Disability Action Network

Time commitment:  One day orientation and training, then 8 to 10 flexible hours per week for 8 consecutive weeks.

 

Compensation: $10.00 per hour

 

Start date:  August 23rd (tentative)

The first voter Train-the-Trainer conference in 2008 was so successful, we’re doing it again!  Gear up for Election 2010 and join the Disability Law and Advocacy Center to learn about disability voting rights. Trainings will be one full day and will be offered in each of the three grand regions. 

WHAT DOES TRAINING INCLUDE?

1. Voting Accessibility - A chance to talk about voting accessibility issues with disability advocates, self-advocates, support professionals and election officials.  Some topics include:
• The Help America Vote Act
• Barriers in voting
• Potential solutions to barriers and
• Step-by-step training on how to educate others
2. Training Toolkit
3. Assistance coordinating and conducting training

WHAT IS REQUIRED?

Training Partners - Each applicant must apply as a team with at least one other person.

Conducting Training - Each team will be responsible for holding at least one training in their area.

DLAC Will be available to help teams form voter outreach strategies within their communities

WHEN AND WHERE

Nashville – Monday, June 28th

Knoxville – Wednesday, June 30th

Memphis – Thursday, July 8th

All trainings will be from 9am – 4pm.  Lunch will be provided.

Conference is free for accepted participants and travel stipends are available.

APPLICATION DEADLINE - Friday, June 11th 

Download an application

For questions or more information contact Kate Georgen Seipel at kateg@dlactn.org 

About the Program

Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee (DLAC) is the nonprofit protection and advocacy agency which advocates for the rights of people with disabilities throughout Tennessee.  As part of a mandate from the Help America Vote Act 2002 (HAVA), DLAC provides education and training on voting barriers and potential solutions. 

In 2008, the agency was selected by the National Technical Assistance Center for Voting and Cognitive Access to host a statewide training conference on voting access for individuals with disabilities.  We are proud to continue this successful event in 2010. 

The training material offers Tennessee-specific disability voting information.  Participants will also benefit from a diverse classroom of self-advocates, disability advocates, support professionals, special education professionals, state agencies, and election officials.

A bill has been introduced that - on the surface - seems harmless enough, but once one looks at the unintended consquenes it is clear that funding for Traumatic Brain Injury programming could take a significant cut as a result.  Efforts are underway to see about an amendment to ensure TBI Funds are protected so stay tuned.

Senate Bill 2523 and HB 2544 creates an offense of super speeding when driver speeds at 75 mph or more on any two-lane highway or 85 mph or more on any public highway; the violation is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a $200 fine only.  The revenues from those fines are to be dedicated to the Trauma System Fund to help cover the cost of unreimbursed care.

HOWEVER

Unintended consequence:  While the Trauma System is a worthy recipient of the revenues, the bill as written may have the unintended consequence of diminishing - perhaps significantly - the revenues to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Trust Fund.

• Legislatively established in 1993 to address the unique needs of survivors of traumatic brain injury, the TBI Program is funded through additional fines on specific traffic violations, including speeding.
• The TBI trust fund receives $5 from every speeding ticket.
• The trust fund revenues of $1 million per year and are used to provide home and community based services to the 8,000 Tennesseans who sustain a brain injury annually. 

Revenue Shift: the proposed legislation is anticipated to bring in approximately $3.7 million. However that revenue will bypass the TBI Trust Fund and effectively siphon off some fines that otherwise fund the TBI program, resulting in a lost of services to TBI survivors.

TBI Program Services: With money from the TBI trust fund, survivors of brain injury are benefiting from a variety of programs:

• Assistance of a local service coordinator
• Personal care assistance in order to live as independently as possible
• Therapeutic recreation program
• Social and recreational activities at a camp for brain injury survivors

With this limited funding, the TBI Program has been able to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of survivors. 

The bill will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, April 13.  It will also be heard soon in the Senate Transporation Committee.  If your legislators serve on one of these committees (see below), please urge them to vote against SB2523/HB2544 if it will cut funding for the TBI Trust Funding. 

Keys for successful Communication:  1) please only contact your personal legislator - not the entire committee, 2) provide the bill number when communicating, 3) be polite and thoughtful, and 4) provide your address so the legislator knows you are a constituent.

House Transporation Committee

Click a name to get their phone, fax and email address.

Bil Harmon - Sequatchie, Van Buren, Grundy and Marion Counties

Vince Dean - Part of Hamilton County

George Fraley - Franklin, Moore, and part of Lincoln County

Judy Barker - Obion, Lake and part of Dyer County

Ty Cobb - Part of Maury County

Chad Faulkner - Campbell and Union County

Richard Floyd - Part of Hamilton County

Matthew Hill - Part of Washington County

Phillip Johnson -  Cheatham and parts of Montgomery and Williamson Counties.

