50th Anniversary Leadership Series

In celebration of our 50th anniversary, the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is proud to introduce a special series featuring inspiring leaders from our state's disability community. These interviews share powerful personal stories from longtime advocates whose dedicated work has shaped policies and improved countless lives.

Parts of these interviews have been published in our 50th anniversary edition of Breaking Ground magazine. We explored the theme "Then, Now, Next" - highlighting the history of disability advocacy in Tennessee, where we are today, and the future we're working towards together. We are now sharing the full interviews here online, so you can explore each leader’s complete interview in their own words. These question-and-answer conversations provide deeper context, honest reflections, and personal insights that couldn’t all fit in the magazine.

Our goal is simple: to preserve the wisdom of experienced leaders, inspire a new generation of advocates, and help everyone understand important policy changes through real-life experiences. By amplifying diverse voices, we demonstrate the Council's ongoing role as a trusted connector—bringing people together for meaningful conversations and collective action. Whether you’re a person with a disability, a family member, a new advocate, or a policymaker, these stories offer practical insights you can use going forward. Join us in learning from these powerful narratives - and become part of our ongoing effort to create lasting, positive change for Tennesseans with developmental disabilities.

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