From Our Chief Strategy Officer

Dear readers,

I’ll keep it short and sweet this month and just say: Happy holidays to you and your loved ones, from all of us at the
Council on Developmental Disabilities!  

We’ll return with a full edition of this newsletter in January, with insight on a new legislative session and updates on our continued work.

See you in 2025!

- Jolene Sharp

January 15 Deadline: Submit Your Work for Breaking Ground Arts Issue

Breaking Ground magazine is seeking submissions from Tennessee artists with disabilities for our 2025 arts issue.

Our magazine reaches 6,000 readers statewide and celebrates the diverse creativity and artistic expression of our disability community.

We welcome submissions in all artistic mediums:

• Visual art and photography
• Poetry, creative essays, and stories (up to 800 words)
• Crafts and other artistic works
• Photos or videos of performance art (theatre, music, dance)

All submissions must be original works created by the artist. You may submit up to three pieces of visual artwork. Organizations submitting on behalf of multiple artists should complete separate forms for each artist.

Submit your work by January 15 using this form.

The Council is committed to featuring artists from all backgrounds, disabilities, and life experiences. Please share this opportunity within your networks.

Contact Chief Strategy Officer Jolene Sharp (jolene.sharp@tn.gov) if you:

• Need assistance with the submission form
• Have ideas for articles to include in the arts issue
• Have questions about submitting work on behalf of multiple artists
  

View our 2023 arts issue, including videos from featured artists here.

Share Your Experience with 504 Plans!

Vanderbilt researchers want to hear from students, family members, and adults who have experience with Section 504 plans in schools. Your input through this national survey will help improve understanding of how these plans work for students with disabilities.

You can participate if you are:

• A student (age 12+) who has a Section 504 plan (parent consent required)
• A family caregiver of a child who had a Section 504 plan
• An adult with a disability who had a Section 504 plan in school

The survey takes 20-30 minutes to complete. To participate, either:

• Complete the consent form at: https://redcap.link/n1tymwck
• Contact Meghan Burke at meghan.burke@vanderbilt.edu or 615-343-1014

Please consider sharing your perspective to help improve important educational supports.

Youth Advisory Council: Your Voice Matters

Are you a young person looking to develop leadership skills and make a real difference? Joining the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) might be right for you!

YAC brings together youth and young adults ages 14-24 who have physical, emotional, behavioral, developmental, or intellectual healthcare needs.
As a member, you'll gain valuable skills through:

• Advocacy training
• Creating transition roadmaps
• Building leadership abilities
• Mentorship opportunities

Members meet quarterly, both online and in-person. YAC is supported by the TN Department of Health and Family Voices of Tennessee.

Ready to make your voice heard? Here's how to get involved:

• Learn more and apply: Visit QR Code For Youth (tn.gov)
• Questions? Contact Cathlyn Smith at Cathlyn.k.smith@tn.gov

Join YAC to connect with other young leaders and help create positive change in Tennessee!

Policy Corner: Council News to Know

Hi all – early 2025 will be action packed with policy events that may impact Tennesseans with disabilities, so here are some dates if you want to mark your calendars now!

• Jan. 3, 2025 – A new session of Congress begins. We’ll be watching to see how new bills and the budget development process may impact people with disabilities. Alerts from the Association for University Centers on Disabilities, Family Voices USA, and The Arc US are good ways to stay informed.
• Jan. 14, 2025 – A new session of the TN state legislature begins. We’ll be sharing updates with our Council members, Partners alumni network, and you – our readers – about bills we track during this year’s legislative session. Our partners at the TN Disability Coalition, Disability Rights TN, and The Arc TN also have newsletters about disability policy and have ways you can get involved in advocating, if you want to connect with them.
• Jan 20, 2025 – The new Trump presidential administration begins, which will eventually bring policy changes to programs serving people with disabilities as new leaders are put in place.
• Early February, date not yet announced – Governor Lee will deliver his state of the state address. This is when we learn what made it into his budget proposal (read in our Nov. e-news some highlight from state agency requests) and how it may impact Tennesseans with disabilities. The legislature will then have to approve the budget – we’ll keep you posted about developments here. TN’s Sycamore Institute provides great nonpartisan info about the state budget each year.
• 27, March 11, and March 12 – TN Disability Coalition Disability Day on the Hill events. The Coalition will soon share information about how to set meetings with your legislators and register for Disability Day on the Hill events. We hope to see you there!

