SNASY - The Story of Service Born to Aid Handicapped and Their Handlers. It's Coming to Mardi Gras.
Jan 16, 2026
This episode of What's Working introduces SNASY (Special Needs Assistant Station for You), founded by Dale Jackson after years of struggling to take his severely disabled teenage son to public events with no accessible adult changing facilities. Dale connected with Julian and Olivia Stevens — parents of a wheelchair-bound, ventilator-dependent 14-year-old — after spotting them at an Auburn game, and together they've built an organization that provides not just physical facilities but full itinerary coordination and on-site volunteers. A key insight from the families: SNASY reduces stress on the entire family, including siblings, allowing everyone to actually enjoy the outing. The organization is launching in Mobile with a 24-foot accessible trailer ready for Mardi Gras, and Senator Katie Britt's office has awarded a grant to build three more.
Highlights:
- SNASY provides adult changing stations, accessible bathrooms, and coordinated volunteer support at public events
- Founded after Dale's son Colin — severely brain-damaged from undetected infant seizures — became too large to change in typical public spaces
- The Stevens family joined after Dale approached them at an Auburn game; their son Preston uses a wheelchair and ventilator following a childhood drowning accident
- Press conference at Fort Conde in Mobile on February 5th with Senator Katie Britt to announce the grant for three additional trailers
- SNASY will be live at the Mobile Mardi Gras parade February 6th — not waiting until fully funded
- Needs: business sponsors, volunteers (fraternities, civic clubs), and outreach partners — snasy.org