Leadership Academy for Excellence in Disability Services
The fourth class of Tennessee's Leadership Academy for Excellence in Disability Services (LAEDS) recently graduated (Read more from the Council's April 2023 e-news article here).
The Council on Developmental Disabilities created and launched this program in partnership with Tennessee’s Department of Human Resources.
LAEDS is a leadership development program for state employees whose work has a direct impact on Tennesseans with disabilities and their families. The goal is to ensure that leaders who work in state government programs that serve Tennesseans with disabilities operate from a shared set of values, goals and principles. The academy builds relationships and collaboration among state agency partners.
LAEDS graduates have included employees from the following agencies and departments:
- Bureau of TennCare
- Commission on Aging and Disability
- Corrections
- Education
- Environment and Conservation
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Health
- Human Services/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
- Safety and Homeland Security
- Transportation
- Veterans Services
For questions about LAEDS, contact Council Director of Leadership Development, Cathlyn Smith, at cathlyn.k.smith@tn.gov.