Pat Marsh - Bedford and parts of Lincoln and Rutherford Counties

Jimmy Matlock - Parts of Loudon and Monroe Counties

Tony Shipley - Part of Sullivan County

John C. Tidwell - Houston, Humphreys, Perry, and parts of Hickman and Maury Counties

Ben West Jr. - Part of Davidson County.

Senate Transportation

Jim Tracy - Bedford, Moore, and part of Rutherford County.

Steve Southerland - Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, and Unicoi Counties

Tim Barnes - Cheatham, Houston, and Montgomery Counties

Mae Beavers - Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith and parts of Sumner, Trousdale, and Wilson Counties

Andy Berke - Parts of Hamilton and Marion Counties

Lowe Finney - Madison, Gibson, and Carroll Counties

Dolores Gresham - Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, McNairy, and Wayne Counties

Doug Jackson - Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Humphreys, Lawrence, and Lewis Counties

Ken Yager - Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Rhea, Roane, and Scott Counties

Last week, legislation requiring health insurers to cover hearing aids for children failed to pass out of the Senate Commerce Committee - just one vote short of passage.  This week - Monday or Tuesday - there may be a chance to revive the bill if we can get that last vote.

If your legislator is on the Commerce Committee - particularly if they abstained - please contact their office by email or phone and ask them to support Senate Bill 160.  What could be more basic than hearing aid coverage for a child with hearing loss? 

A few things to keep in mind when contacting your personal legislator: 1) be polite and include a personal story if you have one, 2) give the bill number – SB 160, and 3) provide your contact information (address) for the legislator.  If sending an email, please copy us at news@tndisability.org so we can track our success!  Please only contact legislators who represent your community or with whom you have a personal relationship.

For a one-pager about hearing loss and the legislation.

Click a legislator's name for the phone number & email address.

Voting For the Bill - Please Thank

Tim Burchett (R) Sponsor - District 7 - Part of Knox County

Bill Ketron (R) Sponsor - District 13 - Lincoln, Marshall, Maury & part of Rutherford County

Charlotte Burks (D) - District 15 - Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, & White Counties

Eric Stewart (D) - District 14 - Franlin, Bledsoe, Coffee, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren, & Warren Counties

Abstaining

Reginald Tate (D) - District 33 - Memphis

Dewayne Bunch (R) - District 9 - Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk Counties

Jack Johnson (R) - District 23 - Williamson & Parts of Davidson County

Not Available to Vote

Mae Beavers (R) - District 17 - Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, Wilson & Part of Sumner County

Steve Southerland (R) - District 1 - Cock, Greene, Hamblen & Unicoi Counties

Legislation that would require health insurers to cover hearing aids for children hit a snag yesterday with 4 Senators voting to approve it, 3 voting to abstain, and others absent.  It only needed 5 votes and as a result the Senate Commerce Committee failed approve the bill.  However, we may get a second chance to pass it out of that committee.

If your legislator is on the Commerce Committee please contact them immediately, today, and ask that they support the legislation.

A few things to keep in mind when contacting your personal legislator: 1) be polite, personable, and include a personal story if you have one that is relevant, 2) give the bill number – SB 160, and 3) provide your contact information (address) so the legislator knows that you live in their districts.  If sending an email, please copy us at news@tndisability.org so we can track our success!  Please only contact legislators who represent your district or with whom you have a personal relationship.

Children's Hearing Aid Legislation (SB 160 by Ketron / HB 636 by Maggart) - Will improve health care and educational outcomes for children with hearing loss by requiring insurance plans to include coverage for hearing aids.  This is supported by the Coalition and a wide range of partners.  Please ask your legislator to support it.

Senate Commerce Committee - Click a legislator's name to get their contact information.

Reginald Tate - Dist. 33 - Part of Shelby County

Dewayne Bunch - Dist. 9 - Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk Counties

Charlotte Burks - Dist. 15 - Cumberland, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam & White Counties

Mae Beavers - Dist. 17 - Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, Wilson and part of Sumner County.

Tim Burchett - Dist. 7 - Part of Knox County

Bill Ketron - Dist. 13 - Lincoln, Marshall, Maury and part of Rutherford County.

Steve Southerland - Dist. 1 - Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, and Unicoi Counties

Eric Stewart - Dist. 14 - Franklin, Bledsoe, Coffee, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren and Warren Counties.