Adventures in Access: Advocating with YOUR VOICE at Disability Day on the Hill 2026

Posted on by Hannah Kehrer
A person using a wheelchair moves along a wide walkway toward the Tennessee State Capitol building, with the text “Disability Day on the Hill 2026” displayed to the right against the sky.

“I hear you, and I appreciate you sharing your story. My office will take this up with the state, and we’ll work on this together.”

That’s the kind of conversation you’ll hear every year at Disability Day on the Hill (DDH). Everyday Tennesseans sharing their stories with legislators, determined to make things better for everyone.

DDH is our time in the legislative limelight. A day when hundreds of Tennesseans, from every corner, come to the Capitol to meet with their legislators, share their stories, and work together to pass good laws, push back against bad ones, and improve the ones already on the books. All while connecting with fellow advocates, sharing resources, and finding ways to access the things we need to live, work, and play in Tennessee.

But it takes all of us.

Those of us with disabilities. Our family and friends who support us. Parents, children, doctors, caregivers, teachers, pastors – all of us.

Why?

Life in Tennessee with a disability is –in the lightest of terms– an adventure; an adventure to access healthcare, access physical spaces, access education, and access the very basic services that keep us healthy, independent, and in our communities.

So, let’s share our adventures with our legislators. The good adventures, the not-so-good adventures, and the adventures we still need to take.

Thanks so much! I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, but we were without power for a very long time and on top of that, I fractured my knee and ankle. Needless to say, I’ve been a little distracted. I did, however, complete the form and had a chat with Jane. 
DDH 2026 theme logo

This year, our theme speaks to our reality here in Tennessee; “Adventures in Access” is our rallying cry for DDH 2026.

There are multiple ways you can get involved in DDH this year. We hope you’ll join us as we show lawmakers how our adventures could be so much easier, so much more accessible — and so much better for Tennessee.

But we have to share our adventures to do it.

  Fortunately, there are several ways to get involved.

All of which are easy, accessible, free, and FUN.

In-Person Opportunities:

Nighttime photo of the Adventure Science Center building illuminated with green and blue lights. The center’s pyramidal structures glow brightly, with surrounding trees and parts of the city visible in the background.
The Adventure Science Center lit up for DDH

1. TDC Community Party on February 24th at Adventure Science Center at 5-7pm CT

–  Join us in Nashville for the party of the year!

The Tennessee Disability Coalition (TDC) Community Party is your opportunity to connect, network, build community with other advocates from across the state, and pick up your *FREE DDH 2026 t-shirt. The Community Party is a family-friendly event, so come out and bring the whole family with you. There’ll be heavy appetizers (including kid-friendly options), drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and a dedicated sensory space…all the makings of a good party.

If you’ve never been to Adventure Science Center in Nashville, this is your chance to make it happen – FOR FREE. *Free but Registration is Required; West Gallery Access Only

  1. Disability Day on the Hill (DDH) on February 25th at 9am-2pmCollage of scenes from Disability Day on the Hill, including groups of attendees writing thank‑you cards, advocates meeting with legislators in offices, people gathered in a legislative hearing room, and participants posing together throughout the event.A collage of images from DDH 2025 CT
  • Throw on your new DDH t-shirt and head on down to the Cordell Hull Legislative Building in downtown Nashville. This is your chance to meet with your legislators and share your adventures! You can schedule meetings in advance with your legislators to make sure your voice is heard. (Follow this link to learn how to schedule your own meeting.) In the days leading up to DDH, we’ll be releasing policy videos and advocacy tools to help you prepare to advocate on the big day. You can find resources and event information on our website at tndisability.org/ddh

Virtual option:

  1. Disability Advocacy Day on March 11th – All Day!
    • No matter where you are in Tennessee, you can still be involved with Disability Advocacy Day. For six years running, March 11th will be declared “Disability Advocacy Day” in Tennessee by the General Assembly. Disability Advocacy Day is a day of celebration dedicated to honoring the hard work and advocacy of the 1.7 million Tennesseans with disabilities who are improving our state laws for the better. To celebrate, Tennessee will light up “Coalition Blue.” You can join in on the fun by wearing blue, finding Tennessee landmarks that are lit up blue in solidarity, and even lighting up your own social media feed. A list of participating landmarks will be available on our website closer to March 11th, so check back and check often!

Now that you know how you can advocate and connect at DDH, it’s time to RSVP! Follow this link to register for any or all of the events mentioned above: https://form.jotform.com/253415628613053