Our Staff

Learn about our AbleVoices staff, from their unique backgrounds + important roles to their hearts behind our mission!

Jen Vogus

Founder + Executive Director

  • I have always been both a teacher and a photographer at heart. I began my career in education, with a background in biology and science education, and later continued my education in photography and special education. But one of my most important teachers has been my son, Aidan.

    Aidan has a rare genetic disability (STXBP1) and does not communicate using words. Being his mom has shaped the way I think about communication, ability, expectations, and what it really means for someone to have a voice. Aidan has plenty to say- you just have to be willing to pay attention to the ways he says it.

    As I became more involved in photography taking photos of all that Aidan can do and enjoys, I began thinking about how photographs could provide another way for people with disabilities to communicate and share something about themselves. A photograph can tell us what someone notices, what interests them, what they find beautiful or funny, where they like to go, who is important to them, and how they see the world. You don't have to communicate verbally to make those choices or have a perspective worth sharing.

    Those ideas eventually brought together so many different parts of my life- teaching, photography, disability, creativity, and my experiences with Aidan- and led me to found AbleVoices in 2019.

    Today, as Executive Director, I get to combine many of the things I care about most. I am still a teacher at heart, and one of my favorite parts of my work is developing new ideas and finding ways to help each person learn, grow, express themselves, and become more connected to their community.

  • I believe deeply in human potential. I also believe that people sometimes underestimate what someone can learn, contribute, or accomplish when they have a disability- especially an intellectual or developmental disability. And that belief is at the heart of why I started AbleVoices.

    Photography gives us a way to learn about another person by seeing what they choose to photograph and hearing what they have to say about their images. I love watching our photographers discover that their choices, ideas, and perspectives matter. I also love seeing what happens when other people in the community encounter their photography- not because they are being asked to focus on disability, but because they are being invited to see the world from someone else's point of view.

    I want AbleVoices to be a place where people are continually encouraged to try new things, develop their skills, take on meaningful roles, and be recognized for what they contribute.

    Understanding the life-changing potential of a growth mindset influences the way I teach and lead. I don't want us to decide in advance what someone is capable of. I would much rather give people opportunities, provide the support they need, and see where they can go.

    Ultimately, my "why" is pretty simple: I want people with disabilities to have more opportunities to express themselves, contribute their abilities, be known by others, and be fully included in their communities.

  • It can sometimes be hard to figure out where AbleVoices ends and my life beyond AbleVoices begins because photography, teaching, creativity, and coming up with new ideas are all things I genuinely enjoy!

    I am naturally curious and love learning. I was a science teacher before becoming a photographer, and I still get excited when those two worlds overlap. I enjoy thinking about how things work, experimenting with new ideas, and learning new skills- whether that means exploring a new photography technique, figuring out a piece of technology, or dreaming up a new project.

    Family is also a very important part of my life. I enjoy spending time with my husband, Tim, and our children, Aidan and Eleanor. Our family life has given me many different experiences and perspectives that have shaped who I am and how I see the world.

    And, of course, I am rarely very far from a camera- even if it is just the one on my phone. Photography has been part of my life for many years, not just as a profession but as a way I notice, explore, and remember the world around me. I still love the simple experience of seeing something interesting and thinking, "I need to photograph that."

Learn more about Jen here.

Jen especially enjoys black and white photography. She created both images above during recent AbleVoices Photography Club outings.
Click on each image to enlarge.

Samantha Wilson

Program Director

  • I grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where I attended the University of Southern Mississippi and earned my undergraduate degree in Special Education. I then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue my M.Ed. in Special Education at Vanderbilt University.

    After graduate school, I spent four years teaching in a transition program in Williamson County Schools, where I had the immense honor of having Aidan Vogus in my class. Through Aidan, I met Jen and was subsequently introduced to AbleVoices. My experiences in special education and transition education have shaped my passion for creating meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to build independence, develop their skills, and express themselves.

    As I became more involved with AbleVoices, I quickly connected with its mission and the way photography gives people a creative outlet while also creating opportunities for connection, confidence, and community. I eventually joined the AbleVoices Board of Directors and served for a year before stepping into my current role as Program Director. In this role, I help develop and oversee programs, create new opportunities for our photographers, build community partnerships, and support the day-to-day work that helps AbleVoices grow.

    One fun fact about me is that I played Division I softball in college and caught every inning of every single game my senior year! In fact, my husband also played college baseball, and he as a catcher as well… and yes, we do disagree on who the better catcher was. No, I am not competitive at all!

