1Team1Goal Dance
Our dance class is on Wednesdays, 6:30-7:15, starting September 30. We are proud to partner with Act Too! 1Team1Goal dance class will be the only class in the building during our time to limit potential exposure to sickness. 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" on the next page). Our buddies are required to wear masks, dancers that can tolerate a mask are asked to wear one, and upon arrival everyone will get their temperature taken and recorded and asked to wash or sanitize their hands.
Act Too's studio location is at 1113 Murfreesboro Road, Suite 119, Franklin (2 buildings down from Hobby Lobby or you can find it right behind Franklin Chop House). 1Team1Goal follows WCS' calendar for holidays and breaks. We do not charge a tuition, but we accept donations (see below "Donate Now" button).
Our dance program has had continued success for 7 years, September through May. We have 8 buddies returning from our 2019/2020 dance year, and we have more buddies eager to come.
We are always committed to our Team!
We have an amazing volunteer staff that helps coordinate peer role models for our special needs children and adults to 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 partner with Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood High School, Ravenwood High School, Ensworth High School, and Nolensville High School to play our games.
We take our volunteers to the YMCA's Full Circle program to help assist in their special needs soccer, basketball, and softball games throughout the year.
1Team1Goal was officially started 9 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 in 12th grade and has been a 1Team1Goal peer role model for Lily for 9 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.
To provide a positive experience for athletes with special needs to be a part of a team, whether that be football, cheer, or dance. We strive to promote mental, physical, and spiritual development through team building with 1:1 typical peer role models. Our #1 goal is to build friendships through team work.
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and provide uniforms. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
