What if the people nobody believed in turned out to be the ones worth believing in most?

In this episode, Michael Thomas, CEO of ConnectIDD and former 14-year CEO of My Possibilities, shares how nearly 20 years in the disability space has brought him to one clear conviction: we are at a tipping point. Adults with disabilities are running Ironmans, graduating from purpose-built college campuses, and landing jobs at companies that actively seek them out. The systems are finally starting to catch up.

Michael built a 16-acre, 72,000 square foot campus for higher learning in North Texas from the ground up, led a $30 million capital campaign to make it happen, and is now channeling everything he learned into ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency helping organizations across the country do the same. At the center of all of it are two mentors who shaped not just his career, but the kind of leader he became.

[00:03:40] What He Does and Who He Serves

• Runs ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency that plugs into organizations looking to grow their impact

• Works with nonprofits, foundations, and businesses serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

• Leads complex projects like capital campaigns, program launches, and organizational growth strategies

• Every engagement is individualized; there is no one-size-fits-all approach

[00:06:40] How He Got Here

• Grew up around disability; his sister, mother, grandmother, and uncle all share a genetic condition

• Spent time as a kid at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, a specialized children's hospital

• Started college in music therapy, switched to philosophy when the program was cut, and found his way to the Muscular Dystrophy Association right out of college

• A fraternity mentor pointed out that the volunteer work he loved, Special Olympics and fundraising events, was actually a career

[00:09:40] What Inspires Him: Rooting for the Underdog

• His father instilled a lifelong habit of rooting for the underdog in any situation

• People with disabilities are the quintessential underdogs; systems were never designed to elevate them

• A father in Florida recently led 16 adults with autism and Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman

• The fuel in the tank is watching expectations get shattered and systems finally start to change

[00:13:00] Client Impact: The Garden Foundation in Las Vegas

• Engaged with the Garden Foundation, led by an exceptional founder who built it for her sister and others like her

• They had a waiting list for services but were limited by space; helped them identify and acquire a property in Las Vegas

• The property includes a house and a renovated 16,000 square foot office space with a view over the city

• The ribbon cutting is in 10 days; they are now serving more people with plans to grow further

[00:15:20] We Are at the Disability Tipping Point

• Twenty years ago nobody talked about inclusive housing or actively hiring people with autism

• Today companies recognize the talent and loyalty of employees with disabilities

• Educational campuses, workforce development programs, and inclusive residential communities are now being built across the country

• His hope: by the time he retires, inclusion is simply the norm and not the exception

[00:17:20] The First Relationship That Changed Everything: Linda Smith

• Linda Smith spent 40 years as chief development officer of Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, named the Mother Teresa of the Desert by the governor of Nevada

• Her son was born with Down Syndrome and was denied US citizenship not because of immigration but because of his disability

• She raised more than half a billion dollars for people with disabilities over her career

• She took Michael under her wing, showed him what intentional relationship building looks like, and has been in his corner for 16 to 17 years since

[00:20:20] The Second Relationship: Larry Solomon

• Larry Solomon was vice president of Human Resources at Dr. Pepper and husband of the founder of My Possibilities

• Michael joined the organization at 26 and needed refining; Larry was the professional coach who helped him get there

• The core lesson Larry instilled: take care of your people because they take care of people

• He was a behind-the-scenes mentor whose influence shows up in everything Michael does today

[00:22:40] The Impact: A 16-Acre Campus for Higher Learning

• Young adults with disabilities were being parked in day programs watching Disney movies; they wanted college and nobody was building it

• Michael led the vision to build a university-style campus for adults with disabilities in North Texas

• Linda came out to speak to the board; Larry's coaching drove the professional execution; the team delivered

• The campus now sits on 16 acres with 72,000 square feet of educational space, offering college-style programs tailored to each person's goals

[00:28:40] Go Find Real Community

• The most important thing missing right now is the ability to truly connect and find community

• Humans are communal by nature; as we have become less connected, stress, depression, anxiety, and suicide have all risen

• Real community means being able to say "I'm not well" to people who genuinely care about you

• His 11-year-old twin sons are already better at communicating emotion than most adults; the younger generation may be the teachers here

KEY QUOTES

"I think we're at the disability tipping point. Twenty years ago, nobody talked about inclusive housing communities for people with disabilities." — Michael Thomas

"We have to take care of our people because they take care of people. It doesn't make any sense not to lean into the support of your team." — Michael Thomas

"A lot of therapy wouldn't be needed if we still had community. We would just go talk with people that care about us." — Michael Thomas

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL THOMAS

🌐 Website: https://www.connectidd.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectidd

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