By Kaitlin Candelaria
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better — it’s not.”
Many may recognize this quote from Dr. Seuss, but in the case of Lindy Williamson, this quote helped inspire the birth of Unless U, a Birmingham-based nonprofit dedicated to serving adults with special needs.
Williamson, the executive director for Unless U, has two older brothers, Josh and Jordan. They’re the typical family except for one slight difference: Jordan has Down syndrome.
“Whenever I looked at Jordan, I didn’t see his Down syndrome, I saw a big brother that just wanted to be like everyone else,” Williamson said. “As a 12-year-old, I listened to 18-year-old Jordan tell everyone that he was going to college just like our oldest brother.
“At age 24, Jordan announced once again his plans to go to college when our parents moved me into the dorm at Samford. It broke my heart because I knew that Jordan and his friends all wanted to experience all of the ‘next steps’ in life just like everyone else.”
Williamson said she has always had a heart for anyone with special needs. She has volunteered with special needs individuals in many different capacities.
She also founded Dance for Down Syndrome at Samford University. The event now is an annual fundraiser.
“Creating Dance for Down Syndrome during my sophomore year of college revealed even more to me about my strengths and weaknesses and helped define my calling,” Williamson said. “After graduation in May 2014, I knew it was time to take a huge leap of faith and begin the next phase towards making Unless U a reality. My family dynamic, childhood experiences, part-time jobs, and attending Samford University all created the ‘perfect storm.’”
Thanks in part to a nonprofit management class Williamson took at Samford, the help of Dr. Ammie Akin of Mountain Brook to form a board, and a little old-fashioned elbow grease, Unless U began as a pilot program with six students in Williamson’s home during the summer of 2014. By November, Unless U was officially opening its doors to new students.
“Opening day has been our biggest victory,” Williamson said. “As we gathered to have the opening prayer and ribbon cutting, I looked up to thank everyone and it took my breath away. Standing in front of me were my family members, my fiancé, my friends, our ministers from Shades Mountain Baptist and a host of amazing parents. Standing behind the ribbon right beside me were 10 brand new students, including my brother, Jordan.
“In that moment, I realized that all the years of praying, planning and preparing had materialized into this victorious moment in time, and Unless U became a reality that day.”
Unless U is operated out of Shades Mountain Baptist Church three days a week from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
There are currently 16 students enrolled in the program. An average day in their classroom involves learning about everything from scripture and music to everyday life skills.
According to its mission statement and vision, Unless U is committed to serving adults with developmental disabilities and their families through continuing education, life skills and social skills. The organization’s services create an environment that promotes independence. Unless U envisions a world where adults with development disabilities are not seen through the lens of their disabilities but rather through what they offer their community.
“The challenges change each week as I work with students in the classroom, add qualified staff, meet with my board, schedule appointments with prospective students and parents, answer emails, learn to manage the budget of a nonprofit, secure supplies and more,” Williamson said. “Every day brings new challenges and yet joy unspeakable. My students bring such joy to my life with their smiles, witty and funny comments, academic accomplishments and eagerness to learn more so that it makes every challenge I face worth it.”
As the organization continues to grow, Williamson has a lot of goals, she said, including increasing enrollment, recruiting volunteers with special needs education experiences, creating internship opportunities, securing a bus for field trips and setting up a scholarship program.
“The most important thing for people in the Over the Mountain community to know about Unless U is that our mission and commitment is to serve the whole person with intellectual disabilities,” Williamson said. “We want to serve the spiritual, educational and social needs of our students, because Unless U believes that everyone is created by God and that God has a purpose and a plan for every life, regardless of limitations.
“We also want the Over the Mountain community to share our story with friends and family members that may have a young adult in need of our services and also consider becoming a financial supporter of Unless U. We are blessed, but as we grow and press toward future goals, we are in need of continual financial support.”
For more information about Unless U go to www.unlessu.org
