April 2025

From Our Chief Strategy Officer

Dear readers,

April is Autism Acceptance Month – a chance to celebrate all that autistic people add to our lives and communities. Here on our team, we experience that every day as Communications Coordinator Dirk Strider brings his perspective and skills to our work. Dirk shared about his experience as an autistic professional in state government in this awesome, 2-minute video produced by our sister agency, the TN Department of Disability and Aging. It’s well worth your time!

As spring unfolds around us here in Tennessee, I am reminded of how beautiful it is when each of us has the conditions and support we need to thrive where we are. Our Tennessee gardens are most beautiful when they are full of variety, each plant getting the specific soil, nutrients, sun, water, and structural support it needs to bloom and grow.

In my time here at the Council, I’ve had a front-row seat to what this looks like for Tennessee’s disability community. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing disabled people and their families thriving with creative and flexible supports that meet their needs, and I’ve been deeply pained by how many disabled people are struggling, sometimes for their lives, with supports that aren’t sufficient or flexible enough for their needs.

It is our Council’s work, as one piece of our state’s incredible disability community, to help our systems support every person with a developmental disability to thrive and grow. Every step in that direction makes Tennessee a little more beautiful for all of us.

Happy spring, friends!

Jolene Sharp

P.S. Don't miss our big announcement about Partners in Policymaking®

- keep reading and share the news with anyone who might be interested! 

Applications Now Open: Partners in Policymaking® 2025–2026

The Council is now accepting applications for the 2025–2026 class of Partners in Policymaking®, our free leadership and advocacy training program.

For more than 30 years, Partners has helped people with developmental disabilities and their family members learn how to make real, lasting change in their communities and across the state.

Over 8 months, participants will learn how to:

• Understand and influence disability policy
• Build relationships with elected officials and leaders
• Speak up for changes that support inclusion, independence, and opportunity
• Connect with a network of advocates across Tennessee

Sessions are held once a month, and there is no cost to participate. The program includes overnight hotel stays and meals during each session for accepted participants.

Questions? Contact Blake Shearer at Blake.A.Shearer@tn.gov or (615) 955-4256.

Documentary Premiere: Lost Potential

You're invited to the Nashville premiere of Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis. This documentary explores the barriers autistic people face when seeking employment - and what needs to change.

Patricia Powell, Executive Director of Nashville Autism Peer Support, appears in the film and will take part in a Q&A after the screening.

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m. (doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
Location: Collins Alumni Auditorium
6B University Park Drive, Nashville, TN
Free and open to all ages – with free parking available

This event is a chance to learn, connect, and be part of the conversation about equity and opportunity for autistic people.

 You can get your free ticket and watch the trailer here.

Policy Corner: Council News to Know

Hi readers,

While there’s a LOT going on in the world of federal policy, I’m focusing this month on updates about state legislative session, which will end next week!

We kept an eye on nearly 100 different bills but below are 10 that were high on our radar. Reminder – this was the first year of a 2 year legislative session … so if a bill stalled, it may still re-emerge next session (which will likely run January through April or so). I’ve tried to give you some basic details about each bill, but if you want more information or background, feel free to reach out at tnddc@tn.gov or emma.shouse@tn.gov.

