October 2024
From Our Chief Strategy Officer
Dear readers,
October has been a big month for us, because we kicked off our new Partners in Policymaking® class! Partners met in person for the first time October 4-5 and dove into learning about disability history and policy. Class members were sorted into groups to begin planning the advocacy work they will be doing after they graduate.
There is magic in the room as a group of folks with all different types of disability experiences from across the state come together, get to know each other, and start growing together in their leadership skills. By the second day, class members were already sharing deeply personal experiences that related to policy topics we were talking about. We love watching as these close bonds form within a new class.
Between now and April, this Partners class will explore content on specific disability topics from their own homes. Then, they will gather live each month to talk with expert presenters and explore how to apply what they’re learning in their own lives and communities. By graduation in April, they’ll have mapped out the next 6 months of their advocacy work on an issue they’ve chosen. They’ll have mentorship support from previous Partners grads as they put what they learned into practice.
We can’t wait to see this new class grow into even more powerful advocates than they already are. This is what makes Partners in Policymaking a core program of our Council. Through Partners, people living the disability experience grow their skills to become a force for change in Tennessee. This is the heart of our work.
Join us in wishing the Partners in Policymaking class of 2025 well as they begin their journey!
Jolene Sharp
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The 2024 theme is "Access to Good Jobs for All," emphasizing the importance of inclusive employment practices.
NDEAM celebrates workers with disabilities and their contributions to America's workforce. It reaffirms our commitment to ensuring workers with disabilities have access to quality jobs year-round.
There are a few ways you can participate, such as:
- Reviewing your organization's inclusion policies
- Establishing or promoting disability employee resource groups
- Creating workplace displays with NDEAM posters (available at dol.gov/NDEAM)
- Providing disability awareness training for employees
- Sharing NDEAM content on social media using #NDEAM
Staff Spotlight: Celebrating NDEAM
For NDEAM, our Communications Coordinator Dirk Strider shared his experiences as a neurodivergent professional on LinkedIn. Dirk's post highlights how the Council's inclusive practices have empowered him to thrive, emphasizing the value of workplace accommodations and a supportive culture. His story exemplifies our commitment to disability inclusion in action.
Read Dirk's full article here and join us in celebrating employees with disabilities across Tennessee.
Council Member Spotlights
Edward Mitchell
Council member Edward Mitchell recently brought his disability perspective to a major retail conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. Edward was invited to co-present at Sam's Club's second annual Re:imagine Retail design conference, a two-day event focused on shaping the future of retail experiences.
Edward's sessions centered on making shopping more accessible and inclusive, focusing on:
- Empowering Shopping Experiences for Members with Disabilities
- Accessible Merchandise Showcase
- Designing the Ideal Cake Ordering Experience from a Motorized Cart
The hands-on conference brought together cross-functional teams to solve real-world retail challenges.
Molly Anderson
Council member Molly Anderson brought her self-advocacy expertise to the TN-NADD (National Association for the Dually Diagnosed) conference on September 19. She presented a session on overcoming barriers and finding your place in the world.
"When planning my presentation, I focused on self-advocates and family members coming to it and wrote it in plain language," Molly shared. "When all the professionals came to my presentation, I was surprised at how much they gained from goal setting and were engaged."
Molly represented both the Council on Developmental Disabilities and Family Voices from the Tennessee Disability Coalition at the conference. Her presentation contributed valuable self-advocacy perspective to the event's broader discussion of helping people with disabilities find happiness and their place in the world.
"It was an honor to represent the Council on Developmental Disabilities and Family Voices," Molly said.
Family Voices of Tennessee Offering Stipends for Community Events
Family Voices of Tennessee is expanding their health equity work by offering stipends to parents and community organizations to host events for underserved families with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or complex healthcare needs.
The goals are to broaden partnerships, support existing community programs and leaders, and connect more families to Family Voices' free statewide services.
Events must:
- Target individuals with disabilities/chronic conditions and their families
- Include information about Family Voices of Tennessee
- Involve a parent/caregiver of someone with a disability in planning and implementation
- Provide compensation for the parent/caregiver's time
Preference will be given to proposals serving Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as specific rural counties across Tennessee.
Proposals will be reviewed monthly on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding is limited.
To apply or learn more:
Email familyvoices@tndisability.org.
