Dear Readers,
‘Tis the season! This issue of The Compass is dedicated to support during the holidays. As I sit down to write, I am imagining all of the different experiences readers may be having while reading this. A much-needed break from routine; the struggle from the break in routine. Eager anticipation for traveling, gathering, and the season of giving; overwhelmed by it all. Intense gratitude for what we have; loneliness and yearning as we compare our lives to others.
All of the highs and lows of this human experience feel amplified this time of year. And for the disability community, there is (always) another layer: the challenge of navigating our way through disability resources during whatever we’re experiencing.
Can I be honest? I wish I had more confidence that Tennesseans could connect with the support they need, when they need it. If I had a magic wand, solving that would be my wish. It’s a goal that drives me every day. While I live in reality and have no magic wands, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder is where I channel my energy toward that goal.
As the state’s disability resource hub, Pathfinder is the place we can start when we don’t know where to start. It’s the place we keep going back to on the disability journey. And, it’s the place to turn when we just need someone to problem-solve with us. (That’s when we call the Help Line: 1-800-640-4636.)
Pathfinder connects us to resources for every season of life, through the highs and lows all along the disability journey. Most states do not have anything like it: a place to connect all of the parts of our support system together.
It fuels me every day to know that we are connected. Even while we experience the gaps, we are working as hard as we can to connect to the resources that do exist. To me, that is faith: rowing as hard as we can, together, toward a reality that looks different. We hope you feel that reflected in this issue.
Warm holiday wishes,
Lauren Pearcy
Executive Director, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities