Author: Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP

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

From Questions to Connection: Where Support Comes to Life

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
A diverse group of individuals and families sits together at a table in a welcoming community setting, speaking with a navigator while reviewing brochures and resources. A child wearing noise-reducing headphones sits beside a parent, while another adult gestures during conversation. In the background, a child participates in a sensory-friendly activity, and two women—including one using a wheelchair—review information on a tablet outdoors. The image represents connection, guidance, and real-world autism support across different ages, backgrounds, and disability experiences. Pathfinder's logo is on the top right of the image.

For many individuals and families, the journey with autism does not begin with a clear roadmap. It begins with questions. What does this mean? Where do we start? Who can help? Information is everywhere, but knowing what to do with that information is where many people get stuck. That’s where Tennessee Disability Pathfinder comes in.… Read more From Questions to Connection: Where Support Comes to Life

Discussing Autistic Traits

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
A wide horizontal illustration shows overlapping colorful profiles of people facing different directions, representing diverse perspectives and communication styles. Bright silhouettes in blue, orange, green, yellow, red, and gray are layered across the image, connected by dotted lines and floating icons such as hearts, light bulbs, and conversation bubbles. The flowing background transitions from blue to green, creating a sense of movement and dialogue. The image symbolizes varied ways of thinking, communicating, and understanding, reflecting respectful conversations about autistic traits and recognizing both strengths and support needs.

How we talk about autism matters. The words used to describe autistic traits can shape understanding, influence expectations, and impact how individuals are supported in everyday environments. Our partners at TRIAD have developed a thoughtful resource designed to help shift conversations toward language that reflects both strengths and support needs. The Discussing Autistic Traits tip… Read more Discussing Autistic Traits

When the Path Forward Isn’t Clear: Why the Right Information Matters

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
A scenic outdoor image showing three individuals traveling along a wide dirt path surrounded by tall green grass. The person in the center is using a wheelchair with “Tennessee Disability Pathfinder” printed on the back. The individuals on the left and right are walking beside the wheelchair user. The path leads toward rolling hills in the distance, with a warm golden sunset on the horizon. A circular Tennessee Disability Pathfinder compass logo appears in the sky above the hills.

  How Pathfinder walks with people, navigating complex situations, one question at a time. People often reach out to Pathfinder after they’ve tried everything they can think of. Search results conflict, eligibility language is dense, and “what to do next” isn’t obvious. Some are looking for developmental disability resources for the first time; others return… Read more When the Path Forward Isn’t Clear: Why the Right Information Matters

From our Communications Manager: Love Leads the Way, The Compass_February 2026

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP

Dear Friends of Pathfinder, February is often associated with love, and at Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, we believe love is most powerful when it moves us to action. Love shows up when we listen deeply, advocate persistently, and work to ensure individuals with disabilities and their families have access to the resources they need to live… Read more From our Communications Manager: Love Leads the Way, The Compass_February 2026

LOVE IN ACTION: Advocacy that Changes Lives

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Illustrated scene of a diverse group of people standing in a flower-filled field with mountains and a bright sunrise in the background. A glowing compass symbol appears in the center of the sky. Individuals hold signs that say ‘Love’ and ‘Support,’ while another raises a red heart. The group stands together in a gesture of unity and connection.

Advocacy means speaking up for your needs or the needs of someone you care about. To do that, people often need clear information and help finding the right place to start. Pathfinder does not provide advocacy services, but we help Tennesseans by connecting them to programs, tools, and organizations that support their needs as they… Read more LOVE IN ACTION: Advocacy that Changes Lives

Supporting What Matters through Financial Support Services

Posted on by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Flyer promoting the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder webinar titled “Navigating Financial Assistance Resources with Families First & SNAP.” The flyer includes the Pathfinder logo, event date and time, a photo of a family sitting together reading, presenter names, interpreter availability, and logos for Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The flyer highlights that the webinar will explain eligibility rules, application steps, and how Families First and SNAP support essential household needs. QR code with registration information is on bottom right of image.

When families in the disability community face financial pressures, having clear and trustworthy information can make an immediate difference. This upcoming webinar is designed to help families better understand two important financial support programs: Families First and SNAP. The webinar, Navigating Financial Assistance Resources with Families First & SNAP, will explain the newest eligibility requirements,… Read more Supporting What Matters through Financial Support Services