Bills that passed

1. TennCare & Dept. of Disability and Aging must create guidelines for providers hiring paid family caregivers (SB1178/HB712)
   • Also known as “Freedom for Family Caregiving Act”, effort led by TN Disability Coalition
   • Notes: This does not apply to people using consumer direction.  A judge must authorize someone serving as a conservator before they can be a paid caregiver (as an effort to protect against financial exploitation).
2. School districts must have policies banning students using wireless communication devices (phones, tablets, gaming systems, etc.) during instructional time (SB897/HB932)
   • Covered in the media as “the cellphone ban bill"
   • Notes: Council member and Partners in Policymaking graduate Chrissy Hood built on advocacy from fellow Council member/Partners grad Courtney Johnson last year to ensure that protections for students with disabilities (including those who use augmentative and alternative communication devices and health conditions that must be monitored) were included in the bill!
3. Aligning state law for ABLE TN’s program with the federal ABLE Age Adjustment Act (SB452/HB496)
   • Notes: Effective January 1, 2026, the age of disability onset for ABLE account eligibility extends from 26 to 46 years old. The fiscal note estimates more than 4,000 Tennesseans will be newly eligible to open ABLE accounts. Learn more about how people with disabilities can use ABLE accounts and keep their eligibility for critical programs here.
4. A bill requiring schools to provide parents/guardians advance notice and materials related to their child’s IEP / IEP meeting (SB1073/HB861)
   • Notes: This puts some requirements into state law that have existed for a few years in state regulations (ex: giving parents notice of at least 10 days before the student's individualized education program (IEP) meeting, unless parents decline or waives that right; if a draft IEP is created, sharing that with parents at least 48 hours before the IEP meeting unless the parent declines or waives that right). Because of this law, schools are now required to provide parents a copy of the student's evaluation report that is to be used in the determination of the student's eligibility for special education or in the development of the draft IEP at least 48 hours in advance of the IEP meeting.
5. Expansion of residential facilities for persons with disabilities (SB110/HB133)
   • Notes: This amended a bill that passed last year’s by adding an East TN provider, Real Life Village of Cleveland, to the list of 3 “pilot sites” exempt from certain laws about housing settings for people with intellectual disabilities (Brightstone’s Land of Dreams campus in Franklin and Kirby Pines’ Gloriana project in Memphis are the other 2 sites). Real Life Village will be allowed to provide housing for up to 60 people with I/DD on their property. 25% of homes on campus would house people “of all abilities”.
6. [Not yet passed by the House but expected to pass shortly] - Creating a new conservatorship task force in the TN Dept. of Disability and Aging (SB233/HB634)
   • Notes: The task force will review resources, training, central tracking opportunities, and fraud and abuse detection of conservatorships in TN. It will also review the capacity of the public guardian program and the need for a central oversight office. It will include representatives from the TN Center for Decision Making Support, various legal/judicial offices, and the following departments: Disability and Aging, Health, Human Services, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Bills that stalled or failed

1. “Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act,” creating a computer-based reporting system for student behavior (SB0386/HB0522) – failed in Senate
   • Notes: We raised concerns about how students with disabilities would be impacted and suggested including actual interventions after a behavior is reported.
2. Assault against school employees (SB1411/HB721) – sent to summer study/action deferred to 2026
   • Notes: We raised concerns about how students with disabilities would be impacted. Partner agencies met with the bill’s sponsor to develop an amendment clarifying its intended impact was for adults, not students.
3. TennCare Network Reporting Reform bill (SB706/HB711) – taken off notice in House
   • Notes: Effort led by TN Disability Coalition to require TennCare to publish data about the access people in Medicaid-funded programs for people with disabilities have to various services and providers.
4. Expands eligibility for students to get a Tennessee STEP UP scholarship to attend inclusive higher education programs (SB1151/HB0789) – deferred to first committee calendar of 2026

Questions about other bills or state policy topics? Let us know and we’ll do our best to find you an answer: tnddc@tn.gov or emma.shouse@tn.gov.

-Emma Garton

Public Policy Director

Scholarship Fund Now Open for Applications

The Council’s Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for the 2026 fiscal year (events taking place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026).

This fund helps Tennesseans with disabilities and their families take part in important disability-related events—like conferences, trainings, and leadership meetings, here in Tennessee and across the country.

The Scholarship Fund can reimburse you for:

• registration fees
• travel and lodging
• meals
• child care or respite care
• attendant care
• other related expenses

This year, the Council is partnering with United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCP) to manage the fund. Once you apply, UCP will contact you to process your request and handle reimbursements.