Application form and further information: form.jotform.com/242325242620142
Upcoming Webinar: Making Arts Accessible for All
When: Tuesday, November 7, 2024
What: "Disability Etiquette: How to Include People with Disabilities in Your Arts Programming"
For: Organizations that want to make their general arts programming inclusive of people with disabilities
Hosted by the Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee Disability Coalition, and Empower Tennessee, this webinar features expert presenters Donna DeStefano and Kasondra Farmer. You'll learn practical tips for interacting with and accommodating people with disabilities in your arts programs.
RSVP now to reserve your spot! Have questions you'd like addressed? Submit them by November 4th to kim.johnson@tn.gov.
Want to learn more now? Check out the Tennessee Disability Coalition's "Disability Etiquette Guide" here.
Policy Corner
Many of you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (Read Governor Lee’s proclamation here.)
To celebrate, Dirk Strider, our Communications Coordinator, wrote a beautiful article about being a person with disabilities working in state government: “Thriving as a Neurodivergent and Disabled State Employee: My Journey with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities”. Please read and share!
Did you know that Tennessee passed a law that created a program in the human resources department to make sure state government hires and supports workers with disabilities? We call this the “State as a Model Employer” or “SAME” program. As of last year, at least 6 percent of state employees within the executive branch voluntarily self-identified as having a disability.
You can read about the history of SAME in these TennesseeWorks blogs:
- 2022: State Kicks Off ‘Model Employer’ Effort With ‘This is Me’ Campaign – by Sundi Wright, TN Dept. of Human Resources, SAME program
- 2021: What Does the ‘State as a Model Employer’ Mean for People with Disabilities? – by Senator Becky Massey, sponsor of the SAME legislation
We know we still have a long way to go to make sure all Tennesseans with disabilities in state government feel supported AND that Tennesseans with disabilities who want to work have equal access to great employment opportunities across all sectors. If you are a person with disabilities looking for an internship, your first job, or a new career, make sure to check out openings within state government! If you need help finding a job, there are a lot of different programs that may be able to help. Start exploring resources with this article from TN Disability Pathfinder!
-Emma Garton
Public Policy Director
P.S. Don’t forget – only a few days left to vote early or request an absentee ballot! Election Day is November 5. If you are a voter with disabilities with questions about accessibility, visit Disability Rights TN’s voting resources hub. Want to get involved? Check out the TN Disability Coalition REV UP: “Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!” campaign page. Visit https://sos.tn.gov/elections for deadlines, sample ballots, answers to questions about voter IDs, and more info about voting in TN.
Share policy input
- The national “Changing Spaces” campaign advocates for increased access to adult-size changing tables. Chrissy Hood, our Council member, has been very involved in this group – read more on our website. Changing Spaces is asking advocates to tell the U.S. Access Board to update accessibility rules require adult-size changing tables and stations in public restrooms. Learn more and find the letter asking the board to tackle this important issue (at their Oct. 30 meeting) here.
State News and Events
- 11/14 webinar - Navigating Resources with TN Disability Pathfinder
- Chalkbeat TN - Tennessee is gearing up for another private school voucher debate. Here’s what we know.
National News
- NPR - The requirements of a disabilities benefits program end up hurting those who need it
- The Conversation - More kids than ever need special education, but burnout has caused a teacher shortage
- Education Week - ‘Handcuffed and Pushed Out': How Schools Fail Some Students With Disabilities
Federal Policy News and Events
- Office of Civil Rights Releases Section-By-Section Fact Sheet on New Section 504 Regulations – new protections for people with disabilities that apply to any agency that gets money from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services
- Child Care Accessibility: Agencies Can Further Coordinate to Better Serve Families with Disabilities (includes an Easy Read version) – (US Government Accountability Office)
- Advancing Independence and Community Integration for All: Supporting Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Through High-Quality Home and Community-Based Services - Report from the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Plain language 1 pager
- 11/14 ACL Webinar on Aging With and Into Disability
Job Openings in the Disability Field
AbleVoices
AbleVoices is seeking a Program Coordinator to support their advocacy initiatives for people with disabilities, including planning events, managing communications, and coordinating volunteers.
Council Meetings
Council meetings are open to the public. If you would like to attend Council meetings, contact Assistant to the Executive Director Ashley (Edwards) Hill at ashley.edwards@tn.gov. You can also call our main office line at 615-532-6615.