, to help any person with any disability realize that potential.

From helping someone with a visual impairment to helping somebody find a job, helping somebody that maybe needs something to go on their pencil so they can grip it, we've got a variety of services.

It really warms my heart to be here.

-Two, people don't realize the STAR Center started very small, didn't it?

It wasn't in a big place by itself, was it?

Do about that?

Can you share that with us?

-Yes, so the STAR Center actually started in a bus.

There was a bus that would go around.

-Yes, that's the story I want.

-We'd make visits to different people and serve them out of that.

We outgrew the bus.

We were looking for a bigger facility to take care of people.

Now we're in a very large facility and can do lots of fun things.

We have two rooms that are sensory rooms.

If you had a child that was maybe autistic and needed some calming or had a speech issue, they can go in those rooms and have different therapies done to help them and become better or calm down during the day.

It's really cool.

-Very key services for the population that you serve, right?

-Yes, very key services, for sure.

I think the thing that we're probably most known for is assistive technology.

It's what's done in all 95 counties of Tennessee.

For those that are like, "What the heck is assistive technology?"

If you have a disability where you're at work and you need a desk that's going to raise up because you can't move your arms higher than your shoulders, we can help you get that desk.

Maybe you have trouble with vision and you need something that is going to help you see, and it may just be a bright light, we can help you get that.

Maybe you want to be able to ride the bus and you're nervous about it, we have animals that are fake, of course, but they purr and give off very calming noises.

-Comfort.

-Yes.

You can hold them and pet them, just do things like that.

It really helps people live really full, rich lives.

That's probably the thing that most people think of, is technology.

We've also got music therapy and speech therapy.

There's a whole art room you can come and explore.

If you need a job and you're not quite sure where to start, you can come in and have an assessment and we'll see where that great place might be for you to go.

-That was really my next question.

One-size-program doesn't fit all, so you have to adapt to each client, don't you?

-Absolutely.

That is the whole point of the STAR Center.

You're not going to come in the door and be automatically sent to someone who doesn't know what you need.

They're going to take time to sit down with you, assess what's going on, and connect you with the right people so that you can get the assistance that you need.

-As you said earlier, you assess each client so you can tai.. with the right people who have the expertise, right?

-Absolutely.

That's especially going to be even if you're just coming in the front door.

"I came in the front door.

I need help."

Our little front receptionist, Sheila, who is fabulous, is going to listen to what you need.

Then she's going to give you one of our department heads .. to bring you in and sit down with you and listen to, maybe you had a car wreck, and, "Doggone it, I can't hold my pencil anymore.

I need help."

We're going to help you find a way to turn that no you're feeling into a yes.

-That leads to the next question about, can you share some stories of successes of your clients?

-Absolutely.

I think sharing stories about the STAR Cen.. that just warms everybody's heart.

It's why we're there.

We want our clients to succeed.

Recently, that's something that I've been out doing, is learning about all of our clients and their successes.

One that really sticks out in my mind right now is a gentleman named Clay.

Clay has a variety of different things going on with him.

He has a spinal situation where he can't sit comfortably like you and I are sitting every day, and assistive technology was able to get him a chair where he can sit in nine different positions.

He is able to have a desk that raises up and down.

If he needs to stand up, he can stand up.

Before he didn't have that, he had a desk that was above his shoulders.

It was not comfortable for him.

He was in a lot of pain and wasn't able to do what he need..

He talks to missionaries in Europe and is on Zoom all day.

Can you imagine being on Zoom going like this and not being comfortable?

We were able to come in and help him get some technology to be able to do his job and carry his ministry that he needed to be able to do and talk to those missionaries.

He, in his own words, should have listened to his wife and called sooner so that he was able to get that technology and be able to do his job and not be in as much discomfort as he was.

-Of course, I know the STAR Center's been here for a while, but it seems that some people don't even realize that you are there, right?

-Yes, I think in Jackson especially, everybody knows about our events.

We do Black Tie & Boxing.

It's super exciting.

