Tennessee Honors Support for Employees with Disabilities: Celebrating Inclusion and Empowerment

NASHVILLE, TN - Commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act's historic signing, Tennessee State officials from the Department of Human Services are sharing stories from those benefiting from state programs aimed at assisting citizens with disabilities in securing employment. Much of this initiative is facilitated by the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation Services' Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program. Officials revealed that this program has empowered individuals with social and developmental disabilities to gain meaningful employment and uphold their autonomy. They proudly stated that the VR program has successfully assisted up to 6,000 Tennesseans in achieving competitive, integrated jobs. According to Kim Lilley, Executive Director of the Tennessee Technology Access Program, the VR program connects employers seeking to diversify their workforce with skilled individuals with disabilities. The need for employment remains critical in Tennessee, where approximately 31.4% of residents earn below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Lilley noted the variances in individual experiences with VR, which depend on the needs outlined by their rehab counselors, and highlighted the assistance available through TTAP, including possible no-cost services and short-term device loans. With the popularity of TTAP increasing, partnerships with non-profits like Star Center and Signal Centers...