Miscellaneous

The East Tennessee Technology Access Center, a regional nonprofit technology resource center for people with disabilities, is pleased to announce that we have received a grant from the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities to establish "Next Chapter Book Clubs" in several counties (Knox, Sevier, Blount, and possibly Cocke) in East Tennessee. The purpose of the Next Chapter Book Clubs is to promote socialization and inclusion of people with disabilities in community settings through reading of books. Anyone can participate regardless of their reading ability.

We are recruiting adults with disabilities who might like to participate, as well as volunteers to facilitate the meetings. ETTAC will be hosting a training for anyone who would like to participate in this program. The workshop will be on August 20 from 9am-1:30pm.

Registration is required by August the 18th. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any questions.

For more information contact:

Marsha Willoughby
Next Chapter Book Club Program Coordinator
East Tennessee Technology Access Center, INC.
4918 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37918
Email: willoughby.marsha@gmail.com
Phone: (865) 219-0130
ETTAC Online: www.discoveret.org/ettac

Office hours: M-F 8:30-5:30, or by appointment

This survey - The Arc FINDS (Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports) —will enable those in the field to better understand what services are available, what gaps exist and what new supports are needed.
 
The Arc FINDS launches July 21 and will be accessible until September 1 to all families and individuals with I/DD, both in and outside of The Arc’s chapter network.
 
There is no cost to participate and all responses will be confidential; it will take respondents about 30 minutes to complete the survey.  The survey may found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TheArcFinds2010
 
Questions are being asked in areas of advocacy, education, transition, employment, housing, community participation, civic engagement/voting, transportation, caregiving, and demographics.  It is written to allow for both the perspective of individuals with I/DD, as well as their parents/caregivers.  It also assumes for the differences in service and supports required at different stages of life.
 
This information will be shared initially at The Arc’s National Convention (November 3 - 6 in Orlando, Florida), as well as publicly on The Arc’s website.  If you have any questions, please contact Laura Hart, Director, Media Relations, at (202) 534-3712 or at hart@thearc.org

 

The University of Illinois at Chicago is conducting a national study on health and health behavior of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and is looking for participants.  The goal of the project is to generate health knowledge to better assist healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers in addressing the unique needs of adults with an ID. 

The study is seeking family members, caregivers, and/or service workers of adults with ID to complete a 15-25 minute survey along with the adult with ID, once a year for four years.  Participants must be 18 or older and residing in the U.S.  To register and learn more about the study, please visit: Logitudinal Health and Intellectual Disability Study.

Metro Davidson County officials have put together a packet of information to assist residents in the aftermath of recent flooding.  The packet includes information about:  federal aid programs for disaster recovery, recovery efforts specific to Davidson County, Tetanus Immunications and legal assitance from the TN Bar Association.

In addition, Disaster Information Centers can provide general information on utilities, social service assistance, and legal and insurance information. Citizens can drop by for information from 10am - 6pm Wednesday (5th) and Thursday (6th).

Bellevue Community Center – 656 Colice Jeanne Rd. 37221
Coleman Community Center – 384 Thompson Lane 37211
East Park Community Center – 700 Woodland Street 37206
Hadley Community Center – 1037 28th Avenue North 37208
Hermitage Community Center – 3720 James Kay Lane 37076 

Disaster Relief Package in PDF (5mb)

Disaster Relief Package in MS Word

Every Mother’s Day the Tennessee Justice Center honors its Mothers of the Year.  We choose as many as six women per year who, in the midst of their own family’s medical crisis, speak out to help other families. These are parents who persistently advocate for not only their own children, but all children in need of health care. 

Our staff recruits volunteer photographers, providing our honorees with framed family photos in addition to “Mother of the Year” certificates. This year, we continue a new tradition - the second annual reception and ceremony honoring the mothers in person.    Here are their stories.

Evelyn Human

When TennCare decided to sharply limit home health care for all adults on the program in the fall of 2008, Evelyn Human decided that she was not going to let her son’s care be cut without a fight.  Her son, John, is mentally retarded.  At 25 years old, he has the mental capacity of a small child.  He requires constant care, almost continuous suctioning to keep his airways clear, and assistance with all aspects of his life.  He had been receiving enough in-home nursing care from TennCare for his mother to work and provide for the family.  TennCare’s new rules, however, said that his in-home nursing hours would be capped at 35 hours per week.  With only 35 hours, John would be left unattended for long stretches, and could aspirate from lack of suctioning. 

To read all of Evelyn's story.

Patricia Womac

Ms. Womac’s daughter, seven-year-old Hannah, suffers from Rett Syndrome, a rare and devastating disorder of the nervous system that renders her incontinent and unable to speak or walk on her own.  Rett Syndrome occurs mostly in girls and is occurs in one in every 10,000 - 23,000 female births.  Due to these conditions, plus difficulty breathing and frequent seizures, Hannah receives nursing care through TennCare.  Even with nurses, Hannah’s mother cares for her full-time – lifting, bathing, and feeding Hannah and fighting to make sure she gets what she needs.  

Hannah’s caregivers take joy in her small pleasures and accomplishments.  She loves to watch cartoons including “Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Kids” – a show about a family of bugs who live in the Hollow Tree. 

To read all of Patricia's story.

Maria Vasquez

Eleven-year-old Henry Vasquez has severe Asperger’s Syndrome, a development disorder on the Autism spectrum. His anxiety and self-harming behaviors prompted Henry’s doctor to order Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy, a treatment for children with Asperger’s which involves family members. Asperger’s affects Henry’s emotions and his speech – he stutters and can't get words out. 

Henry’s mother, Maria, speaks only Spanish, and requires an interpreter to participate in her son’s hands-on ABA treatment. But a TennCare HMO told the family that it would only cover interpretation services over the phone, not hands-on. TennCare’s offer was not only ineffective for the Vasquezes, but a violation of their rights. 

To read all of Maria's story.

To learn more visit the TN Justice Center online.