Dancing with the stars, all the fun things.

Sometimes those stories don't shine quite as bright as the event because the event's the fun thing, but the people that are in the building giving their heart to fill that gap every single day for the people that have the disability and need that no to be a yes is really what should warm everybody's heart and everybody should know about.

Hopefully doing things like this will make that happen.

-Share about your most in-demand services that the STAR Center offers.

-Besides assistive technology, music therapy is definitely in high demand right now.

That's something that can be someone who's 3 all the way to somebody who's 99 that might need that service.

That's something that happens in Memphis, it happens here.

That's one thing that everybody may not realize, is the STAR Center's headquarters is here.

We also have offices in Memphis and Nashville and Knoxville.

Gab, who is our music therapy director, is really doing wonders to expand the program.

She's working with libraries.

They've got drumming sessions that they're getting ready to start.

We're going to have a summer program for people to get involved.

It's very helpful for people that maybe can't communicate.

They're having trouble, that music calms them down, gives their mind a break, and they can learn how to communicate.

Whether it's on a pad or pointing at a picture, but they're learning how they can talk other than just getting so frustrated that they can't.

-I would think, too, that with the evolution of technology and the changes, that's greatly helped people with disabilities.

-Yes, I think the easiest item anybody in their pocket is their phone.

A lot of people don't realize how much their phone can actually do.

Especially with the AI technology that's out now, we could put an app on your phone, if you're visually impaired or have a handicap and maybe you can't read, and you can hold it up and it will read what it says.

Maybe you are blind and you don't know what's in the corner of the room, but you want to know, you can take a picture of it and that technology will read what's in the room and tell you what's in that corner, which is really exciting because it's maybe something I didn't grow up with.

-Yes.

I saw a movie that had that on .. and she was doing that, sending it to her friends because someone was trying to ..

I didn't really realize that it was a real thing when I saw it.

I thought, well, maybe that's just Hollywood doing that, but it is true, isn't it?

-Yes, it's a real thing.

-Yes.

That's pretty neat.

Rita's heart, tell me about that.

-Rita's Heart was started by a lady named Rita Patel.

Her brother is autistic and he was having trouble communicating and having a really hard time finding a center to calm down.

She came to the STAR Center and wanted to start a program, and we worked with her to create Rita's Heart.

Rita's Heart is all about art.

We just got done doing some art classes, and basically if you like art, because art's fun, and you want to throw some therapy in with it, it's a great mix.

We just did a St. Patrick's class, where they too.. and pipe cleaners and they made charms.

It's teaching them, oh man, how to be artistic, one, of course, but also some sensory activities like if this feels this way, that's what it is.

-It's tactile, right?

-Yes.

Just a lot of fun.

Rita's Heart, everybody likes art and it's an easy thing to get people .. but especially autistic children that need that release and that calming atmosphere.

-I would assume, too, that once they discover that art, it does turn on the light bulb and makes them feel they can do things and [?]

and something I can do that really makes me happy.

-Yes.

We've got a little guy named Angel, who with his mother-- Actually, he likes to draw.

He's a drawer and he's autistic, and he and his mother entered a mural contest and they got almost to the ends, and he almost got to do a whole mural.

A lot of that stems from coming to the STAR Center and going through our services.

-Yes, you just never know.

Music therapy, we all love music and we listen to it and a lot of the times it's on and we don't pay much attention to it.

Someone that is in need of a little help or a little encouragement or something that will click with them, music is a key, isn't it?

-It is.

I think music does a lot for a lot of people cognitively that they don't think about.

Music, you can listen to it when you're angry and it'll make you feel better.

If you're a little sad, it'll make you feel better.

-It will mellow you out if it's smooth and soft.

-That goes right back into the clients, everybody needs a different kind of therapy.

For some people, music therapy is that therapy.

-Are there other types of therapy, too, that you want to mention, perhaps, music-- [crosstalk] -We have a new program, it's called the Reading Clinic.

It's for younger children, school-aged children that are having difficulty reading.

We've got two fabulous ladies that do that.

