Are you a professional working in disability services, supports, or programs in Tennessee? Do you have valuable insights or stories to share that could benefit the broader disability community in our state? We want to hear from you!

Breaking Ground magazine is looking for article pitches from professionals working in the disability field. We're interested in featuring stories about innovative programs, best practices, or impactful services that are making a difference in the lives of Tennesseans with disabilities. Your expertise and experiences could help inform and inspire our readers across the state.

If you have an idea for an article that you think would be a good fit for our magazine, we encourage you to reach out.

Please send to TNDDC@tn.gov:

• a brief description of your proposed topic
• why you think it would be valuable to our readers
• a little bit about your professional background

All articles should feature approaches that foster our Council’s core values of inclusion, independence, and self-determination for people with developmental disabilities. We want to highlight creative ideas for supporting great lives as part of the broader community for people with disabilities in Tennessee – including those who need the most intensive supports.

This is a great opportunity to highlight the important work happening in Tennessee's disability community and to share knowledge with a wide audience of self-advocates, family members, and fellow professionals. We look forward to hearing your ideas and potentially featuring your story in an upcoming issue of Breaking Ground!

TN-NADD Conference

This year, our Council was proud to sponsor and exhibit at the TN-NADD (National Association for the Dually Diagnosed) conference. The event focused on supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have mental health diagnoses, often called "dual diagnosis."

Council staff members Emma Garton and Lauren Pearcy attended, connecting with families and professionals about this important topic. We're continually working to improve understanding and support for Tennesseans with IDD and mental health needs.

Want to learn more about behavioral health resources for people with IDD? Visit the behavior supports section of our website here.