Author: Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP

EmployAbility: Celebrating Value and Talent – October 2026 (NDEAM)

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Banner-style image for Pathfinder’s EmployAbility section. The word “EmployAbility” appears in large blue and orange text on the left. On the right, four coworkers sit and stand around a table in a bright office setting. A blind Black man wearing dark glasses works at a laptop with a refreshable Braille display in front of him, and a white cane rests beside his chair. Three coworkers—one woman leaning in at the center, one man seated beside her, and one woman taking notes—smile and collaborate with him. A blue tumbler, notebook, and small plant sit on the table, reinforcing a professional and welcoming workplace environment.

Celebrating Value and Talent: From Getting Hired to Building A Career Written by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP, Communications Manager, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) recognizes the contributions people with disabilities make in America’s workplaces and economy. The 2026 theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” gives us a chance to look… Read more EmployAbility: Celebrating Value and Talent – October 2026 (NDEAM)

Spotlight – Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation: Support for the Career You Choose

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Resource Spotlight graphic for Tennessee Blind & Visually Impaired VR Services. A woman wearing dark glasses works on a laptop beside text highlighting support for work, education, and greater independence, with icons for employment support, skills training, and individualized services and Tennessee Department of Human Services branding.

A Career Plan Built Around You Finding the right job is not always about searching job boards and submitting applications. For someone who is blind or has low vision, it can also mean figuring out what kind of career fits their interests, what supports may be needed, and what steps can help them move toward… Read more Spotlight – Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation: Support for the Career You Choose

A New Name for a Trusted Service: Information and Referral Is Now the Resource Navigation Team

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Wide Tennessee Disability Pathfinder Resource Navigation graphic. The left side has a dark blue background with the headline “Helping You Find Your Way” in white and yellow, followed by “Real People. Real Help. Real Connections.” Below are the phrases “Your Questions, Your Needs, Your Options, Your Next Step.” A yellow vertical divider separates the text from the right side, which shows a Pathfinder sign on a desk in a bright office. The sign includes the Pathfinder compass logo and reads, “I & R has a new name. Resource Navigation. Same trusted support. A clearer path forward.”

You may have noticed a new name appearing across Tennessee Disability Pathfinder’s website, social media, and recent outreach. Information and Referral (I&R) is now the Resource Navigation Team. The name has changed, but the purpose behind the service has not. Pathfinder has always been here to help Tennesseans find disability-related information, services, and supports. The… Read more A New Name for a Trusted Service: Information and Referral Is Now the Resource Navigation Team

A Message from our Communications Manager

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Newsletter header for The Compass, September 2026. A diverse group of adults with disabilities and supporters sit around a table creating an emergency plan. Visible items include a backpack, water bottle, pill bottle, flashlight, phone, notebook, map, and a service dog beside a man using a wheelchair. One woman has a visible hearing device. On the right, the newsletter title reads “THE COMPASS: Real-Life Resources for All Abilities,” with “September 2026” and the theme “Preparedness Is Personal. Real-life planning for everyday disruptions.” The design uses warm orange, blue, and cream tones with a scenic Tennessee-style landscape in the background. Pathfinder's compass branded graphic replaces the letter 'o' in the word "Compass."

Dear Compass Readers, Imagine driving home after a long day. You see flashing lights in your rearview mirror. You pull over, and suddenly you are being asked questions and given instructions while trying to process everything happening around you. Now imagine there is something important the officer needs to understand about you, but in that… Read more A Message from our Communications Manager

Spotlight: TEMA Accessible Emergency Information Designed with Disability in Mind – September 2026

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
TEMA Accessible spotlight graphic featuring a woman who uses a wheelchair seated at a table with a Black man as they review the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s TEMA Accessible webpage on a laptop. A service dog rests beside her. Emergency planning items, including a flashlight, medication, phone, and preparedness checklist, are on the table. Text reads, “Spotlight: TEMA Accessible — Preparedness Designed With Disability in Mind.”

