October 2026

In This Edition

From Our Chief Strategy Officer

Dear readers,

This note is brief, because we have a PACKED issue of the Council News for you today!

A few highlights:

Corin, a young man with light skin, short light brown hair, and glasses, smiles while standing on a brick walkway outside a stone building with tall arched windows and a peaked stone entrance. He wears a navy polo with a white stripe across the chest, khaki pants, and a name tag, and holds a phone at his side on a sunny day.
  • We’ve welcomed a new member of staff AND new Council members! We’ll be introducing these newest faces over the coming few months.
  • Federal policy developments on the issue of community living have grabbed headlines. Learn what we know, what we don’t – and what you can do.
  • We’ve released new resources you should know about – including the final piece of our five-year disability community needs assessment.

On a personal note, husband Jon and I just joined our son on his first college tour. As an autistic student, Corin is focused on finding a program that fits both his interests and career goals and his desire for a smaller, more personal campus experience.

He is excited about getting to the place in his education where he can go deep on the subjects he’s passionate about. We’re excited for him, nervous about some of those life skills we’re still working on – and trying not to think too hard about how soon this first bird will be flying the nest.

Happy fall, friends!

- Jolene Sharp

Upcoming Opportunities

Coming soon: More accessible emergency alerts

Tennessee has received a $10.6 million federal grant to improve emergency warnings across the state. The funding includes 4,000 accessible alert bundles with flashing lights and pillow shakers for people who need these devices. It will also support more than 11,000 weather radios and improvements to local warning systems.

These projects aim to help more people get emergency information, even when phone or internet service is down. Work will continue through September 2029. TEMA has not yet shared details about how people can get the devices.

Learn more about the planned emergency warning improvements.

Fall 2026 Breaking Ground Is Here

Our special issue about faith and disability is out! Print copies are on their way to mailboxes now, and you can read the full issue online today.

We asked Tennesseans what belonging in their faith community has felt like. Their answers range from a lifetime of welcome to painful rejection, and every story is worth your time.

Read online | Download the PDF

Have a story of your own? Email Jolene Sharp at jolene.sharp@tn.gov.

To receive Breaking Ground direct to your inbox or mailbox, subscribe here for free.

Partners in PolicymakingÂź Meets in Person

In October, our new Partners in PolicymakingÂź class met in person for the first time. After getting to know each other over Zoom during orientation, participants finally got to meet face to face.

Participants learned how people with disabilities and their families have fought for change over the years, from life in institutions to the self-advocacy and independent living movements. These stories show how far we have come and why advocacy still matters today.

Participants also shared what brought them to disability advocacy and why it matters to them. Everyone in the room has their own story, and hearing them helped the group start building the connections they will lean on all year.

We are excited to keep learning together and connecting with all of our scholars.

Handwritten sticky notes on a sheet of paper complete the prompt “I will stand up for.” Green notes read “I will stand up for: what is right” and “Those who do not have the ability to stand up for themselves.” A blue note reads “All people with disabilities.”
About 27 members of the new Partners in PolicymakingÂź class pose together in a hotel atrium, most wearing lanyards with name badges. The group includes people with light, medium-brown, and dark skin. In front, a man with light skin in a blue Superman T-shirt leans on a red rolling walker, a woman with dark skin holds a pink cane, and a woman with light skin and glasses sits in a power wheelchair. Others stand, kneel, or crouch around them, smiling. A TV showing a football game hangs on the wall behind them.

Policy Corner

You may have seen headlines lately about:

You’re not alone if you saw these news stories or posts on social media, tried to learn more, and felt worried or confused. We’re here to help you make sense of these federal changes. Keep reading for what we know, what we don’t, and what you can do if you’re concerned.

A quick recap

  • On Sept. 23, a judge issued a ruling in a lawsuit called Texas v. Kennedy. The case got its name because Texas and 4 other states (Florida, Alaska, Louisiana, and Montana) sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), which is led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
  • The judge’s decision canceled (“vacated”) parts of the regulations that HHS created in 2024 under President Biden (“Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance”). The regulations were about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which is a major disability rights law.
    • The decision applies to all states, not just those who sued.
    • The decision affects only the HHS regulations created in 2024. It does not change Section 504 of the Rehab Act itself.
  • The parts of the 2024 HHS Rehab Act regulations that the judge threw out are known as “the community integration mandate.” These regulations told states that health and social services should support people with disabilities in community settings alongside people without disabilities whenever appropriate.

Who is concerned, who supports, and why

  • Most disability rights organizations have put out statements about this development, saying they are disappointed and alarmed. They worry this decision, along with other recent federal actions like June’s Dept. of Justice opinion about the Olmstead Supreme Court decision, will lead to more people with disabilities being placed in institutions instead of receiving supports in their communities. Many people with disabilities, families, and advocates worry that states may try to cut community services.
  • Some state governments and advocates agree with the decision. People in support say that:
    • the federal government had overstepped its authority with the Section 504 regulations about community integration.
    • it was unfair that the federal government had used these regulations to sue states that were not providing community services to people with disabilities.
    • certain people with disabilities can only be safely served in institutions.
    • policies like the 504 regulations kept some families from getting the kind of care they want for their loved ones with disabilities, such as services in separate facilities designed for people with disabilities.

