DIDD Commissioner Brad Turner Elected to NASDDDS Board of Directors
Turner is the first Tennessee commissioner to serve as board member-at-large for national association of IDD agenciesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 4, 2023
CONTACT: Cara Kumari
OFFICE: 615-613-1017
DIDD Commissioner Brad Turner Elected to NASDDDS Board of Directors
Turner is the first Tennessee commissioner to serve as board member-at-large for national association of IDD agencies
NASHVILLE –Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) Commissioner Brad Turner has been elected to serve on the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) Board of Directors as a Board Member-at-Large. Turner is the first Tennessee commissioner to serve on the board.
In this role, Commissioner Turner will contribute to NASDDDS by assisting the Board of Directors in administering the affairs of the association and establishing all organizational policies.
“Tennessee has been a leader in innovative strategies to support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live happy, healthy lives,“ said Turner. “I am eager for the chance to collaborate with the board, and I hope to share the insights DIDD has gained to better the lives of people with disabilities across the nation.”
NASDDDS represents the nation’s agencies in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia that provide services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The Association’s goal is to promote and assist state agencies in developing effective, efficient service delivery systems that furnish high-quality supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“As I assume my role with NASDDDS, I am honored to represent Tennessee and contribute to shaping federal policies,” said Turner. “My passion, inspired by my daughter, fuels my advocacy for a brighter future for Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.”
###
About the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) is the state agency responsible for oversight of services and support to Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every day, the department strives to support approximately 12,000 people to live rewarding and fulfilling lives through Medicaid waiver Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), state operated ICF/IIDs, and the Family Support Program. DIDD also provides services to children ages birth up to age three with disabilities or developmental delays through the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), and children under the age of 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs through the Katie Beckett Program. The department supports all Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the lives they envision for themselves by ensuring people are free to exercise rights, engage with their broader communities and experience optimal health. DIDD is the first state service delivery system in the nation to receive Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership. It has also been recognized as a national leader in its efforts to increase competitive, community-based employment outcomes for people with disabilities and its commitment to enhancing independence through Enabling Technology.