  • My commitment to inclusion began when I was in third grade. My friend Elijah used a wheelchair and could not participate in recess because the field was not accessible. I was young and did not know words like accessibility, advocacy, or equity, but I knew that it was not right for my friend to be excluded from something as simple as recess. My friends and I decided to do something about it and organized school-wide fundraising efforts to create inclusive activities that we could enjoy with him. Looking back, that experience was the first time I realized that people with disabilities can be excluded by the world around them...and that I could play a role in changing that.

    That experience has stayed with me throughout my life. I continued volunteering and working alongside people with disabilities throughout middle school, high school, college, and my career, eventually becoming a special educator and working in transition education. Through those experiences, I have learned that inclusion is about much more than simply providing access. It is about making sure people are valued, heard, given opportunities to contribute, and able to experience the same sense of belonging as everyone else.

    That is one of the things I love most about AbleVoices. Photography gives our photographers a way to express themselves, share their perspectives, and show others how they see the world. I love watching someone discover that their ideas, creativity, and perspective have value, and then seeing that work displayed in the community. There is something incredibly meaningful about watching our photographers take pride in something they created and knowing that other people are stopping to appreciate their work.

    What makes this work meaningful to me is knowing that AbleVoices is creating opportunities that extend far beyond photography. We are helping people build confidence, develop skills, connect with their communities, and have their voices heard. For me, this work is a continuation of something I first understood as an eight-year-old: everyone deserves to belong, to participate, and to have the opportunity to make an impact. I am incredibly grateful that I get to build that kind of community through AbleVoices.

  • When I'm not at work at AbleVoices, I'm usually doing something with my husband and our two dogs, Lucky and Knox. I love traveling, visiting new restaurants and coffee shops, working out, and spending time with family and friends. I'm a big sports fan and love anything competitive. I am the assistant softball coach at Ravenwood High School (Go Raptors!). I enjoy reading, going on walks, working on DIY house projects, and spending time with the people that I love.

These two photos are two of Samantha’s favorite AbleVoices photos. The photo on the left was taken by Hannah Schrupp, and Samantha loves how Hannah captured so many things that are important to her, including her dad, the lake, and her dog. The photo on the right was taken by Ben Aguon and is a unique perspective of Nashville, a town that Samantha loves.

Nicholas Coakley

Studio Assistant

  • My name is Nicholas and I live in Franklin, Tennessee. I was born with developmental disabilities. My pet cow Betty and bull Franklin are what got me into photography. I enjoyed documenting their lives. My bull Franklin passed away, and I continue photography in his honor. In 2022, I heard of AbleVoices through my parents and completed the online Photography for Self Expression class and enjoyed it. I then joined the In-Person Photography Club, learned new skills, and met new friends. I learned that there are different kinds of photography and learned to shoot in all-manual mode and started learning black and white film photography. I eventually was asked to become a Studio Assistant at AbleVoices, I learned how to print and matte photos. I even learned the business side of photography like selling prints at markets and sharing my photos at the county fair and in magazines.

  • I enjoy being able to see all the photographers grow in their own unique way. When we go on outings no one comes back with the same pictures. Our Photographers have had their work shown at different locations including the Frist Art Museum. Seeing the joy from the photographers sharing their work and our mission makes me so happy. That's one of my favorite parts of working for AbleVoices.

  • When I'm not at work I enjoy hanging out with (and photographing) my cows Alice, Betty, and Patsy. I have a passion for antiques whether it be my 1945 Ford tractor or using my 1938 Rolleiflex camera. I love playing oldies music like Don Gibson, John Denver and The Beach Boys on my 1970 Rowe Jukebox. I’ve been told I have an "Old Soul”!

These photos speak to Nicholas speak because both have a vintage theme. The photo on the left was taken by Nicolas, and the photo on the right was taken by fellow AbleVoices photographer Sam Porcelli.

Jack Burrows

Studio Assistant

  • I grew up north of Chicago in Libertyville, IL and spent time in South Haven, MI on long weekends and over summers growing up. I have extensive experience creating content for social media. Getting paid to do social media has allowed me to buy my own camera and lenses. I got involved in AbleVoices because my brother got involved before I did. I am in charge of social media posts and lots of hands on work around here. What others might be surprised to know about me is that I am an avid fan of D3 football and have been very successful covering that. Check out my channel, The Third Division!

