We accept donations rather than charge tuition. 1T1G is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit.
Our volunteer buddy training will be Sept 10, 2025, 6:30pm. Our special needs dancers start on Sept 17, 2025.
For more info email Traci@1Team1Goal.org or call (615)584-5549
Our dance class is on Wednesdays, 6:30-7:15, during the school year. Come join our class anytime! 1Team1Goal pairs 1:1 special needs dancer to a typical peer role model buddy. The buddies are trained and supported by Traci, who has over 35 years of special needs experience (see "About Us").
We are so proud to partner with Dance Mania Nashville! 1Team1Goal follows WCS' calendar for holidays and breaks. We accept donations instead of charging a tuition.
To sign up for dance, fill out the registration information by clicking the blue DANCE REGISTRATION link below, and feel free to call or email us for more information: traci@1team1goal.org (615)584-5549
We have an incredible volunteer staff that are our peer role models which help our special needs children and adults play football, cheer, and dance. We have dance class every Wednesday, September through May, which includes a Christmas performance in December and a dance recital in May.
Our 4 football teams and our cheer teams have partnered with Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood High School, Ravenwood High School, Ensworth High School, and Nolensville High School to play games.
We have also taken our volunteers to the YMCA's Full Circle program to assist in their special needs soccer, basketball, and softball games throughout the year.
1Team1Goal was officially started 12 years ago when Traci Semptimphelter and Karen Dudas partnered with Brentwood Blaze Football to put on "Athletes for Autism Day" at Crockett Park. The thought was that all children needed to be a part of a "team", and that someone should have a "goal" to provide these opportunities.
Unofficially, the idea for 1Team1Goal started 35 years ago, when Traci became involved in her Waterloo, Iowa's high school program, Gateway, that mentored special needs children and adults. She became very close with Doug Sturch, who was born with Down Syndrome.
After college and while working for a wheelchair and medical supply company, Traci lived with and cared for a quadriplegic woman. When she was 25 years old, she was a licensed respite foster parent for two girls. Traci then moved to Nashville where she was a professional cheerleader for 3 years, did some modeling and acting for 4 years, and then coached cheer and dance for more than 6 years.
She is now married to Scott, who was a professional football player for 8 years, and has coached for more than 25 years. They have 3 children, Nick, Graci, and Cross. They adopted Cross from Guatemala as a baby, and when he was two and a half years old, he was diagnosed with autism. Because of autism, they now all have extensive training in behavior therapy, especially Graci; she was trained to be Cross' peer role model. Graci is now a basketball player at John Carroll University and has been a 1Team1Goal peer role model for Lily for 11 years (see 1st picture on our home screen to see Graci and Lily). Graci helped start and grow 1Team1Goal with Traci by recruiting special needs people (sometimes walking up to special needs people in restaurants and explaining 1T1G's programs), as well as training typical children and adults how to be peer role models. The life lessons that 1Team1Goal's volunteers get is just as important as how 1Team1Goal impacts those that have special needs.
Traci, Graci, Scott, Nick and Cross live just south of Nashville, TN, and visit Iowa every year to see Traci's family, friends, and special friend, Doug Sturch.
Traci understands the importance of a team and working toward a goal. She is an advocate for children with special needs, consults many parents of special needs children, and along with Graci, they have dedicated themselves to grow the 1Team1Goal program to help as many children as they can.
Through Traci and Graci's compassion, leadership, and guidance, 1Team1Goal is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children with special needs, financial needs, social needs, and psychological needs.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and provide uniforms. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
