News from Tennessee Disability Pathfinder
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the team at Autism Tennessee (AutismTN), whose mission is to enrich the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum, their families and their community through education, advocacy, and support, stopped to answer some questions for The Compass. Check out this Q&A with Executive Director, Babs Tierno: What are your… Read more Autism Tennessee Asked & Answered
When Terrell was around 18 years old, I knew that one day he would probably want to move out of our home. Terrell had seen other people his age getting their own places to live, and he began to ask about living on his own. He was cautiously excited about the idea, but it was… Read more Becoming Independent
Autism Career Training (ACT) provides various programs and supports to prepare young adults with Autism for future career success. Autism Career Training currently serves trainees in the greater Nashville area through a center-based day program, after school social groups and Saturday Fun Club. Autism Career Training was founded by Karen Blake, whose son Matthew, was… Read more ACT for a Career
How being an immigrant mother of children with autism can make you doubt even your own instincts. I had a lonely childhood. I have two older sisters, who were already best friends by the time I was born, and I am a mini intruder who snuck into their afternoon games. Although we were girls and… Read more Breaking Barriers
As we enter April, it is important to reflect on “Autism Awareness” and how this can and should include “Autism Acceptance” to ensure all people are treated with dignity and respect. An important part of that is understanding the concept of neurodiversity. There are many definitions of neurodiversity, however in general, neurodiversity is the understanding… Read more Teaching Children about Neurodiversity
What Agencies Diagnose Autism in Adults? CALLER: I am tired of hearing my mother and my aunt telling me I probably have autism. They think that some of my personality quirks are similar to some personality characteristics or behaviors they have read about, or maybe they did an online survey; I don’t know. Is there… Read more Call Pathfinder
For these and other events visit our Community Calendar or follow us on social media. April 13: Tuesday Talk with TN Disability Pathfinder on FB Live April 13: Awareness Luncheon (DEAL) April 15: Dedramatizing Disability April 17: Adventure Science Center – Community Birthday Party April 19: Kennedy Center Lecture “Hidden Challenges: Visual and Motor Symptoms in Autism… Read more Upcoming Events
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder offers an extensive library of disability resources available at DisabilityPathfinder.org. Here’s some great Autism-related materials below: Download and print resources produced by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center here. If you need materials in an accessible format, please contact kc@vumc.org or call (615) 322-8240. Spread the Word – Download Pathfinder Fliers and Materials Pathfinder Overview… Read more Resource Corner
Stacy and Nathaniel’s Story Nathaniel is a joyful, independent, fun-loving four-and-a-half-year-old boy despite having gone through more medical treatments than most of us will experience in a lifetime. He is also legally blind. He has some light perception in one eye and the bone marrow transplant that saved his life also spared his hearing from… Read more Two Babies Born Blind Lead to Two Moms on a Mission
If having a baby amidst a global pandemic isn’t strenuous enough, imagine being told during your pregnancy that your baby has a developmental disability and may not thrive. Natalie Gilbert, just like any expectant mother, was preparing for her baby’s arrival. She was excited about her pregnancy and was looking forward to when she would… Read more Having Marvelous Miss Marley
This project is partially funded under grant contracts with the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.