March 2023

Click here to see the original email campaign with photos.

From the Council's Chief Public Information Officer

I’m a communicator. That means I spend a lot of time thinking about the power of stories.

I can still remember lying in my bed as a little girl, listening with rapt attention as my dad told my brother and me “math stories.” These stories were silly, glorified word problems. My brother and I would take turns solving the equation to move the plot forward. I loved those stories, but it wasn’t because I loved math. It was because I loved my dad. Those stories brought connection.

That might seem worlds away from state policymaking, but I see a common thread. Last week was Disability Day on the Hill. I had the privilege of sitting in on a couple of our Council members’ legislator meetings. I watched in awe as those members shared their stories and perspectives with policymakers. These weren’t silly bedtime stories, but the effect was familiar: connection.

Stories help us relate to each other. They help us find common ground. Our Council members can tell you: your stories matter. In a time of deep division and distrust, they might matter more than ever. Keep telling them, in all the places they need to be heard. You might be surprised what happens.

In this issue of the Council News, you’ll read about one issue that came up in many Disability Day on the Hill discussions: school supports for students with behavioral needs. We’re introducing you to a key leader at the TN Department of Education. We’re highlighting a key program that provides FREE help to schools and families for students who need behavioral supports. And we continue to welcome your behavioral support stories. They will help shape our continued work in this area.

And, we’ve got another exciting storytelling project in the works! We’re kicking off Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2023 with a big splash: by launching our celebration of 30 years of Partners in Policymaking Tennessee! The first TN Partners class started in 1993 and graduated in 1994. Ever since, graduates of this Council program have been leading the work for change for people with disabilities in our state. We can’t wait to share their stories with you in the coming weeks and months. (If you’re a Partners grad yourself, join the conversation by posting your own stories and photos using the hashtag #PartnersTN30!) 

Happy Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, everyone!

Jolene Sharp
Chief Public Information Officer

Partners Graduate Story Spotlights

For the next year or so, we'll be sharing all kinds of stories about the positive things that graduates of our Partners in Policymaking® program are doing across TN. Hundreds of Tennesseans with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities have gone through this free leadership and advocacy training since we started offering it in TN in 1993-94.

Here are 5 recent stories written by or featuring our grads in our magazine Breaking Ground. Check them out!

  1. Breaking Ground 112 - STRIVE4You Inclusive Sports and Fitness - By Ricky Jones, 2011 Partners graduate and STRIVE4You co-founder (along with his wife, Christy, also a Partners grad)
  2. Breaking Ground 111 - Precious Cargo Act - Privately Disclose Your Disability to First Responders, Law Enforcement – featuring Martez Williams, 2017 graduate
  3. Breaking Ground 110 - Dancing our way to health and confidence - By Dave Griffin, 2021 graduate
  4. Breaking Ground 106 - Plant for a Change: A SustainABLE Business Takes Root – featuring quotes from Diamond Grigsby, 2021 graduate
  5. Breaking Ground 105 Arts - I AM DETERMINED! by Jen Vogus, 2007 Partners graduate

Have good news to share with us? Email us at tnddc@tn.gov any time.

Promising Program Spotlight: TN-TAN (TN Technical Assistance Network)

The Tennessee Technical Assistance Network (TN-TAN) is a program from the Tennessee Department of Education that offers free help to schools and families to support students with disabilities, ages 3-22. The network provides targeted, intensive supports in the areas of:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Autism
  • Intensive Behavior
  • Preschool
  • Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI2) for Academics and Behavior
  • Secondary Transition

TN-TAN launched in July 2021. It is part of the Tennessee Department of Education’s (TDOE) strategic plan, called Best for All. TN-TAN came out of the department’s work to improve the use of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) discretionary funds.
 
Families or schools can learn more and access help at tn-tan.tnedu.gov. On the website, you’ll find:

  • A “Request Assistance” button
  • Details about the services available through TN-TAN
  • A calendar of TN-TAN events
  • Resources related to the focus areas listed above

To follow the network on social media, follow the TN-TAN on Twitter at @Tennessee_TAN.  For general questions, contact Angela Wegner at Angela.Wegner@tn.gov or TN-TAN at TN-TAN@utk.edu.

Questions from Council Members

TN-TAN leadership recently met with the Council on Developmental Disabilities to talk about the program. Here are some of the questions Council members asked, and answers TN-TAN provided:

  • How are you tracking or measuring success?

The TDOE has developed metrics to evaluate the TN-TAN system. These metrics are monitored by our TN-TAN evaluation partner and are reported in quarterly and annual reports to TDOE.
 
For example, our first annual report shows:

  • TN TAN supports 122 of the 144 Tennessee school districts
  • 80% of districts within each grand division
    • 83% West TN
    • 90% Middle TN
    • 81% East TN
  • Network online content was accessed 71,000 times during SY2022

Longer-term metrics, like outcomes for students the program supports, will be available over time.

  • How are you getting the word out to schools and families about your resources?

The TDOE and the TN-TAN are continuously sharing information with school districts, educators, families, and advocacy groups about the supports we offer and how to access them. We have been able to promote the network through a wide variety of TDOE and other Department newsletters, advocacy groups, speaking engagements, social media, and more.

If you would like us to come and share about the network with schools or families, please email us at TN-TAN@utk.edu. 

Get to Know a Leader: Jennifer Jordan, Assistant Commissioner of Special Education and Intervention Programs, TN Dept. of Education

We like to introduce our readers to different leaders of agencies and programs that impact Tennesseans with disabilities.
 
Meet Jennifer Jordan with the state Department of Education.

