Daily Inspiration: Meet Megan Snow & Emily Wall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Snow & Emily Wall.

Hi Megan & Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Disco Differences is a one-of-a-kind vintage/secondhand shop established by two passionate women in 2022. Megan Snow, a speech-language pathologist, and Emily Wall, a licensed special educator and doctoral candidate in special education, have combined their expertise and vision to create a business with a powerful mission. Megan and Emily are committed to fostering education, advocacy, and community integration for individuals with disabilities.

While Megan and Emily are the founders of Disco Differences, they would be nothing without the team behind them. From the beginning of their venture in September 2022, they have had amazing community support and volunteers with families who have trusted in the vision and mission of Disco Differences.

Given Emily & Megan’s occupations and experiences, they have been able to apply their knowledge to build tailored training programs and supports for each volunteer thus far.
“I firmly believe that all humans, regardless of disability status, deserve meaningful access to the community and opportunities for growth, skill development, and social networks. This, in part, is why Disco Differences was born, I feel so incredibly grateful and proud that others see the value in our business and mission to cultivate these opportunities in a world where they’re currently so obviously lacking for young adults with disabilities.” -Emily

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
At times, unique challenges have presented, such as difficulties implementing effective communication in the work environment. However, by providing tailored training and resources, as well as support & modes to self-advocate, they have watched our team grow and thrive. From learning effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to mastering the process of checking customers out, the growth has been remarkable!

“The journey hasn’t always been smooth. I’m thinking of one specific time- we had a pop-up in 2023 and we got there and set up. About an hour later it down poured. About half of our inventory was soaking wet. We not only had to throw away our soaking wet decorative rugs, but a few of our clothing racks broke due to the wind/rain. It was a mess! Luckily we learned from this and haven’t had an experience quite like that one since…if there is an 80% chance of rain/thunderstorms and it’s an outdoor market- we probably should cancel…” -Megan

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Emily Wall, M.Ed.

I am a doctoral candidate in special education at UNC Charlotte. Before beginning this adventure, I was a high school special education teacher in Wake County, teaching adolescents and young adults with extensive support needs. My expertise is in autism spectrum disorder and the transition to adulthood. I’m so lucky to say that I have never had to think twice about what I wanted to do with my life, as I have been passionate about the population of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since I was a child. Now, in adulthood, I get to wake up each day and find new ways to be a strong advocate and leader in the field of special education. I’m living my dream, and all I want is to be an avenue for others to be able to live theirs, too.

Megan Snow MS, CCC-SLP:

I am a certified and licensed speech and language pathologist (SLP) in North Carolina. have a deep commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals through effective speech and language intervention. I have experience working with individuals of many ages and with the following diagnoses: Down Syndrome, receptive and/or expressive language disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, Autism, fluency disorders, cognitive disorders, feeding/swallowing disorders, and social-pragmatic communication disorders.

Among my clinical experiences, I have developed a particular interest in augmentative & alternative communication (AAC) and have provided presentations on this topic to other therapists/individuals in the community. I have also assisted patients and families in the funding process to receive a speech-generating device (SGD). In addition, I am dedicated to developing a neurodiversity-affirming plan of care/goals, ensuring that each individual’s unique needs and strengths are recognized and honored within therapy. We are all different and I choose to celebrate & respect that within my therapy sessions and everyday life!

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Disco Differences will be opening up shop at PopBox in Boxyard RTP for 5 months starting in February 2025! PopBox is home to rotating pop-up shops every 6 months. More info here: https://boxyard.rtp.org/popbox/

During our time at PopBox, we will be able to provide a consistent and predictable work environment for our volunteers
and employees that pop-up shops/markets do not provide. This will also create a great environment in which to practice a wide variety of vocational and social skills.

Although 2025 seems far away, it will be here before we know it! Please reach out to us to learn more about the upcoming opportunities and work-based learning experiences we will be providing while in PopBox! There will be a wide variety of job skill training opportunities while we are in the space, and supports/executive functioning visuals will vary based on individual needs.

Within the next 5-10 years, we would love for Disco Differences to have a permanent store!

Pricing:

• Clothes usually range from $5-$50 depending on the brand, style, and quality
• Digital Downloads: $7

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discodifferences.com/
• Instagram: @discodifferences
• Facebook: Disco Differences, LLC: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085841762937