Knowing a preparedness resource exists is useful. Knowing how to use it before you need it is what can make the difference. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) coordinates emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts across the state. As part of that work, TEMA recognizes that emergency planning cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. That… Read more Spotlight: TEMA Accessible Emergency Information Designed with Disability in Mind – September 2026

Navegando Juntos (Navigating Together) – September 2026

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Newsletter graphic for “Navegando Juntos” with the title in navy and blue on the left and the phrases “Información. Apoyo. Posibilidades.” and “Juntos hacia un futuro con propósito.” Below the text is a large compass illustration. On the right, a family of four walks together down a rural path toward a warm sunset. Beside them, a wooden signpost points toward “Apoyo,” “Recursos,” and “Posibilidades,” reinforcing the theme of finding guidance and moving toward the future together.

Navigando Juntos reconoce que encontrar recursos para discapacitados puede ser un desafío, especialmente cuando las diferencias en las habilidades, la cultura y el idioma crean barreras adicionales. Esta sección comparte herramientas prácticas, recursos confiables e información útil para facilitar la navegación por los servicios, empoderando a las personas y familias para encontrar el apoyo que… Read more Navegando Juntos (Navigating Together) – September 2026

Spotlight: Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
A vibrant Resource Spotlight graphic for Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). Diverse transition-age students, including a young woman using a wheelchair, stand together beside colorful arrows representing future pathways. Text highlights career exploration, work-based learning, postsecondary planning, workplace readiness, and self-advocacy, with the message “Plan Today. Build Tomorrow.” and Tennessee Department of Human Services/Vocational Rehabilitation branding.

Planning for life after high school can feel exciting, overwhelming, and uncertain all at once. Students may be thinking about work, training, college, transportation, or learning how to live more independently. Families may be asking what support is available and when the process should begin. In Tennessee, one important resource for that journey is Vocational… Read more Spotlight: Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

Finding New Possibilities Through Participation

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
This vibrant promotional graphic emphasizes disability pride and community inclusion, featuring a collage of diverse individuals, bold typography, and colorful accents like teal, purple, and lime green. The layout combines modern, nonprofit-style elements—photography, vector graphics, and watercolor splashes, to convey an inclusive, empowering message of accessibility, opportunity, and possibility for all.

Pride in Possibility Every July, Disability Pride Month invites us to celebrate something bigger than awareness. It celebrates identity, achievement, individuality, and the many ways people contribute to their communities. It reminds us that disability is not something to overcome. It is a natural part of the human experience. At Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, we see… Read more Finding New Possibilities Through Participation

Aging on Your Own Terms: Real Support for Real Life

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
An older Black couple sits side by side at a wooden table in a bright, warmly lit home. The woman, wearing a light blue shirt over a striped top, points toward a laptop screen while the man, wearing a dark blue button-up shirt, leans in and looks closely at the screen. Papers, a notebook, and a coffee mug are on the table, suggesting they are reviewing information together. The image conveys aging adults navigating resources, making plans, and seeking support in a calm, collaborative setting.

Aging looks different for everyone. For some, it means remaining active in the community, continuing to work, volunteer, travel, or spend time with family. For others, it may mean stepping into new roles, helping care for aging parents, navigating changing health needs, or trying to understand services and supports for the first time. And for… Read more Aging on Your Own Terms: Real Support for Real Life

Spotlight: Tennessee’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disability – May 2026

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
A newsletter graphic with a white background and a large blue Tennessee highway-style sign on the right. The sign features the shape of Tennessee with the words “Tennessee, The Volunteer State” and the phrase “Area Agencies on Aging and Disability” in white text across the bottom. On the left side, the word “Spotlight” appears in large pink script lettering with the Pathfinder compass logo placed inside the letter design. Curved navy and blue accent lines run along the far left edge. The graphic introduces a spotlight section focused on Tennessee’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disability.

Where to Start: Tennessee’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disability When you’re trying to find support for yourself or someone you love, the hardest part is often knowing where to begin. That’s why one of the most important resources across Tennessee isn’t just a single program, it’s a network designed to help you navigate what’s… Read more Spotlight: Tennessee’s Area Agencies on Aging and Disability – May 2026