In this episode of Inclusive Lowcountry, host Cynthia Lett sits down with Melissa Barrett, founder of the Lowcountry Center for Academic Equity (LCAE), a nonprofit tutoring center in West Ashley, South Carolina. Melissa shares her 20+ years of experience in special education and explains how LCAE is making personalized tutoring accessible to every family, regardless of financial situation.

Founded in May 2022, LCAE provides K–12 tutoring across all subjects with a focus on meeting neurodiverse and atypical learners exactly where they are. From sensory breaks and physical movement between sessions to IEP and 504 plan advocacy, Melissa breaks down how her team of certified teachers supports students who need more than what the traditional classroom can offer.

Topics covered:

• The founding story behind LCAE and why Melissa saw a need in the Charleston metro area
  
  

• How the tutoring program works — consultations, custom learning plans, and connecting with school teachers
  
  

• Sliding scale rates: how a nonprofit model ensures no family is turned away based on price
  
  

• Accommodations for special needs students: sensory tools, movement breaks, and flexibility
  
  

• IEP and 504 advocacy services — supporting parents through the school process
  
  

• Real success stories: students closing multi-year reading gaps and gaining confidence
  
  

• Future goals: "No School, No Slippin'" holiday programming, camps, and a campus vision with on-site related service providers
  
  

• When parents should seek extra support (hint: don't wait!)
  
  

• Serving both struggling learners and gifted kids who need more challenge
  
  

Connect with LCAE:

🌐 Website: https://www.thelcae.org
📧 Email: hello@thelcae.org
📞 Phone: 843-810-3968
📸 Instagram: @the_lcae
📍 Location: 1 Carriage Lane, West Ashley, SC 29407

About Inclusive Lowcountry:

Inclusive Lowcountry from Beach Cowboy Fitness Foundation is your resource for learning about services, resources, and personal experiences related to the special needs community in the greater Charleston area. Hosted by Cynthia Lett.

🌐 Beach Cowboy Fitness Foundation: https://www.beachcowboyfitnessfoundation.org

In this episode of Inclusive Lowcountry from the Beach Cowboy Fitness Foundation, host Cynthia Ladd sits down with Eden Alon — an autistic disability advocate, vocational rehabilitation counselor, and founder of Coastal Compass Coaching — to talk about his journey from a bullied, shy kid to a confident public speaker and community builder.

Eden shares the story of discovering he was autistic at age 23 after finding his own diagnosis paperwork by accident, and how that moment became a catalyst for his advocacy work.

Together, Cynthia and Eden discuss:

• The history of autism representation in media and why autistic voices need to lead the conversation

• Growing up without knowing his diagnosis and the impact on his self-esteem

• Overcoming bullying and finding "social courage"

• The importance of choice and empowerment vs. helicopter parenting in the disability community

• Divergent Social Club — a new social group in Charleston for young adults with disabilities, led by people with disabilities

• Coastal Compass Coaching — Eden's life skills coaching business for teens and young adults with disabilities (self-advocacy, career readiness, independent living, mock interviews, and more)

Connect with Eden:

Website: CoastalCompassCoaching.com

Email: eden@coastalcompasscoaching.com

Phone/Text: 843-501-2962

Divergent Social Club: Instagram & Facebook

About Inclusive Lowcountry:

Inclusive Lowcountry is a podcast from the Beach Cowboy Fitness Foundation, where you'll learn about resources, services, and personal experiences related to the special needs community in the greater Charleston area. Transcripts are available at beachcowboyfitnessfoundation.org under the podcast section.

#InclusiveLowcountry #AutismAdvocacy #DisabilityRights #AutisticVoices #CharlestonSC #Neurodivergent #SelfAdvocacy #BeachCowboyFitnessFoundation #DisabilityCommunity #SpecialNeeds

In this episode of Inclusive Lowcountry, host Cynthia Lett sits down with Coach Will Pierce and three incredible ambassadors — Paul Cooper, Josh Tammeaou, and Katie Beck — to explore everything GiGi's Playhouse Charleston has to offer.