Ms. Sheila likes to bring dogs into her therapy.

-Yes.

Everybody loves animals.

Most people do anyway.

-It really helps them because the children can read to the dog.

She can listen to what they're doing and they don't feel like they're being watched.

-An adult just right over them [?]

-Then she can take that information from that little session and make a plan about how she's going to help them learn how to read.

-Yes.

Very good.

Very good stories.

Are there any upcoming projects or expansions that you're excited about and want to share?

-We're right in the middle of our 100X fundraiser, which is super simple.

You can sign up by texting DFG to 90412.

It's a simple survey with emojis.

No money is needed to be donated.

You just donate your time and fill out surveys and it gives $1.60 to the STAR Center for each one you do up to 75.

-What inspired you to work with the STAR Center?

We all grow up, or decide, or we think [?]

decide what we want to do, and then we head in that direction.

What inspired you?

-I've always loved giving back to the community, whether it's involved with work and I'm helping somebody at work, or it's actually someone that's in the community.

The STAR Center gives back to so many different people that are struggling to find a way to live comfortably.

Being able to be a part of that and share their stories is something that I love.

I love sharing people's stories, I love sharing information with people, and it just warms my heart.

-Yes.

Did you find that the need was much greater than what you probably thought before you got into it?

-Yes, absolutely.

I think when you think of the STAR Center, you know maybe a couple things about it, but being in the building and seeing someone walk down the hall that is not having a good day, that's maybe a little agitated, and they go and they have whatever service that they're going to have that day, and they come back down the hall and their whole attitude's changed and they look lifted, and you can tell that gap's been filled is amazing to see.

I get to see that on a daily basis, which is awesome.

-Which is very rewarding, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Do you go to schools, or do your clients come to you mostly?

-Both, actually.

Of course, in-home care goes to the person served home.

Music therapy and the reading clinic and speech therapy all go out into the schools and service clients.

Of course, Gab does Memphis as well, so a little bit of both.

-Yes.

It's pretty awesome to think about that you've spread out so much, something that started in a bus and in someone's home because of their children, right?

-Yes.

-Now it seems to be just really growing and moving out and expanding.

Speak to that.

What are your thoughts on that?

-I think there's so much need in Tennessee for the different services that we have and not enough facilities or enough non-profits or businesses, or pick your poison there, that the STAR Center is able to fill that gap, so we're able to expand out.

That need is there.

We want to go and help as many people as we possibly can, so we're going to go.

-Yes.

How long have you worked with the STAR Center, have been in helping kids and families and people?

-I have been with the STAR Center six months.

-Six months.

New here.

Had you worked prior to coming to Jackson in .. -In the same type of role, yes, but completely new to the non-profit world, but absolutely love it.

It's very fulfilling.

-Yes.

What would you say has been your most rewarding moment since you've been there and interacting with families and clients and maybe with the siblings of clients and things like that?

-I would probably say the most rewarding moment so far was at Black Tie & Boxing, because the week before, you're getting ready, you're doing all the things.

-All the behind-the-scenes things, that's right.

-All the behind-the-scenes stuff, putting the tablecloths on the tables, all the things, and then seeing all that come to fruition, but having Bailey's video play in the middle of it and having that hush come over the crowd to listen to that success story was amazing.

Just that whole big picture coming into it was fabulous.

-Yes, that's such a well-attended event, and supported, and I'm sure a lot of people come just for the entertainment and what's going to go in the ring, but you hope they do what?

What do you hope they take away from coming and watching?

-A knowledge about the STAR Center.

I hope they come in, they fall in love with us, and they want to help, whether they want to volunteer.

You can come to the STAR Center and volunteer.

We always have something for you to do.

Maybe you're inspired and you want to donate, whether it's a dollar or $5,000, right?

-It goes towards something.

-Yes.

Maybe you just learn about us and you spread the word.

That advocacy for the STAR Center is a big piece.

-Yes.

Do you have people who just randomly call or knock on the door or walk in or something?

-All the time.

