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Tennessee Disability Coalition @tndisability

We bring together organizations and individuals across Tennessee to create a society that values, includes and supports people with disabilities.

Joined August 2010
  • Tweets 17,317
  • Following 1,245
  • Followers 2,689
1,451 Photos and videos
Do you know a business that is making a difference for Tennesseans with disabilities? Nominate them for our 2026 Tennessee Businesses for the Better Award! youtube.com/shorts/P_5T2Rdw8… You can submit your nomination at this link: form.jotform.com/26054571052…

Nominations for the 2026 Tennessee Business For the Better Award are...

Know of a business making a difference for Tennesseans with disabil...

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Thank you @JasonMumpower for hosting the disability community today and helping us be a part of the policy process for Disability Day on the Hill #DDH2026 #AdventuresInAccess
Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, with disability advocates

ALT Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, with disability advocates

Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, with thank you cards from the disability community at DDH

ALT Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, with thank you cards from the disability community at DDH

Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, with disability advocates

ALT Tennessee Comptroller, Jason Mumpower, with disability advocates
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Disability Priorities in Governor @GovBillLee 2026 State of the State Address & Budget Proposal #TNSOTS tndisability.org/news/disabi…

Disability Priorities in the Governor's State of the State & Budget | Tennessee Disability Coalition

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivered his eighth and final State of the State Address last night before a joint session of the Tennessee General Assembly. He reflected on his seven...

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Lawmakers are back at work this week, and the legislative session is underway. Read our latest policy update for key reminders, what to watch for, and TDC's focus areas as we head into the second and final session of the 114th General Assembly: tndisability.org/news/tn-gen…
TDC Policy Update: The Tennessee General Assembly is back!

ALT TDC Policy Update: The Tennessee General Assembly is back!
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“We just want lawmakers to listen and actually care about what happens to our families and not write off people like my daughter who have the right to be educated and participate in their community as we do.” nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/…

Tennessee Disability Coalition report critical of state response - Nashville Banner

Tennessee Disability Coalition gives Tennessee an 'incomplete' grade on annual scorecard, highlighting limited progress on housing, access to care, and education for people with disabilities.

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Tennessee Disability Coalition retweeted
FoxNashville
@FOXNashville
18 Dec 2025
Tennessee received an “incomplete” on a new disability scorecard, as families raise concerns about gaps in education, healthcare, and support amid federal uncertainty. ♿️📄 bit.ly/3N7WwfW
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Tennessee receives first-ever ‘incomplete’ grade for disability services. “If things go wrong, you know, there is no safety net out there for people. There’s less and less of a safety net every single day as services are eroding." @WSMV wsmv.com/2025/12/16/tennesse…

Tennessee receives first-ever ‘incomplete’ grade for disability services

The coalition evaluates Tennessee annually across categories including healthcare access, education and housing. This year, the state failed to receive a grade above a C in any category.

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“I don’t think that the state of Tennessee would, under any circumstance, purposefully reduce the amount of support services or its commitment to kids with disabilities. But without that oversight, who’s to make sure?” @LillianAvedian @tnSTEP @EdTrustTN nashvillebanner.com/2025/12/…

TNSTEP, others brace for fallout from elimination of DOE - Nashville Banner

Learn how the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education could impact special education services and the rights of students with disabilities.

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Happy 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)! This historic civil rights law, signed into law 35 years ago, protects the rights of people with disabilities. Today we celebrate #ADA35, the disability community, and how far we've come! tndisability.org/ada35
President G.H.W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 into law on the South Lawn of the White House. Accompanied by Evan Kemp, Justin Dart, Rev Harold Wilke & Swift Parrino.

ALT President G.H.W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 into law on the South Lawn of the White House. Accompanied by Evan Kemp, Justin Dart, Rev Harold Wilke & Swift Parrino.