Interested in applying? Visit our website to get started.
Questions? Contact Blake Shearer, Director of Leadership Development, at Blake.A.Shearer@tn.gov or (615) 532-6556.

Learn About Tennessee Benefits with a National Expert

If you help people understand public benefits like TennCare, food stamps (SNAP), or housing, this training is for you.

National expert Michael Dalto will be in Nashville to lead a free two-day seminar on how Tennessee’s benefit rules work. You’ll learn how earning money affects:

• TennCare (Medicaid)
• SNAP (food stamps)
• HUD housing
• Families First (TANF)
• Medicaid waiver programs
• And more!

Some topics (like unemployment and ABLE accounts) will be offered online later.

The training will include examples and tools to help you apply what you learn.

Dates: May 20 and 21
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Central Time)

Location: Nashville State Community College – East Davidson Campus, Room 44

You do not have to be a benefits planner to attend. Anyone who helps people with disabilities can join.

If you plan to attend the training, please RSVP to Carrie Brna at Carrie.B.Brna@tn.gov by May 12.

Click here for more details about the training.

Click here for a campus map of the location.

Upcoming Event: Help Navigating Government Benefits

Do you have questions about qualifying for or managing government benefits?
 Join elder law and special needs care manager Amy Boulware, LAP MSW, for a free event that will help you understand how to qualify, track, and transition between benefits smoothly.

Date: April 24, 2025
Location: Brentwood Baptist Church, 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027
Two sessions available:
• 10:00–11:30 a.m.
• 6:00–7:30 p.m.

This in-person session is open to the public and will include time for Q&A. LaKesha Page, Director of ABLE TN, will also be available at the event to answer questions about ABLE accounts for individuals with disabilities.

 Register for this event by clicking here.

2025 MegaConference Registration Now Open

The Arc Tennessee has announced that guest registration is open for the 2025 MegaConference, happening May 22-23 at Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza.

This year's theme is "Past Reflections, Future Directions." The conference will feature a lineup of keynote speakers across both days. Thursday brings presentations from Dr. Bruce Keisling and the LifeCourse team, while Friday features the Department of Disability and Aging and a special performance by Friends Life Community.

Breakout sessions will cover the LifeCourse Domains, including employment, community living, health, advocacy, and more.

Telehealth Survey – Your Input Needed by May 9

Family Voices of Tennessee and the Tennessee Department of Health want to hear from families of children with disabilities who’ve used telehealth—healthcare by video or phone.

They are collecting feedback to help improve telehealth services for children and youth with special healthcare needs. Your experience can help shape better care.

• The survey has only 12 questions
• You’ll be entered into a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card (4 winners!)
• Deadline: May 9, 2025
• Need help or accommodations to complete it? Email: chrissy_h@tndisability.org

Click here to take the survey

Kindred Stories of Disability: Behavior Support in Tennessee Schools

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center has a new issue of Kindred Stories of Disability. This issue shares real stories from families and teachers about what’s happening in Tennessee schools when students have behavior challenges.

Many students aren’t getting the help they need. There aren’t enough trained special education teachers, and general education teachers often don’t have the tools to support students with complex behavior needs. Because of this, some schools use harsh punishments (like restraint or seclusion) instead of working with families to create better support plans.

This issue of Kindred Stories shows the problems and how they affect students. It also helps people learn what schools can do differently. The goal is to encourage more caring and supportive behavior practices.

Help Improve Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities 

The Ohio State University (OSU) Nisonger Center is doing research on the health, mental health, and wellness of adults with intellectual disability (ID). We need to learn more so that we can improve services.

The study includes an online interview with the person with an intellectual disability and a study partner they choose. The interview takes about 3 hours. Each person who participates will get $100.

To learn more:

• Watch this short video
• Call 1-833-678-7782 to sign up
• Or fill out this short form to tell them how to reach you

Want to meet the team first? Watch this video introduction.