DECATUR, Ala. — For many families navigating the public education system, the transition to adulthood for a child with developmental disabilities brings a sudden and profound shift. Classrooms, daily routines, structured social circles, and vital support networks often vanish overnight, leaving young adults isolated at home and caregivers searching desperately for viable alternatives.
To help bridge this widening gap, a Decatur couple who already operate a nonprofit thrift store employing adults with developmental disabilities is launching an ambitious new initiative this month. Jeff and Andrea Sharp, the driving force behind the Everyday Sunshine Thrift Store, are officially opening Everyday Sunshine University, or ESU. Designed to mimic a college-like day program, the initiative focuses heavily on continuing education, comprehensive social development, and hands-on job training tailored specifically to adults who have aged out of the traditional school system.
The inspiration for this major expansion stems deeply from the Sharps’ personal lives. The couple are the parents of 19-year-old Amelie, who was born with a rare brain disorder, ataxic cerebral palsy, and congenital cataracts. Watching their daughter grow and facing the reality of her future—alongside the futures of other young adults in their community—compelled the Sharps to move past traditional retail work and build a broader infrastructure of opportunity.
Everyday Sunshine currently employs 11 or 12 adults with developmental disabilities at its thrift store. The nonprofit also collaborates closely with students from Decatur High School and Austin High School through "Ready, Set, Work," a cooperative work program proudly sponsored by the United Way. However, as Jeff Sharp points out, the existing employment landscape simply cannot absorb every graduate who enters the local adult population.
"When they graduate from high school, everyone is looking for a spot, and right now we only have 12 spots," Jeff Sharp said, reflecting on the bottlenecks facing young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "We were thinking, ‘What is everyone else going to do? What is our daughter going to do?’"
That pressing question sparked a regional search for solutions. The foundational idea for ESU began to solidify after the Sharps visited Unless U, a well-known Birmingham-area nonprofit organization dedicated to providing continuing education, life-skills instruction, and vocational development for adults with developmental disabilities. Driven to learn as much as possible about successful operational models, the Sharps visited Unless U three separate times and toured five similar programs operating across the state of Alabama.
During one of these research trips, the sheer scale of their ambition crystallized into reality.
"We were sitting down eating lunch one day and Andrea just said, ‘So, I guess we’re starting a school?’" Jeff Sharp recalled with a laugh. "I said, ‘I think we are.’"
The resulting program, ESU, is meticulously designed to fill the void that opens up the moment adults with developmental disabilities leave the structured environment of the public school system. The Sharps noted that they intentionally structured the program to foster some of the core elements of the college experience—namely independence, meaningful social interaction, and personal choice.
"You go from being in school and seeing your friends and all of a sudden, it’s like you’re done," Jeff Sharp said, describing the sudden isolation many graduates face. "You’re at home with your parents or grandparents and you don’t drive."
ESU is scheduled to open its doors this week at The Church at Stone River, located on Danville Road Southwest. The program will make extensive use of the church’s Holistic Center, utilizing dedicated classrooms, a full-court gymnasium, and a fully equipped commercial kitchen. Classes will be held from Tuesday through Friday, operating during standard daytime hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Eligibility for the program extends to adults who live with an intellectual or developmental disability. According to Andrea Sharp, the program will take a measured approach to growth, initially enrolling no more than 24 students to ensure a high-quality, supportive environment. Depending on demand and operational capacity, enrollment could expand to approximately 40 students by the spring.
Beyond the direct benefits to the students, Andrea Sharp emphasized that ESU is designed to provide critical relief to families and caregivers who shoulder the daily responsibilities of round-the-clock care.
"It’s not only making a difference for these young adults, but their families as well because it is going to help them with respite," Andrea Sharp said. "And just knowing there’s a safe, encouraging environment where their children can grow and they’re not just sitting at home."
Departing from the structure of traditional academic institutions, ESU will completely dispense with standardized tests, grades, and homework assignments. Instead, the curriculum centers squarely on practical life skills, social enrichment, and recreational activities designed to build confidence and autonomy in everyday life.
"So, the math that we do will be change for a dollar and things like that," Jeff Sharp explained, highlighting the practical, hands-on nature of the coursework.
Students will spend their days practicing essential competencies such as handling currency, counting exact change, and navigating social interactions. The curriculum will also incorporate real-world application through regular field trips designed to let students test and refine their life skills safely out in the public sphere.
Following lunch, the daily schedule shifts toward personal enrichment. Students will have the opportunity to choose elective courses based entirely on their individual preferences and hobbies. The planned catalog of electives includes music, art, drama, creative writing, dance, basketball, and pickleball.
To ensure the student experience genuinely mirrors that of higher education, Andrea Sharp noted that staff will conduct personalized interviews with prospective students and their families prior to enrollment. These conversations will help identify specific interests and guide the final selection of elective offerings.
"We’ll interview all the students and their families and find out what kind of electives they would be interested in," Andrea Sharp said. "That gives it that college-life experience, being able to pick what they are interested in."
Weekly tuition for the program is set at $188 for those attending all four days, and $110 for families opting for a two-day schedule. Acknowledging that the financial commitment could present a hurdle for some households, Andrea Sharp stated that Everyday Sunshine actively plans to raise charitable funds specifically designated to subsidize tuition costs for families who cannot afford the full amount independently.
The launch of ESU has also received broader community backing. The initiative has secured a grant from the United Way and is currently collaborating with the Alabama Mountains, Rivers & Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council to plan and develop a specialized sensory garden directly behind the church facility.
As the launch date arrives, Everyday Sunshine is actively accepting applications for prospective students, dedicated volunteers, and paid staff members. Jeff Sharp noted that the organization is particularly interested in welcoming retired special education teachers and other professionals with formal classroom experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.
