2022 Membership Meeting

& Policy Retreat

Thank you for attending our 2022 Membership Meeting & Policy Retreat!

We had a blast seeing everyone who attended in-person at Montgomery Bell State Park & Inn. Very cool that folks also joined us electronically.

We have compiled the following tabs with a summary of notes from our member discussion and relevant resources.

Please reach out if you have any questions or additional follow up from the event!

One page overviews on hot disability policy topics in 2022-2023:

Right to Repair

Right to Repair legislation requires that producers and distributors of some types of durable medical equipment (DME), such as power wheelchairs, make parts, software and repair manuals available to independent repair technicians

Download one pager

Serving on Councils Electronically

People with disabilities have a lot to add as voting members on state and local councils, committees and other governing bodies. However, because of disability, it is sometimes difficult to attend a meeting in person. The Tennessee Open Meetings Act is a state law that lays out specific requirements for when and how people serving on state and local councils, committees and other governing bodies can participate electronically.

Download one pager 

Ending ABLE Account Medicaid Clawback

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) is a savings program designed to help Tennessee residents with disabilities put aside money for qualified expenses. Upon the death of an ABLE beneficiary, the person with a disability, a provision within the federal statute permits the state agency that operates Medicaid (TennCare in Tennessee) to use the funds in the account to reimburse themselves for qualified medical expenses paid out by Medicaid.

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TISA Public School Funding Formula Changes

TISA - The Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act - is our state's new public school funding formula. Because of a law passed in April 2022, TISA replaces the "Basic Education Plan" (BEP) formula used for the past 30 years. We anticipate that legislators will be proposing changes to the plan in 2023.

Download TISA 101 in pdf

Download TISA 101 in text only format

Direct Support Professional Crisis

Tennesseans with disabilities are at risk of long-term disruption in the delivery of critical, life sustaining supports because direct care workers are increasingly leaving the field for higher paying jobs elsewhere.

Download one pager

Long-Term Supports & Services Primer

Tennessee’s long-term supports and services offerings are part of several Medicaid waivers that provide Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for Tennesseans with disabilities. Knowing the landscape is important to advocacy for improvement.

Download the primer in pdf

Download the primer in text only format

  • School Resource Officers:
    • TN STEP provides training to school resource officers about supporting students with disabilities.
    • Check out TN STEP resources for families about understanding the role and building a relationship with school resource officers: https://tnstep.org/course/sro-what-families-need-to-know-webinar/
    • Question from our discussion: should TN work to mandate training for school resource officers on supporting students with disabilities?
  • School management of student behaviors
    • We are waiting for school guidance to be issued by the TN Department of Education on the Teacher Discipline Act
    • Sharing positive stories about the success of student behavior plans can help encourage their implementation. Have one to share? Email Jeff at: Jeff_s@tndisability.org
  • Lowering prescription drug prices & potentially addressing 30-day supply rules for medications
    • TN Health Care Campaign is collecting stories. If this issue affects you reach out to: tom@tnhealthcarecampaign.org
  • Establishing a new training center for the Blind
    • Tennessee needs a new facility that trains and prepares individuals who are blind to navigate the world
    • The National Federation of the Blind is leading this advocacy effort. To contact the Nashville Chapter, send an email to President Fields at: nashville@nfbtn.org or call: 615-461-0246
  • Staffing Shortage
    • The TN Autism Council will be sending a survey out about the affects of this shortage. Contact Tara Mohundro for more information: autismresourcesmidsouth@gmail.com
    • The National Federation of the Blind Tennessee Chapter shares job openings with their membership. Contact: James Brown at: president@nfbtn.org
    • SRVS has launched a training program with funding from the TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to train people with disabilities as direct support professionals.
    • DIDD Statewide Policy & Planning Council has developed a subcommittee to address the staffing shortage
    • HOSA (high-school student organization preparing students for a future in healthcare) offers information & recruitment opportunities at their annual conference typically in Spring each year: http://www.tennesseehosa.org