We welcome it.

Call us.

We're here, for sure.

-Do you find that people probably discover, too, that they have some knowledge and things just they didn't know they had to help other people once they get working with clients and things?

-I think everybody thinks that you are maybe non-specialist, I'm non-specialist.

We have an idea.

-Right.

I would feel like I'm lost if I come and try to help or do something.

-They shouldn't be.

There's all kinds of things to do.

If you don't want to be with a client, that's not a problem.

We can have you sort eyeglasses that get donated that we give back to the Lions Club.

If it's springtime and you really like to be outside, you can come help spruce up the outside or paint some things.

It doesn't always have to be anything related to a client.

We always have something for you to do.

-Anything you do there will eventually result in helping the client.

-Oh, absolutely.

Absolutely.

-That's the reward of it all anyway, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Do you think that there will be more people who will become involved in the future with the STAR Center?

I know that it gets a lot of publicity around here, and of course outside of around here, I don't think I've ever heard anybody talking about those type of services.

-I think it will.

I think we're probably going to see more about the STAR Center pop up in Memphis sooner.

That's just because there's so much growth happening in and around Jackson and in and around Memphis.

We've got, of course, assistive technology there and Gab there with music therapy.

I think there's a lot of room to grow and people to realize, "Oh, I didn't know STAR Center was in Memphis too, but now I do.

Where's their door?

I'm going to go knock on it."

-We know there's a need there and we know it's a great need.

Then, it seems almost every week now I talk with people and they'll say, "Well--" I know a lot of educators and they'll say, "That child needs something a little extra that perhaps they can't get in the normal classroom."

That's where STAR Center steps in, right?

-Yes.

They can call us.

They can give us a buzz.

Our phone number is 731-668-3888.

If they don't want to talk to somebody and maybe they just want a little taste of information to see what STAR Center is about or maybe if it would work with them, they can go to star-center.org.

There's all kinds of information on our website that they can look at to get started.

-I would assume, too, if people don't feel that they are capable of working and they want to give, there are ways to give, not only monetarily too, I'm sure, maybe you can help with buying a piece of equipment or something, right?

-Yes.

Even if you don't want to give a do.. you can give a donation in a wheelchair.

Maybe your grandmother has passed and you don't know what to do with the equipment she had, you can call the STAR Center and we can come get it or you can bring it by and we can reuse it.

Maybe you had an electric wheelchair and you don't know what to do with it, "What do I do with this now?"

Maybe you had a bed that lifted and you don't know what to do with it, give us a call.

We can use those items.

We can clean them up, make sure they're working properly, and we've got a whole list of people that are waiting that need things.

-The needs are great and the list is growing, it seems sometimes, right?

-Yes.

-Celebrating the success stories, that's what it's all about, isn't it?

-Absolutely.

It's all about the clients, all about the things that .. to help them.

-Yes, I know someone who was a special education teacher and she .. "The children who have since grown up, they still run up to me and say, Mrs. so-and-so, I remember--" and we don't know what influence we have o.. until we interact, do we?

-Correct.

-Yes.

All right, if somebody wants to.. as we're almost out of time here, tell us what they need to do, where they need to go, or where they need to give.

What do they need to do?

-The easiest thing to do is to call the STAR Center, which, again, the phone number is 731-668-3888, or they can go on our website, star-center.org, and see what we might need, see what's going on, or just stop by.

Say hi to Sheila at the receptionist's desk and we'll get you going.

-That would be good too.

If you can't do that, come to your events, buy the tickets, do that sort of thing, right?

-Absolutely.

-Every little bit helps.

Thanks for stopping by today.

-Thank you.

-All right.

Sadly, we're out of time for this edition of Tennes.. We want to thank Michelle Hughey for stopping by and telling us about the STAR Center.

If you want to re-watch this program or share it with a friend, remember, it can be streamed anytime on the PBS app, along with all local Channel 11 programs.

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Keep the conversation going by following West Tennessee PBS on social media.

Until next time, keep on talking, Tennessee.

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