I hope all of you have safe, happy, and healthy holiday seasons. Take care, unplug when you can, and enjoy some quiet before a busy new year begins.

-Emma Garton, Public Policy Director

Share policy input

• Provide public comment about paying workers with disabilities below minimum wage by Jan. 17 - the US Dept. of Labor needs to hear from people with disabilities and families!
  - Related: US Department of Labor announces proposed rule to phase out certificates allowing payment of less than minimum wage to workers with disabilities.
  - Note – Paying Tennesseans with disabilities subminimum wages has been against the law since 2022 when a new state passed. This is a big deal for many other states that still allow paying workers with disabilities in certain settings below minimum wage, though.

State News and Events

-          TN Dept. of Disability and Aging - "Expect Employment” Report Looks Ahead to Next Decade of Disability Employment

National News

-          Education Week - How Special Education Might Change Under Trump: 5 Takeaways

-          Kaiser Family Foundation - Potential Health Policy Administrative Actions in the Second Trump Administration

Federal Policy News and Events

·         Secretary Buttigieg Announces Sweeping Protections for Airline Passengers with Disabilities

·         HHS Office for Civil Rights Issues Letter to Health Care Officials to Clarify Civil Rights Language Access Requirements

·         Apply Today To Join Strategic Preparedness and Response Boards

Peer Mentorship Program for Job Seekers with Disabilities

A new program from Vanderbilt University aims to connect job seekers who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with employed peers who can serve as mentors. The Peer Empowerment Network program will run from January 2025 through March 2026.

Job seekers will receive:

• Monthly mentoring meetings (in-person, phone, or Zoom) with an employed peer who has IDD
• Job preparation classes over Zoom led by the Vanderbilt research team
• Opportunities to practice job search skills and connect with other job seekers

The program is also recruiting employed individuals with IDD to serve as mentors. Mentors will receive training from Vanderbilt on mentorship skills and connect monthly with job seekers to share their employment experiences and advice, as well as the opportunity to receive up to $200.

To participate as either a job seeker or mentor, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Live in the United States
• Have an intellectual and/or developmental disability
• Be currently unemployed (if participating as a job seeker) OR have a paid part-time or full-time job (if participating as a mentor)

Interested? Contact Dr. Ben Schwartzman at ben.schwartzman@vanderbilt.edu or call/text 615-343-6916 or 615-852-8580 to learn more about signing up.

New TBI App Helps Keep Loved Ones Safe

Many families worry about what would happen if a loved one with a disability went missing. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has launched a new mobile app called "TBI FIND" to help in these critical situations.
Key features of the app include:

• Create a "CareKit" profile with your loved one's important information, ready to quickly share with law enforcement if needed
• Get Silver Alert notifications about missing vulnerable adults in your area
• Submit tips directly to TBI about missing persons
• Customize alerts by region in Tennessee

Since 2021, Tennessee law requires TBI to issue a Silver Alert when a "vulnerable adult" goes missing. The TBI FIND app helps get vital information to law enforcement and the public as quickly as possible.

The app also connects users with resources about Alzheimer's, dementia, and other conditions that may cause wandering.

Download TBI FIND today from your device's app store or visit the TBI's webpage about the app to learn more.

Job Openings in the Disability Field

Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging

• The Department of Disability and Aging is seeking an Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist in Nashville to monitor service quality, provide technical assistance to program providers, and coordinate support services for individuals with disabilities. 

Family Voices of Tennessee

• Family Voices of Tennessee is hiring a Peer Support Coordinator to support families of children with disabilities.