Tell us a bit about your career background and your current role.
I am currently the Assistant Commissioner of Special Education and Intervention Programs at the department. I have been with the department for 2 years and served as the Senior Director of Tutoring and Intervention prior to moving to the Assistant Commissioner position in October 2021.

Prior to joining the department, I worked my entire educational career in Lauderdale County Schools in West TN. I began my career as a special education teacher in 1988 and taught in a variety of settings for 10 years. While I was teaching, I earned my Master’s in Special Education.

I decided to go back to school after my daughter was born to earn my Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology and practiced for almost 10 years as a school psychologist. I then moved to the district level serving as special education director and literacy director for the district. I earned my Doctorate in Literacy and Reading in 2020.
 
What is one thing you’re working on right now that you are excited about? 
We have so many great things happening with my team that it is difficult to just talk about one of them. My team supports our students with unique learning needs across the state. These supports include those for:

  • students with disabilities,
  • English learners (EL), and 
  • students who need academic interventions.

I want to share one exciting initiative called the TN Technical Assistance Network (TN-TAN), which provides free support for a wide variety of needs across the state. TN-TAN provides school districts, administrators, educators, and families access to high-quality technical assistance, resources, and supports to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, ages 3-22. (Read more about this program in the article above!)
 
What is one of the biggest lessons you have learned from working with TN’s disability community? 
I think one of the biggest lessons I have learned in the last few years is to engage with families and members of the disability community on a regular basis. I have realized the importance of communication with the various stakeholders who support all students and their families.

When I was in the district, I was very aware of the needs of the families within my community and knew how to connect to those important supports in my area. I quickly realized that moving to the state level offered a deep pool of stakeholder resources. I am so excited to partner with these stakeholders as we all work together to improve outcomes for all students, but especially for those unique learners across Tennessee.'

My goal is to be accessible to all stakeholders and identify ways for my team to engage in this very important work of supporting students and families.

 
What are the 3 top education resources you think all TN families of students with disabilities should know about? 

  • I am so excited to raise awareness for TN-TAN among the disability community, because it is an amazing resource for districts and families. You can access all the resources that TN TAN offers by going to this website https://tn-tan.tnedu.gov/.  You can view a calendar of network events, access resources for each area of support, and click “Request Assistance” to request services provided by the network.  To follow the network on social media, follow the TN-TAN on Twitter at @Tennessee_TAN.  For general inquiries, contact Angela Wegner at Angela.Wegner@tn.gov or TN-TAN at TN-TAN@utk.edu.
  • Another great resource for families is to connect with our Family Engagement partner, the Arc of TN. The TDOE-funded Family Engagement in Special Education Project works to create a bridge between families and schools for a successful special education experience. The Family Engagement Team consists of regional specialists dedicated to helping schools, districts, and families across the state to increase family engagement in special education. One way they support districts is by hosting parent support group meetings for families whose children receive special education services. They can also help districts to think outside the box and develop a plan to better engage the families they serve. If your district is interested in learning more about receiving these free supports, visit familyengagementtn.com or reach out to Jen Aprea at japrea@thearctn.org.
  • The department is working to ensure schools are equipped with the knowledge and resources so that students with disabilities have access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services across all educational areas. School teams can identify possible areas of AT support with the resource, What is Assistive Technology?, and find answers to commonly asked questions about using AT in schools in our Assistive Technology FAQ.  Additionally, a new partner will be joining the TN-TAN to provide specialized supports in the areas of AT to school leaders, staff, and families.

What are some activities you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy reading and listening to books on audio in my free time. I mostly read historical fiction but also enjoy a little suspense and sci-fi, as well. I try to move my body every day as I sit at a desk much of the day!  I love to do yoga every morning to start my day and then enjoy biking, running, and other outdoor activities when time allows. I am currently assisting with my daughter on her wedding planning for December, so it’s an exciting time for our family!
 
When should members of the disability community reach out to you or your team directly?
Families and other members of the disability community are encouraged to reach out to my team at any time. We are very happy to share resources and can provide contact information if we need to connect with other agencies.

We also have several dedicated email addresses that focus on specific needs, which I have listed below. Email is checked daily by multiple members of the team. Our goal is to respond in a timely manner with requested information or connections to other resources as needed.

East Tennesseans can now sign up for MAPs (TN Dept. of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities program)

Enrollment for DIDD's MAPs (Medicaid Alternative Pathways to Independence) program recently opened to people with disabilities living in East TN. It opened to people living in Middle TN in November. If you live in East or Middle TN, you can apply any time.

MAPs can help you be more independent by giving you the tools, technology, and help you need to meet your goals when it comes to having a job, where you want to live, and how you want to live your life. 

This program is available to anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability diagnosis who has graduated high school or will graduate within three years. MAPs participants cannot be enrolled in another long term services and supports program including  ECF CHOICES, CHOICES, the Katie Beckett Program, or 1915(c) Waivers.

Learn more about MAPs on DIDD's webpage: tn.gov/didd/maps

Used TN Disability Pathfinder Recently? Share your story!

Help tell the story of Tennessee Disability Pathfinder! Have you recently called Pathfinder's helpline or used their website?

Sign up here to be considered for a brief virtual interview. Those who complete an interview will receive a $20 Amazon gift card. They are looking to interview adults with disabilities, family members, and professionals.

TN Disability MegaConference - Early Bird Rates, Stipends, Art Contest News

We're excited to once again be a sponsor of the statewide TN Disability MegaConference. Since 2002, The Arc Tennessee has partnered with many other disability organizations to host this annual learning and networking event for hundreds of members of the TN disability community.

Registration for the 2023 MegaConference at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, TN on May 25-26 is now open.

Email questions to Mega@thearctn.org.