Meet Michelle Short

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Short. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michelle , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

When my youngest son, Riley, began having seizures at six months old, my world was shattered. Within days, he went from a thriving baby to experiencing more than 200 seizures in a 24 hour period. The diagnosis was heartbreaking, he would never walk or talk and would live with profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a mother, it was everything I feared hearing.

The weight of this journey became too much for Riley’s father, and he’s been absent ever since. For the past 18 years, I’ve walked this path without him. Then in 2019, life delivered another blow. I suffered a grand mal seizure in the middle of a grocery store. Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. My first thought wasn’t about myself, it was about Riley. Who would take care of him if something happened to me?

My oldest son was serving in the Marines, my middle son had just started college, and my parents, well into their seventies, couldn’t take on the responsibility long-term. That moment of fear and uncertainty planted a seed in my heart. I realized that families like mine, families with medically fragile or profoundly disabled children needed a place. A place where their loved ones could live safely and be cared for with love, whether it’s for a short respite or for the rest of their lives.

They need a place to rest, to breathe, to heal. That’s where the vision for Riley’s Residence was born. A place built on love, safety, and peace of mind for individuals with special needs and the families who love them. A place where they can thrive and find purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Michelle Short, and I’m the founder of Riley’s Residence, a nonprofit born out of a very personal place, my journey as a mother to my incredible son, Riley. Riley was born perfectly healthy, but at six months old, after a series of seizures, our world changed forever. He was later diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a rare genetic condition. He cannot walk or talk, but he has taught me more about unconditional love, perseverance, and purpose than anyone ever could.

For years, I struggled as a single mom trying to find care and support that didn’t exist. When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and needed surgery, the fear of not having anyone to care for Riley was overwhelming. That moment ignited a fire in me. I knew families like mine needed something more. Not just a place to house their loved one, but a home, a place where they would be seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

That’s how Riley’s Residence was born.

We are building a 100-room state-of-the-art residential facility that will provide both long-term and short-term (respite) housing for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. It will offer on-site therapy (physical, occupational, speech, and aquatic), life skills training, a salon, a theater, sensory rooms and most importantly, a community. We’re also launching a certification and mentorship program for caregivers, offering competitive pay, on-site daycare, mental health days, and a workplace where they are as valued as those they care for. We’ll have an internship program as well as a volunteer program for high school students interested in helping people with special needs.

What excites me most is the impact. Not just for residents, but for families who can finally rest, knowing their loved one is cared for with dignity. For caregivers who feel supported. For interns who want to serve this population with heart. And for a society that too often overlooks this community. We’re reminding the world that they matter deeply.

We’re preparing to open our first Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) home, Riley’s Place, which will house 15 individuals while we raise funds for the full facility. We’re planning our first golf tournament this June and our 2nd annual gala in September. We exceeded our goal at our first gala just 2 months after launching Riley’s Residence nonprofit 501(c)3 last July. There’s so much momentum, and we’re just getting started.

I believe God wrote Riley’s story long before I knew it, and I’m honored to be part of it. My pain has become my purpose and my mission is to turn it into peace for other.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the three most important qualities that shaped my journey as the founder of Riley’s Residence are: resilience, advocacy, and resourcefulness.

Resilience wasn’t optional it was necessary. I like finding solutions. The lack of long term housing and high turnover rates for caregivers is detrimental to the IDD community. Some people say this can’t be built because there’s nothing like it in the country. I say….not yet.

Advocacy became a skill I had to master quickly. I learned how to be the squeaky wheel, how to question doctors, challenge decisions that didn’t feel right, and push for a more holistic approach when traditional care wasn’t enough. I realized that no one would fight harder for my child than I would, and that empowered me to speak up, even when it was uncomfortable. I will be our residents biggest advocate

Resourcefulness was born out of necessity. I had to navigate Medicaid, Social Security, waiver programs, equipment approvals, and service gaps often while being met with red tape and silence. But I kept learning, asking questions, and leaning into every challenge until I found a way forward. That determination helped me become not just Riley’s caregiver, but his advocate, educator, and team leader.

For anyone just starting this journey, my advice is this: you don’t have to have it all figured out—but you do have to keep going. Give yourself grace. Ask questions. Seek support from those who’ve walked this path. And know that your voice is powerful and you are stronger than you think.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Without a doubt, my husband Marty has been my greatest source of strength. His unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in both me and the vision of Riley’s Residence have carried me through some of the hardest seasons of my life. He’s my biggest fan, my anchor when things feel overwhelming, and the steady hand reminding me that I don’t have to carry it all alone anymore.

I’m also incredibly inspired and empowered by other parents in the special needs community. There’s a quiet but fierce strength in parents who fight every single day for their child’s care, dignity, and future. We may not always know each other personally, but there’s a bond between us…a shared resilience and understanding that can’t be explained, only felt. These parents have helped me learn, grow, and stay focused on the bigger picture. Their stories and determination remind me why I do what I do.

Together, with my husband beside me and the special needs community around me, I’ve developed the courage, tenacity, and vision to turn pain into purpose and create something that will bless generations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rileysresidence.org/
• Instagram: @rileysres and @mmireles124
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19tbyCDaTu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Cooper Moore