We cover:

• The ambassador program and how members spread the word about GiGi's

• GiGi Fit — bodyweight-based fitness for all abilities

• GiGi's Kitchen — cooking programs

• Open Play & Karaoke

• Programs for every age: LMNOP (newborn–3), Playhouse Pals (5–12), Kids Club (8–12), Teentastic (teens), and Fantastic Friends (18+)

• One-on-one literacy and math tutoring

• The Dance Program

• Moms' Night — a support space for parents and family members

• Volunteering — how to get involved

📍 GiGi's Playhouse Charleston is located off North Rhett Avenue, North Charleston. Open 6 days a week (closed Sundays), 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.

💙 All programs at GiGi's Playhouse are 100% free — they rely entirely on volunteers and donations. Even $20 goes a long way.

🔗 Visit gigisplayhouse.org to learn more, volunteer, or donate.

🔔 Subscribe to Inclusive Lowcountry for more episodes highlighting resources and services for the special needs community in the Charleston area.

#InclusiveLowcountry #GiGisPlayhouse #Charleston #SpecialNeeds #DownSyndrome #Inclusion #Nonprofit #Volunteer #CharlestonSC #Community #BeachCowboyFitness

Host Cynthia Lett sits down with Dr. Angela Dixon of New Hope Chiropractic in West Ashley, SC, to explore how neurological chiropractic care helps children with special needs thrive. Dr. Angela explains how the nervous system drives behavior, why meltdowns are often a wiring problem, not a parenting problem, and how gentle, targeted adjustments can unlock a child's potential.

Topics covered:

• How the nervous system's "gas pedal" and "brake pedal" affect behavior

• Neurological scans (HRV, thermography, EMG) — what they reveal

• Neurotonal adjustments for children

• Collaborating with OTs, PTs, speech therapists & ABA providers

• Pregnancy stress, birth intervention & early development

• Real patient stories

• Wellness program & lifelong proactive care

📍 New Hope Chiropractic — 1483 Tobias Gadson Boulevard, Suite 106, West Ashley, SC (61 West Medical Building)

🔗 Learn more: beachcowboyfitnessfoundation.org

#InclusiveLowcountry #NewHopeChiropractic #PediatricChiropractic #SpecialNeeds #NervousSystem #NeurologicalChiropractic #ChildrensHealth #SpecialNeedsParenting #LowcountrySC

In this episode of Inclusive Lowcountry, host Cynthia Lett sits down with the leaders of Be The Change Charleston — Shayna Berman (President & Co-Founder) and Nathan Todd (Coach & Author) — to discuss how their nonprofit is empowering individuals with disabilities through community connection and meaningful employment opportunities.

Founded by two special educators who saw gaps in post-secondary support for young adults with disabilities, Be The Change Charleston offers individualized one-on-one coaching through their "Empowerment Through Employment" program. They help participants build job readiness skills, explore their passions, and gain the confidence to advocate for themselves, often for the first time.

In this episode:

• How Be The Change Charleston got started and why it fills a critical gap
• What the Empowerment Through Employment program looks like in practice
• Real success stories
• Nathan breaks down his empowerment framework: the B-E-A-S-T method (Belief, Explore, Action, Celebrate, Teach) from his book Empower Yourself: Awaken the Beast Within
• How small businesses in Charleston are leading the way on inclusive hiring
• The power of mentorship, friendship, and meeting people where they are
• How to get involved as a participant, volunteer, or sponsor

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Learn more & apply: btccharleston.org
• Follow on Instagram & Facebook: @btccharleston
• Nathan Todd's book: Empower Yourself: Awaken the Beast Within
• Podcast transcript: beachcowboyfitnessfoundation.org/podcast

About Inclusive Lowcountry: Hosted by Cynthia Lett and produced by Beach Cowboy Fitness Foundation, Inclusive Lowcountry highlights resources, services, and personal experiences related to the special needs community in the greater Charleston, SC area.

#InclusiveLowcountry #DisabilityAdvocacy #CharlestonSC #InclusiveEmployment #BeTheChange #SpecialNeeds #Empowerment #Nonprofit #Lowcountry #DisabilityCommunity

SOS CARE is a non-profit in the Charleston, SC area serving children and adults with Autism and other intellectual disabilities. Cynthia Lett and Jonisha Hart talk about the services and events and future plans of SOS CARE and the exciting programs they have and are planning for the future.

Big LowCountry is a non-profit in the Charleston, SC area that serves adults with intellectual disabilities in day-time activities. Cynthia Lett of Beach Cowboy Fitness Foundation engages with Kate Taylor, Executive Director, to shed light on all they do and who they serve.