  • AbleVoices is filled with good people all over. I learned that a little patience with others goes a long way. Photography matters to me because it teaches me what I can be capable of without needing the very best equipment out there. One experience I look forward to is bringing our photographers to Sewanee to photograph a football game from the sidelines.

  • I am a distance runner. I follow Wisconsin-Whitewater football because I went to college there. I enjoy watching Rick and Morty with my brother . I have played trombone before but lately I've been putting that aside. I am hard of hearing and wear hearing aids in both ears. This taught me to be patient with others and to educate others to be patient with me.

Both photos were taken by Jack. “Bones” features skulls and would make a great limited-edition Halloween greeting card. “Heart of Star Princess” was taken with his 10–18mm ultra-wide lens—a reminder to use the tools you have available to create unique images.

Charlie Burrows

Studio Assistant

  • i got this job when Jen Vogus asked me to help with the Gala we hold for our program every year. I became interested in photography when my mom told me abut the Virtual Photography Class and it was really PHun.

  • This job matters to me because I like what I do and my coworkers are awesome. I like helping out with the program and having Samantha as the new Program Director.

  • I like to ride my bike, hang out with my friends, and play video games.

Charlie was behind the lens of both of these photos! The cardinal landing on the grass captured his attention when taking the photo on the left, and he loves the old pickup truck in the picture on the right.

Caryn Hatcher

Program Assistant

  • Though nearly two decades in Tennessee, I am still a Western New York girl at heart. Hamilton College provided me with a classical liberal arts education. I got my BA in English Literature with a Studio Art minor. From there I returned to Buffalo and started both as a continuing education student in 3D Design at Buffalo State College and as a potter's apprentice to Jeanne Palmer. I took ceramics classes for three years and worked with Jeanne for six before making the jump to studio manager and credit class professor at the University of Buffalo's Creative Craft Center.

    I had Kodak cameras as a young child; my father's eldest sister Janet made sure of it. I think of her often when I am behind the lens. Part of my training at Buff State was not only how to make sculptures and pottery, but I needed to learn how to photograph them properly. During that decade I solo road tripped up to Deer Isle, Maine and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts three different times for 1, 2, and 3 week intensive workshops. Haystack has 6 different workshops running at once: 2D (painting/graphics/photography), metal, clay, fiber, wood, glass/blacksmithing. I'd eat three meals I blissfully did not have to cook with both studio mates and students from other disciplines. I get that workshop feeling back every now and again in the AbleVoices studio - the give and take, the spit balling, the sharing, the stories, the laughter. It's wonderful.

  • My time with AbleVoices is THE part that helps the other facets of my life function better. These last three years have been busy with two full-time jobs, a family, and a home. I NEED to make things, whether 2D or 3D, food, or a mess. If too much time passes since I've last made something, I get twitchy. AbleVoices provides both creative and social outlets for me, and I am incredibly grateful.

    Five different photographers can enter a space and likely leave with five unique collections of studies and photographs. All have different interests, biases, and ironically - focuses, and all come away with something they did not have prior. I get to visit that location again when viewing all their images, sometimes seeing the place in a completely different way.

    I have learned much from my fellow photographers. Patience is not only a virtue, it can also help you snag the perfect shot. I have also learned to slow down and not just check things off of a list. I've learned to scale up, down, and maybe get a little uncomfortable or even dirty for the right angle. I've also learned that even though we all have our own cameras, we are a team. I've helped others cross a rocky spot, and others have in turn helped me.

    A favorite outing for me was to the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville. The architecture, grounds, the history, and not in the least, the humanity have stayed with me. I love that our group keeps exploring and learning.

    I hope that AbleVoices continues to grow in number and have both the online and local communities see us as a vibrant and creative group who can participate and contribute anywhere.

  • Outside of work, I’m happiest cooking BBQ, making bead jewelry, or getting lost in a good murder mystery. I’m a devoted fan of the Buffalo Bills, Boston Red Sox, and Ryder Cup golf, and my music tastes range from Tom Waits and The Cure to the Grateful Dead, Harry Nilsson, Bryan Ferry, The Band, and Steely Dan. My favorite movies include Charade, Cinema Paradiso, The Philadelphia Story, and The Empire Strikes Back, while Taskmaster, Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders, and Only Murders in the Building are among my favorite shows.