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Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the ADA, we're excited to launch our "ADA in Tennessee Oral History" project! This project highlights the stories of Tennesseans whose lives have been impacted by the ADA, and the first episode is out now! Learn more: tndisability.org/ada-tenness…
Americans with Disabilities Act in Tennessee Oral History Project. Co-Hosts, Carol Westlake and Donna DeStefano. Episode 1: Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Tennessee Oral History Project

ALT Americans with Disabilities Act in Tennessee Oral History Project. Co-Hosts, Carol Westlake and Donna DeStefano. Episode 1: Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Tennessee Oral History Project

In this episode: In the ADA in Tennessee Oral History project, longtime advocates Carol Westlake and Donna DeStefano reflect on 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and why preserving our history matters. “These stories show the real-life impact of disability rights and why the ADA still matters—35 years later.”

ALT In this episode: In the ADA in Tennessee Oral History project, longtime advocates Carol Westlake and Donna DeStefano reflect on 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and why preserving our history matters. “These stories show the real-life impact of disability rights and why the ADA still matters—35 years later.”
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“I feel like the way TennCare is set up right now is literally inserting a barrier to the American dream for people with disabilities,” @bradenrosstv @WSMV wsmv.com/2025/07/23/im-being…

‘I’m being blocked from the American dream’: Law creating TennCare buy-in program for people with...

A Tennessee law creating a TennCare buy-in program for people with disabilities has been stalled waiting for federal approval from the Center for Medicaid Services for almost a year.

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Happy #DisabilityPrideMonth! Join us this July as we celebrate and highlight Disability Identity, Culture, Community, Pride, and the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Learn how you can get involved and celebrate on our website tndisability.org/ada35
An illustration of a group of disabled people smiling and holding the Disability Pride flag with text that reads "Happy Disability Pride Month!"

ALT An illustration of a group of disabled people smiling and holding the Disability Pride flag with text that reads "Happy Disability Pride Month!"
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“Moving a student to a more restrictive setting is a big deal, and this rule change should not be taken as permission to do this routinely or without trying other options first.” @ChalkbeatTN @itsmelissabrown chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2025…

Tennessee board of education considering rule change for students with disabilities placements

The proposed rule change would allow schools to move students exhibiting dangerous behaviors to a more restrictive environment while formally assessing the student’s behavior to create a targeted...

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“These are not hopeless kids, they’re not lost. We don’t need to exclude them from our schools. We need to help them, and there are ways that we can help them and we believe in them.” @SamPerezNews @wbir wbir.com/article/news/educat…

Informal removals of students with disabilities raise concerns across Tennessee

A new report finds that across the state, educators are removing students with disabilities from the classroom without recording it. Here's why that matters.

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On April 22nd, the state legislature wrapped up the first year of the 114th TN General Assembly session. Check out our latest policy video to hear Jeff explain how the session played out and where we go from here: youtu.be/CaDpPBsXGaY

2025 TN General Assembly Session Wrap Up

On April 22nd, the state legislature wrapped up the first year of t...

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To read Jeff's comprehensive full session wrap-up, visit our website at: tndisability.org/article/202…
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“The story of Deaf President Now! isn’t just Deaf history — it is American history. A civil rights movement led by students and their victory helped the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And yet, most people don’t even know it happened." disabilityscoop.com/2025/05/…

AppleTV Documentary Spotlights Pivotal Disability Protest

A little known protest that helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act is the subject of a documentary that's set to be released.

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"These cuts, this uncertainty. It makes these parents really concerned that should something go wrong with the education of their child, they'll have no avenue of recourse." @KellyAvellino @FOXNashville fox17.com/news/local/have-mi…

Have Middle Tennessee school districts been impacted by federal education cuts?

Fox 17 News reached out to 39 school districts in the midstate, asking if any federal funding or programs had been cut already, or for next year.

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Our Photo Booth gallery from the 2025 TDC Community Party is here, and we can't get over how amazing our community is! Relive the magic, find your photos, and see some familiar faces at this link: tinyurl.com/mrx7p8w3
A collage of advocates posing for the photo booth at the 2025 TDC Community Party.

ALT A collage of advocates posing for the photo booth at the 2025 TDC Community Party.
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While the General Assembly scrambles to adjourn by their self-imposed deadline of April 17, things are winding down for us advocates. We’re not quite done, but we’re doing a bit of all of it. Check out our latest policy update to see where things stand: tndisability.org/article/411…
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