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.

In this special, longer-than-usual episode of On Target Minis, host Matthew Ramsay is joined by Nelson (House Manager at Houck House), Jon Joseph (Community Living Director), and Gail Garland (end-of-life doula) for an honest conversation honoring the life of Tommy Sponseller, a longtime Target residential participant who passed away on October 9.

The episode opens with the eulogy read at Tommy’s service—an intimate portrait of a Santa-loving, cheeseburger-eating, magazine-flipping original whose life reflects both the harsh legacy of institutionalization and the possibility that comes with dignity, belonging, and consistent support. From stories of Tommy’s joy in the community (and his legendary love of bands, sports, and the holidays) to a candid look at what it means for an agency to walk with someone through hospice and loss, this conversation explores the realities behind end-of-life care in disability services: advocacy in medical settings, supporting direct support professionals, and creating meaningful rituals of remembrance.

More than a tribute, this episode is also a practical resource—offering insights for staff, leaders, and families navigating grief and the responsibilities that come with caring relationships.

What does it take to build an organization where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to change lives every day? In this powerful episode of The On Target Podcast, host Adam Stultz sits down with Dr. Matthew Ramsey, President & CEO of Target Community & Educational Services, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about agency culture—and why it matters more than ever.

Dr. Ramsey opens up about the workshops he leads across Target, where staff share their personal and professional “whys,” revealing a deep, selfless commitment to service. Together, Adam and Matt unpack the core values that define Target’s culture:

✨ Quality – Doing every job well, from top to bottom.
✨ Grace – Allowing people to be human, show up authentically, and have hard days.
✨ Empathy – Seeing the spark in every person and meeting them where they are.

They explore how these values shape decision-making, reduce conflict, strengthen communication, and create a team aligned around one mission: enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.

Matt also reflects on the challenges of leading an already strong organization, the importance of innovation, and how culture drives the future of Target — even in uncertain times.

Whether you're part of the Target team, a nonprofit leader, or someone who cares about mission-driven work, this episode is a moving reminder that culture isn’t a slogan — it’s the heartbeat of an organization.

🎧 Listen now to discover why great culture doesn’t happen by accident… it happens because people choose it every day.

🎙️ Episode 6: “The Fight for Education — Why Access Still Isn’t Equal”

For decades, America has promised inclusive classrooms where every student can learn, grow, and belong. But for many children with disabilities, that promise is still out of reach.

In this powerful episode of The On Target Podcast, hosts Adam Stultz and Dr. Matthew J. Ramsey, President & CEO of Target Community & Educational Services, explore the history and heart of the fight for equal education — from the legacy of institutionalization to the laws that opened classroom doors for millions of students.

Dr. Ramsey shares the story of Tommy Spohn-Zeller, a longtime Target participant whose life represents both how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. Together, Adam and Matt unpack:

• The evolution of special education and the impact of landmark legislation like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

• The difference between mainstreaming and true inclusion, and why equality means more than simply sharing a classroom.

• The critical role of advocacy, access, and culture in shaping opportunity for every student.

From powerful personal stories to honest reflections on policy and practice, this episode challenges us to see education as more than a system — but a promise of dignity, opportunity, and community for all.

🎧 Listen now to learn why inclusion is more than placement — it’s participation, potential, and power.

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