Innovation Centers
Transitioning to Online Intake Application: Starting October 1, 2026, the DDA Innovation Centers (including Seating and Positioning Services) will launch our new online application process for all intake processes. We will continue to accept paper applications through October 31, 2026, after which all submissions must be made through our new digital platform effective November 1, 2026. The Online Application can be found here: Innovation Center Online Application. Any paper applications received after 10-31-2026 will not be processed and you will be referred to the online application.
What is an Innovation Center?
It’s a one-stop shop for people with disabilities and older adults to learn about how the Department of Disability and Aging can support their independence goals.
Where are the Innovation Centers?
Each regional office will have an Innovation Center:
- West Tennessee Regional Office (WTRO), Arlington, TN
- Middle Tennessee Regional Office (MTRO), Nashville, TN
- East Tennessee Regional Office (ETRO), Greeneville, TN
What type of services will be offered at each Innovation Center?
Our Innovation Centers will include individualized and person-centered support for older adults and people with disabilities, including:
- Education about DDA programs
- Personalized Assessments
- Enabling Technology
- Seating and Positioning
- Equipment Modification
- Equipment Loan
Our centers will also serve the greater community for engagement events, training, and workshops.
How do I visit?
One-on-one help will be available by appointment. Scheduling will start at the West Tennessee Regional Office in the Summer of 2026.
DDA operates three Innovation Centers in Tennessee, located in Arlington, Nashville, and Greeneville. Mobile on-site services are available in East and West Tennessee.
People attending the Innovation Centers will have access to clinicians and designers with specialized expertise in evaluating complex seating and positioning alternatives. These specialists provide comprehensive evaluations and support to prioritize person-centered needs. Each center has an on-site production shop where staff with extensive experience in the areas of fabrication, innovation, carpentry, and upholstering.
- Evaluation and simulation of seating and alternate positioning needs
- Modifications to current systems
- Custom manufacturing of molded seating systems
- Design and manufacturing of alternate positioning equipment
- Customization of commercial adaptive equipment
- Power wheelchair assessment, trial and training
- Integration of augmentative alternative communication (AAC) systems with seating and positioning
- Continuing education and training
Referrals:
Referrals for an evaluation:
- Overview of Intake Forms
- Consent for Seating and Positioning Services
- New Patient Intake and Medical History
- Seating and Positioning Physician Referral
Referrals for a repair of equipment fabricated by the Seating and Positioning Center:
When a piece of equipment is delivered through our center, we issue a competency form that explains how to help a person into the equipment, how to clean it and who to contact for repairs. Please review this form and maintain it for reference.
When components of the wheelchair or alternative positioning equipment manufactured by DDA are in need of repair, the following form should be completed and sent to the center.
- Repair Referral form (If you need this form, please reach out below to one of the centers)
Referrals for commerical equipment or wheelchair frames:
When commercial wheelchair equipment needs repairs (frame, headrest, brakes, wheels, etc.), the durable medical equipment (DME) vendor must be contacted first. If problems are encountered that are difficult to resolve, individuals can contact the center for guidance.
Who is eligible?
The Innovations Centers specialize in serving Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and others who have complex seating and/or positioning needs.
We take the following insurances:
- Medicare, Part B
- Medicaid
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee: BlueCare, TennSelect, and CoverKids
- Amerigroup/Wellpoint
- United Health Care/Optum
- TriCare, Standard only
- Aetna
- Humana
Please contact your nearest center if you have questions about specific insurance plan coverage.
With centers in each of the three grand divisions of Tennessee, DDA has seating and positioning services relatively close to anyone who needs them, but in some areas of the state, especially in east Tennessee, the drive to get to a center in Greeneville or Nashville is often more than two hours. Spending this amount of time on the road to and from a center can put a strain on a person's already stressed body. For this reason, the mobile center currently operates primarily in the East region.
The Seating and Positioning Mobile Unit is capable of providing comprehensive wheelchair seating and therapeutic positioning evaluations, planar and custom molded seating simulation, seating system fittings, minor wheelchair maintenance, and possibly alternative positioning simulation and fittings.
Scheduling will be completed by the East Clinic secretary on a weekly basis. Prioritization will include: patients confined to the home, groups of two or more individuals, locations more than two hours from the clinic. The clinic will make plans to travel to various pre-arranged hubs throughout the region in order to provide services to multiple individuals from the surrounding areas in one day in order to maximize efficiency. Scheduling for these sites will be coordinated with host agencies.
Andrew Hinkle
Assistant Director of Clinical Services
Andrew.Hinkle@tn.gov
Contact Us
Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00a to 4:30p (local time).
Please note that we observe all state holidays.
West TN Innovation Center
11380 Milton Wilson Road Arlington, TN 38002
WTRC.Seating.Positioning@tn.gov
901-745-7509
Middle TN Innovation Center
301 Stewarts Ferry Pike Nashville, TN 37214
MTRC.Referrals@tn.gov
615-231-5147
East TN Innovation Center
4850 East Andrew Johnson Hwy. Greeneville, TN 37745
ETRC.Referrals@tn.gov
423-787-6689
Statewide Director of Innovation Centers
Jason.Camperlino@tn.gov