Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Patricia Edmiston Leadership in Advocacy Award
This award was established by the Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder, in honor of the woman who was instrumental in the creation and early leadership of the council.
Meeting & Committee Call Dates
The TN Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder will meet on the last Tuesday of the months below from 10am - 1pm Central Standard Time;
- January 28, 2025
- April 29, 2025
- July 29, 2025
- October 28, 2025
The meetings will be conducted in person. The place of the meeting will be communicated prior to each meeting.
Healthcare Committee and Early Intervention & Education Committee Quarterly Council calls (first Tuesday of the months below);
- Tuesday January 7, 2025 (*this date is the second Tuesday due to the New Year holiday)
- Tuesday April 1, 2025
- Tuesday July 8, 2025 (*this date is the second Tuesday due to July 4th holiday)
- Tuesday October 7, 2025
Aging & Adulthood Committee and Advocacy & Communication Committee Quarterly Council calls (first Thursday of the months below);
- Thursday January 9, 2025 (*this date is the second Tuesday due to the New Year holiday)
- Thursday April 3, 2025
- Thursday July 10, 2025 (*this date is the second Thursday due to July 4th holiday)
- Thursday October 9, 2025
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
You will receive Microsoft Teams invitations for the committee calls.
Governor appointments for individuals on the autism spectrum or their family members:
Term: July 2025- June 2028
- Cynthia Johnson (family member)
- Rick Fought (family member)
- Angela Crocker (family member)
Term: July 2023 - June 2026
- Lana Woodward (family member)
- Sarah Harvey (family member, Council CHAIR)
- Elizabeth Ratliff (family member)
Term: August 2024- June 2027
- Lia Nichol (family member)
- Robert Stoffle (family member)
- Jennifer Holder (family member)
Dept. of Disability & Aging:
Kimberly Black, Deputy Director for Program Operations
Kimberly.J.Black@tn.gov
Dept. of Health:
Jacqueline Johnson, MPA, Section Chief, Division of Family Health and Wellness/Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
jacqueline.johnson@tn.gov
Dept. of Education:
Alison Gauld, Low Incidence and Autism Coordinator, Division of Special Population and Student Support
alison.gauld@tn.gov
Dept. of Human Services:
Tracy Verdun, Advisory Services Supervisor
Tracy.Verdun@tn.gov
Dept. of Commerce and Insurance:
Brent Culberson, Chief of Staff
brent.r.culberson@tn.gov
Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse:
Elizabeth Setty Reeve. Esq., Director of Juvenile Justice Programming
elizabeth.reeve@tn.gov
Division of TennCare:
Dr. Cooper Lloyd
Cooper.Lloyd@tn.gov
TN Council on Developmental Disabilities:
Dirk Strider, Council Communications Coordinator
Dirk.Strider@tn.gov
TN Commission on Children and Youth:
Therese Sipes, Youth Justice Specialist
Therese.Sipes@tn.gov
State of Tennessee Department, Council, and/or Commission participant designees:
TN Department of Children's Services
Kim Campbell, Executive Director, Statewide Services
Kim.Campbell@tn.gov
TN Early Intervention System
Catherine Pippin, Strategic Results Specialist
Catherine.Pippin2@tn.gov
DIDD Staff Liaison to the Council:
Jenna Martin, Director of Developmental Disability Services
Office of General Council
615-626-1579
jenna.s.martin@tn.gov
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder
https://tnpathfinder.org
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder (“Pathfinder”) provides free information, resources, support, and referrals to Tennesseans with disabilities and their families.