April Meredith – The Compass

Finding Your Way with Tennessee’s Transportation Options

Posted on September 11, 2025September 11, 2025 by April Meredith

A close-up view from the driver's seat inside a car, showing a smartphone mounted on the dashboard. The phone displays a GPS navigation app with a map and route highlighted in purple and yellow, directing the driver along Interstate 40 as shown by a red, white and blue highway symbol to "Ripley Tennessee," that is shown at the bottom of the phone screen in a dark rectuangular box. The screen shows directions, distance remaining (1.9 mi), estimated time (3 minutes), and current speed (43 m/h). The steering wheel is partially visible on the left, and blurred traffic lights and cars can be seen through the windshield in the background.

Transportation is more than just getting from Point A to Point B. It’s a key part of living a full, connected life. Whether it’s heading to a medical appointment, visiting friends, or pursuing a job opportunity, reliable transportation is essential for thriving in Tennessee. However, navigating the maze of transit options can be overwhelming, especially… Read more Finding Your Way with Tennessee’s Transportation Options

A Messager from our Information & Referral Coordinator

Posted on July 16, 2025July 21, 2025 by April Meredith

Dear Friends of Pathfinder, Happy Disability Pride Month! As we honor this occasion and commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are excited to embrace our theme: Proud. Informed. Empowered: A New Year for Disability Access and Advocacy. Although we celebrate every July, 2025 has brought extra challenges, reminding Tennessee Disability… Read more A Messager from our Information & Referral Coordinator

Poems to Celebrate Differences

Posted on April 9, 2025April 9, 2025 by April Meredith

Image of poem that has a black background. Letter A is in red with the word Autism under it. To the right of the A the text Advocates undergoing transitions to impact societal mindsets is in white font with a red background. Under the A Autism is the letter S in green font with the word Spectrum underneath in white font. To the right of the S is Skilled people expressing creative thoughts and reasoning in a unique manner. It's in white font with a green background. The last letter under the S for Spectrum is D in blue font. Under D is Disorder in white font. To the right is the text in white with a blue background Divergent individuals showing others respect for disability experiences and rights.

Kayla Meredith is a creative person who is a native speaker of Japanese, avidly watches anime, and can state the complete evolution of every single Pokémon to any willing ear. She has a giving, gentle soul as evidenced by teaching English Conversation for free to a Ukrainian student abroad and volunteering monthly at the Frist… Read more Poems to Celebrate Differences

5 Ideas to Prevent Holiday Season Loneliness

Posted on December 11, 2024December 11, 2024 by April Meredith

The holiday season is often associated with large family gatherings; but, for some, this is not an option. Perhaps the person has no living kin, is estranged from their relatives, or cannot afford the time or cost of travel. This can lead to the dreaded winter blues. Individuals with disabilities in these situations are especially… Read more 5 Ideas to Prevent Holiday Season Loneliness

Sighted Guidance: A Blind Perspective

Posted on September 7, 2021September 7, 2021 by April Meredith

Image of April Meredith holding a cane and wearing a multicolor dress.

Do Independent Blind People Want Assistance?, As a confident white cane user, I can comfortably travel on my own much of the time; but, in some situations additional assistance comes in handy. For instance, I might utilize a screen-reader-friendly navigation app on my smartphone to locate a specific business, or contact an event organizer to… Read more Sighted Guidance: A Blind Perspective