    I love visiting Barcelona, London, Venice, Maine, Vermont, Oregon, and Bermuda, but Walt Disney World and the Ryman Auditorium hold especially special places in my heart. I collect Edward Gorey illustrated books and handmade coffee mugs, and I’m particularly proud of my ability to win concert tickets on the radio. I’m currently learning to give myself a little more grace (and working on my graphic design skills). A few other things that make me happy: black cats, viburnum, juggling, and whistling through my teeth.

The photo on the left was taken by Caryn during an AbleVoices trip to the Nashville Zoo in 2024. She loves the movement of the fish and water, along with the reflection of the corrugated metal roof above the enclosure. The photo on the right was taken by Paul Tiedemann. Caryn loves its soft focus and beautiful study in greens; to her, it looks like a concert photo, but is actually tree leaves and the lake.

  • I was born and raised in Mississippi and Tennessee has been home since 2008. I earned my B.S. from Jackson State University and my M.S. from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), both in the area of communicative disorders. I have been a speech-language pathologist for almost 20 years. I have worked in a variety of settings, including skilled nursing facilities, schools, and outpatient pediatrics. I now operate a small private practice, where I provide home- and community-based services. My primary area of special interest is augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). I especially enjoy helping people find ways to express themselves and participate more fully in their communities.

    My interest in photography began when I was a child. I loved looking through the prints in our family photo albums over and over. Even in grade school, I would take a camera with me on field trips whenever I had the chance. At the time, I imagined that I would eventually become a professional photographer. While I haven't pursued photography as a career, I have continued to enjoy it as a hobby and am always interested in improving my skills. I'm often the person in my family who is taking pictures at gatherings, celebrations, and special occasions, so photography has remained a meaningful way for me to capture and preserve memories.

    At AbleVoices, I serve as a Teaching Artist and teach the “Photography for Self-Expression” class, both in person and virtually. What I especially enjoy about my role is getting to know each of the photographers and seeing their individual strengths, personalities, and interests come through in their work. I love the moments when photographers share their photos and talk about what a particular photograph means to them. Those conversations often give me a glimpse into how they see and experience the world.

  • I am grateful to be part of others’ learning experience, whether they are building skills they already have or picking up a camera and trying photography for the first time. Being able to combine my professional experience in disability services with my longstanding personal interest in photography makes my role at AbleVoices particularly meaningful to me.

    What I value most about working with our photographers is seeing how the skills they learn can go beyond the classroom and become part of their everyday lives. I love seeing how photography can give someone another way to express their ideas and share something about themselves with others. It is rewarding to watch them discover that their perspective matters and that they have something worth sharing.

    The people I work with have taught me to be more open-minded and creative. They remind me that there is rarely only one way to approach something and that sometimes the best moments happen when you slow down, pay attention, and allow someone to express themselves in their own way.

    I hope that our photographers experience a sense of pride and increased confidence through AbleVoices. More than anything, I hope they feel seen and heard. I want people to recognize that individuals with disabilities have ideas, opinions, perspectives, and stories to share, and that we have a responsibility to be attentive to what they are saying.

    One of the things that makes me excited to come to work is seeing the photographers' enthusiasm. It makes me happy when they are excited to show me a photo they've taken. I also enjoy watching their confidence grow throughout the class, especially seeing someone who may initially be quiet or reserved gradually become more expressive and willing to share. Those moments are a reminder of why this work matters to me.

  • When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, especially when there is an opportunity to have a little fun and be competitive. I love escape rooms and logic puzzles. I enjoy the challenge of figuring things out, so anything that involves solving a problem or putting the pieces together is usually right up my alley.

    I'm not a huge sports follower, but during football season, I love watching videos of Jackson State University's “Sonic Boom of the South” marching band. It's something I look forward to and I can appreciate a good halftime performance.

    As far as food goes, I have a favorite: Chick-fil-A. I probably go at least once a week, so it's safe to say I'm a fan. I also have a bit of a sweet tooth and have a soft spot for milk chocolate.

    One thing I want to do is learn to play the piano. It's been on my list for a while, so maybe one day I'll finally make it happen! A few of my favorite things include flowers, sticky notes, and hoop earrings. And, of course, chocolate.

Kaleena Smith

Photography for Self-Expression Teacher

The first photo was taken by Kaleena and brings back memories of a family vacation, when the sunrises and sunsets were beautiful each day. The second photo was taken by Wyatt Bernal, who was in one of Kaleena’s classes. She loves that Wyatt used black-and-white photography to capture the place where his creativity happens.