Next: Leader Bios
Lauren Pearcy
Executive Director, TN Council on Developmental Disabilities
Lauren Pearcy has led the Council since 2022 and has worked in disability policy for over a decade. One of her first projects helped bring supported decision-making to Tennessee. Lauren believes changing how people think about disability can be just as powerful as changing laws. Today, she focuses on keeping lived experience at the center of the Council’s work and making sure Tennessee stays a leader in disability policy.
Anna E. Bass
Executive Director, Disability Rights Tennessee
Anna became Executive Director of Disability Rights Tennessee in 2025 after over a decade of leadership at the organization. She has helped shape DRT’s mission around protection from harm, civil rights, and community-led advocacy. Known for centering people with lived experience, Anna works to build a team that reflects the communities they serve and believes lasting change starts with those most affected.
Edward Mitchell
Executive Director, Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee
Edward Mitchell has led SILC since 2022, bringing deep personal experience to the role. After a spinal cord injury in 2003, he became a strong advocate—helping make Lane College more accessible, serving over a decade with the Jackson Center for Independent Living, and testifying before the U.S. Senate on ABLE accounts. Edward continues to speak up for accessible housing, financial independence, and rural inclusion.
Sarah Sampson
Executive Director, Tennessee Disability Coalition
Sarah Sampson has worked at the Tennessee Disability Coalition since 2010 and as its Executive Director since the start of 2025. She was a part of the team that made access to healthcare possible through a Katie Beckett Program and a pathway to TennCare for working adults with disabilities. She leads a passionate, talented team of advocates at the Coalition that lifts community voices for change. Her deep value of community empowerment and understanding of service systems for Tennesseans with disabilities is paired with an analytical and business skill set that can help hold those systems accountable.
Pablo Juárez
Co-Director, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center UCEDD
Pablo Juárez has worked in leadership at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center since 2012. He co-directs the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and has helped shape statewide and national conversations on inclusive, trauma-informed care. Pablo is known for building strong, community-informed programs and for challenging the field of behavior analysis to remove ableism and focus on what matters most to people with disabilities.