What we know

  • No laws have changed because of this decision – not even Section 504 of the Rehab Act itself. The judge in the case did not rule that anything about Section 504 is unconstitutional or invalid.
  • Other 2024 regulations about Section 504 still stand. This decision only got rid of the “community integration mandate” piece of the HHS regulations.
  • This did not overturn or change the Olmstead Supreme Court ruling, a related decision that shapes how states approach disability services.

What we don’t know

  • How this may influence state-level decisions about disability services in communities and in institutions
  • Whether the federal government will try to remove more rules related to community integration
  • How Congress may respond

What you can do

Our Council was created by federal law (the Developmental Disabilities Act) to make sure people with disabilities who need the most support can have great lives as valued members of their communities. We know that a lot of work is still needed to make that a reality for many people. We are committed to that work and will keep you informed about how you can be involved.

- Emma Garton, Director of Public Policy

Meet Our New Council Members: Rebecca Simerly

Over the next few months, we’re introducing the newest members of our Council. The first is Rebecca Simerly from Elizabethton.

Rebecca Simerly, a woman with light skin, shoulder-length brown hair, and dark-rimmed glasses, smiles with her head slightly tilted. She wears a heathered blue-gray sweater against a light gray background.

Rebecca Simerly joined the disability community when her son Thomas was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder. She wanted to learn as much as she could to help him and other families who were struggling.

Rebecca connected with the Council as a graduate of the 2025–2026 Partners in Policymaking¼ class.

She is a board member of The Arc of Washington County and The Arc Tennessee. She also serves on the Family Support Council at the local, district, and state levels, and is chair for her district. Her focus is helping families find resources and support. She often helps families with IEPs, behavior support, and homeschooling.

Rebecca calls herself analytical and she says she tries to look at every side of an issue before choosing a path. On the Council, she wants to share “honest lived experience to help others better understand the challenges facing families with disabilities.”

Rebecca lives in Elizabethton with her husband, Dr. Les Simerly. They have three children: Corey, Cecillia, and Thomas. The family also has a small farm’s worth of animals, including goats, dogs, a cat, chickens, bunnies, a bearded dragon, and a leopard gecko. Rebecca also loves watching football.

Welcome to the Council, Rebecca! Look for more new member introductions in upcoming editions.

Meet Our New Intern: JD Francis

This fall, the Council welcomed JD Francis as our newest intern. We asked JD a few questions so you can get to know him.

JD Francis, a young man with dark skin, short black hair, and glasses, speaks at a podium on a stage. He wears a navy suit jacket and white shirt. A seated audience watches from the right, with tall windows behind them.

What is your current education path?

I’m a senior at Lipscomb University. I major in Law, Justice, and Society, which is a pre-law degree, and I minor in History. I plan to go to law school next fall. I don’t know which one yet, but I know I’ll be happy wherever I end up. I’m from Mt. Juliet, so I’ve lived in the Nashville area my whole life. I went to Montgomery Bell Academy for middle and high school.

What is your personal connection to disability?

I’m always glad to share my connection to disability! I hope my story can help someone else keep going through hard times. In 2021, at the start of my senior year of high school, I fell asleep while driving home from a football game and had a single-car accident. I’m thankful no one else was hurt. I was in a medically induced coma for about a month, then spent about five months in inpatient rehab. After that, I went home and graduated from high school.

I was a high-level basketball player and dreamed of playing in college on a scholarship. Going from being very athletic to using a wheelchair was a hard reality check. The accident also caused mental disabilities. My processing speed slowed down a lot, and my memory was badly affected. Doctors told me I would never do many of the things I’m doing today. I still go to therapy, and I’ve made a lot of progress. With hard work and determination, I truly believe you can reach your goals.

Why did you want to intern with the Council, and what do you hope to learn?

I wanted to intern with the Council for a few reasons. A dear friend, Bayleigh Pirtle, highly recommended it. She told me the people here are great and passionate about helping people who are often overlooked. I also want to learn more about different types of disabilities and how people meet their daily challenges. Just as I hope to inspire others, I hope someone else’s story can help me. No one knows everything, and we can all learn from each other.

Introducing Our New Council Deputy Director

We are delighted to announce that Julie Johnson has joined our Council staff as Deputy Director, effective October 5. Julie is overlapping with and learning from current Deputy Director Lynette Porter, who is retiring at the end of this year. (We’ll be honoring Lynette and her legacy at the Council soon!)

Julie comes to us with deep experience in state government and the disability system.

Most recently, she served as Director of Operations at the Tennessee Department of Human Services, overseeing programs focused on independence and employment for people with disabilities. She was directly responsible for strategy, contractor and quality management, data systems, financial processes, and program performance.

