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.