DECATUR, Ala. — A Decatur couple who operate a local non-profit thrift store dedicated to employing adults with developmental disabilities are expanding their mission this month with the launch of a comprehensive, college-like day program. The new initiative is designed to focus heavily on continuing education, social development, and hands-on job training, filling a critical void that many families face once their children transition out of the public school system.
Jeff and Andrea Sharp, the founders and operators of the Everyday Sunshine Thrift Store, said the overarching concept for the new endeavor—named Everyday Sunshine University, or ESU—grew organically out of their daily experiences. For years, they watched high school students with developmental disabilities participate in the non-profit’s cooperative work program, only to graduate and discover a stark lack of options available to them in the wider community.
The Sharps’ journey into advocacy is deeply personal. They were initially inspired to start their non-profit work because of their 19-year-old daughter, Amelie, who was born with a rare brain disorder, ataxic cerebral palsy, and congenital cataracts. Like many parents of children with complex special needs, the Sharps wanted to create sustainable, long-term opportunities not just for their own daughter, but for a broader community of young adults navigating similar life transitions.
Currently, Everyday Sunshine employs 11 or 12 adults with developmental disabilities, according to Jeff Sharp. The organization also partners closely with students from both Decatur and Austin high schools through Ready, Set, Work, a specialized cooperative work program sponsored by the United Way. While these programs provide vital early employment experience, they also highlight a looming systemic cliff once the safety net of high school education disappears.
"When they graduate, everyone is looking for a spot, and right now we only have 12 spots," Jeff Sharp explained, highlighting the immense pressure families face. "We were thinking, ‘What is everyone else going to do? What is our daughter going to do?’"
The solution began to take shape after the couple took exploratory trips to visit several specialized facilities across the state of Alabama. Most notably, they visited Unless U, a well-known Birmingham-area non-profit organization dedicated to providing continuing education, life-skills instruction, and vocational development specifically tailored for adults with developmental disabilities. In total, the Sharps toured Unless U three times and visited five similar programs throughout Alabama to observe best practices, classroom structures, and daily operational models.
The turning point for the Decatur couple came during a casual lunch break on one of their exploratory trips. "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 smile. "I said, ‘I think we are.’"
According to the founders, ESU is intended to help bridge the dramatic gap that develops when adults with developmental disabilities leave the structured environment of the public school system. The couple emphasized that they wanted program participants to experience a genuine sense of independence, rich social interaction, and personal choice—hallmarks of the traditional college experience that are rarely accessible to individuals with significant support needs once they reach adulthood.
"You go from being in school and seeing your friends and all of a sudden, it’s like you’re done," Jeff Sharp noted, describing the abrupt lifestyle shift. "You’re at home with your parents or grandparents and you don’t drive."
To bring the vision to life, ESU is scheduled to begin classes this week at The Church at Stone River, located on Danville Road Southwest. The program will make extensive use of the facility’s dedicated amenities, including fully equipped classrooms, a full-court gymnasium, and a commercial kitchen housed within the church’s Holistic Center. Classes are scheduled to run from Tuesday through Friday, operating daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Eligibility for the program is open to adults diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability. Andrea Sharp noted that the program plans to take a measured approach to growth, initially enrolling no more than 24 students to ensure a high quality of individualized attention and care. Depending on demand and operational capacity, the enrollment could potentially expand to accommodate about 40 students by the spring.
Beyond the profound benefits for the students themselves, Andrea Sharp stressed that ESU is designed to provide critical support for families and caregivers who shoulder heavy daily responsibilities. By offering a reliable, structured daytime schedule, the program gives families much-needed relief and peace of mind.
"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, pointing to the emotional and physical toll long-term caregiving can take. "And just knowing there’s a safe, encouraging environment where their children can grow and they’re not just sitting at home."
Unlike a traditional academic institution, ESU will completely eliminate conventional pressures like tests and homework. Instead, the curriculum will center entirely on practical life skills, meaningful social interactions, and active recreation designed to foster personal confidence.
"So, the math that we do will be change for a dollar and things like that," Jeff Sharp explained, illustrating the real-world, functional approach the school will take toward education.
Students will regularly practice essential tasks, such as handling money and calculating exact change. To reinforce these lessons in authentic environments, the program will incorporate frequent field trips into the local community, allowing students to practice their newly honed life skills out in public settings where they can interact with the broader public.
The daily schedule is thoughtfully balanced. Following lunch, students will have the opportunity to choose elective courses that align directly with their unique personal interests and passions. Planned offerings for the upcoming sessions include music, art, drama, creative writing, dance, basketball, and pickleball.
Andrea Sharp explained that intake procedures will be highly personalized to ensure every student finds a class that excites them. Before electives are finalized, administrators plan to conduct thorough interviews with both the students and their families to understand their hobbies, preferences, and developmental goals.
"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."
To ensure the program remains accessible, weekly tuition has been set at $188 for a four-day schedule and $110 for a two-day schedule. Recognizing that these costs can be prohibitive for some households, Andrea Sharp stated that Everyday Sunshine actively plans to raise additional funds and secure donations to help subsidize tuition expenses for families who cannot afford the full cost out of pocket.
In addition to private fundraising efforts, Everyday Sunshine has already secured critical external backing. The non-profit has received a targeted grant from the United Way specifically to support ESU’s launch. Furthermore, the organization is collaborating closely with the Alabama Mountains, Rivers & Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council to design and build a specialized sensory garden directly behind the church property, offering students a calming outdoor space for learning and therapeutic recreation.
As the inaugural classes prepare to begin, the non-profit is actively accepting applications for prospective students, dedicated volunteers, and paid staff members. Jeff Sharp noted that ESU is particularly interested in connecting with retired special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and other individuals who possess professional classroom experience working directly with people who have developmental disabilities.