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Before that, Julie was Deputy Chief of Long-Term Services and Supports at TennCare. She worked her way up at the department from front-line roles, starting as a Spanish-language translator. Julie has a Bachelor of Science from Middle Tennessee State University, completed a Foreign Language Immersive at the University of Murcia in Spain, and graduated from two state leadership academies: Lead TN and TN Government Executive Institute.

Julie is personally connected to disability through her niece, who has Angelman syndrome and has grown up alongside Julie’s daughter, who is the same age. “Watching my niece grow up has taught our family so much about joy, resilience, and the power of community,” Julie says. “She continues to be a reminder of why our work on the Council matters.”

Julie brings exactly the skills and experience we need in a new Deputy Director:

  • A deep understanding of state government operations
  • A commitment to high performance and innovation
  • Strong communication, interpersonal, and practical leadership skills
  • A strong background in disability service programs
  • A passion for making those services better so Tennesseans with developmental disabilities can live great lives in every community across the state

“Julie Johnson is perfect for our team and this role,” says Lauren Pearcy, Council Executive Director. “We knew it would be difficult to find someone who had state government operations and leadership experience and also had the disability perspective critical to our agency’s work. Julie was our ideal candidate, and we are already seeing the strengths she brings to the Deputy Director role. She has big shoes to fill, but we’re excited about the fresh perspective she brings. I am also so grateful that Lynette is providing hands-on training and support during the transition. Our Council is set up for success through this leadership change.”

When she’s not working, Julie enjoys cooking for family and friends, hiking at Tennessee state parks, and searching for the world’s best hand-scooped ice cream.

“I said yes to this role because the Council’s mission aligns perfectly with my values,” she says. “I’m thrilled to work alongside such a strong, committed team and honored to step into this role and build on the incredible work already underway.”

Part Two of Community Needs Assessment Now Available

You may remember that we released the results of a major disability community needs assessment last year. Part two of that assessment is now available.

Background to Know

Why This Matters

Not everyone in Tennessee’s disability community can fill out a survey or attend a focus group. This means survey results miss the needs of many people in our community.

The new report helps us understand the needs of 1,400 people who asked our agencies for help. This is in addition to the 1,500 people who responded to our survey – nearly doubling the number of people whose perspectives are represented in our results.

The new report gives more specifics about the questions people asked and the challenges they were facing. Together, the two community assessment reports give a more complete understanding of the needs of Tennessee’s disability community. This guides our DD Network agencies as we work to help our state better meet those needs.

What the New Report Says

Key lessons from this report include:

  • The same community needs showed up across multiple sources of information.
  • People value personalized guidance.
  • Some situations benefit from hands-on help navigating systems and solving problems.

What we’re taking away from this report as we plan our future work:

  • Continue sharing information and developing resources in the areas of top need – especially housing, financial assistance, and medical care and therapies.
  • Focus even more closely on helping people navigate systems that are not yet working together effectively.
  • Use requests for help to understand root problems and improve systems affecting people with disabilities.

The report provided another key insight. Most requests for help were standard cases that were resolved with information or a referral to another program or resource. However, a small subset of requests – about 13% – were complex cases. These cases required active staff support, sometimes over many months. The people requesting help in these cases needed a level of support coordination that is not currently available through existing state programs. These complex cases exposed a gap in our system’s ability to support people in crisis. This is an area we will be focusing on closely over the next five years.

Read the full report for more detail. We are grateful to Emily Lanchak and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for the research expertise that made this joint DD Network assessment so successful.

Over the next five years, we will continue to use and share what we learned from this assessment. And as always, we want to hear from you any time about the needs and gaps you are experiencing.

Training and Community Events

Parents: Help Shape Children’s Health in Tennessee

Are you the parent or guardian of a child with special health care needs, ages 1–10? The Tennessee Department of Health wants to hear from you.

The department is writing a statewide plan for children’s health. They’re holding a focus group so parents can help guide that plan. What you share will help shape programs and resources for kids across Tennessee.

  • When: Tuesday, October 27, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Central
  • Where: Online over Zoom
  • What: A one-hour small group discussion

Learn more and RSVP here.

Questions? Contact Jessica Waddell at jessica.waddell@tn.gov or 865-809-8453.

Then and Now: The History of Disabilities in Our Community

You’re invited to a free evening event about the history of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Nashville. Leaders with IDD, advocates, and community leaders will share their stories.

Speakers include:

  • AndrĂ© L. Churchwell, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Inclusion and Community Outreach, Vanderbilt University
  • Megan Hart, Director, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
  • Wanda Willis, Former Executive Director, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Many other faces you’ll recognize!

When: Wednesday, November 4 | 5:30 p.m. Catered reception | 6:30 p.m. Program

Where: MLK Jr. Magnet High School Auditorium, 613 17th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37203

Parking: Free parking is available in the teachers’ lot across from the auditorium and in the Watkins Community Center lot across the street from the front of the school.

Please RSVP at bit.ly/vandy100. Your RSVP helps plan how much food to bring.

Questions? Call 615-862-5856.