News from Tennessee Disability Pathfinder
Many, if not all, organizations and institutions across the globe have had to quickly adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19—Special Olympics Tennessee (SOTN) was no exception. To protect the safety and wellness of athletes, SOTN quickly transitioned to virtual activities for most of 2020. This was a hard decision as the SOTN team originally… Read more Special Olympics Tennessee 2021 Resolutions for Inclusive Health
Meet Manuel Mota-Carrillo, known to his family and friends as “Chuy”, a bilingual 7th grader at Stewarts Creek Middle School of Rutherford County. Chuy has hydrocephalus and spina bifida and received his first wheelchair when he was almost 2 years old. He has big plans of becoming a dentist and sports coach in the future,… Read more Spina Bifida Hasn’t Stopped “Chuy” from Keeping Healthy & Fit
The importance of our mental health has risen to a new awareness during these topsy turvy times of COVID-19. Many of us have found ourselves worrying about our loved ones, our jobs, our communities and experiencing intense feelings of sadness or despair. Know that it’s natural to feel sad, anxious, overwhelmed, fearful, depressed, or even… Read more Taking Care of Your Mental Health in 2021
Caller: Hi. Our family lives in Memphis. Both of my children have disabilities, one is 9 and the other is a tweener. I know I’m blessed to be able to work from home. But it is hard, keeping them directed, and being there for tech, academic, and meal questions, preparation, mediation, and troubleshooting. I’m always… Read more Call Pathfinder: Rural or Urban–Family Fun with Tennessee 4-H
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to respond to and share this important study! Tennessee Disability Services Study: Support the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and disability organizations across Tennessee! How do you find disability information and services? What makes this hard? What would work better? Share your input on this important statewide survey: www.tndisabilitysurvey.org This unique… Read more Tennessee Disability Services Study
The Vanderbilt Autism Research Registry aids Vanderbilt Kennedy Center researchers in connecting with individuals on the autism spectrum and families who are willing to participate in research. Members create confidential profiles and decide how they prefer to be contacted when they are eligible for new studies. You can enroll online at redcap.link/autismregistry. All information is… Read more Vanderbilt Autism Research Registry
Stories can change lives forever and create a more connected and inclusive world is what I learned when creating The Bookshelf of Inclusion and Understanding, my Girl Scout Silver Award Project. This bookshelf is an empowering resource for all and filled with books about kids with different abilities/disabilities, and students from different racial, ethnic, and… Read more Bookshelf of Inclusion and Understanding
Accessibility to free information is a top priority at the Nashville Public Library (NPL). This rule applies for our smallest patrons as well. NPL offers a range of services for children with differing abilities. NPL can meet all our patron’s information needs starting with diverse reading materials to parent resources, not to mention our Library… Read more Nashville Public Library Offers Resources for All…Take a Look!
Next Chapter Book Clubs provide adolescents and adults with disabilities opportunities to enjoy what most book club participants enjoy – books, friends, and social outings. The clubs have a trained facilitator, but the members make all the decisions in terms of what they read and where they meet. Due to the pandemic, the clubs are… Read more Next Chapter Book Clubs: Friends, Fun, and Books
Caller: Hi. I am retired and very tired of staying home. But my wife and I and my kids’ families, outside of Tennessee, have decided we are not going to gather for Christmas. That’s really hard, but we believe strongly in following the experts’ recommendations and taking all precautions to stay well during this pandemic. … Read more Call Pathfinder – Online, In-Person and Curbside Libraries: Many Ways to Check It Out, Stay Safe, and Read on!
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.