Category: July 2025

A Messager from our Information & Referral Coordinator

Posted on by April Meredith
A digital graphic introducing April Meredith, a Information & Referral Coordinator for Tennessee Disability Pathfinder. The design has two orange curved background with April's smiling portrait in a rounded rectangular frame on the left. Her name is written in a white, elegant font below her image, and to the right, there is text reading "A message from our Information & Referral Coordinator." The Tennessee Disability Pathfinder logo, featuring a gold-rimmed compass, is placed in the top right corner.

Dear Friends of Pathfinder, Happy Disability Pride Month! As we honor this occasion and commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are excited to embrace our theme: Proud. Informed. Empowered: A New Year for Disability Access and Advocacy. Although we celebrate every July, 2025 has brought extra challenges, reminding Tennessee Disability… Read more A Messager from our Information & Referral Coordinator

Taking Pride in Pathfinder’s New Website Features

Posted on by Megan Hart
Digital image of Pathfinder's website front page with Two women siting together on a bus seat. One has dark brown skin and is wearing natural hair with a green hooded pullover, the other is a brunette and is resting her head on the other woman's shoulder. They both are smiling.

As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, my team and I are proud of the role the Pathfinder website plays in supporting part of this year’s theme of “informing” and “empowering” individuals with disabilities. To continue serving as a premier hub of disability information, our website continues to evolve with new features, making it easier for… Read more Taking Pride in Pathfinder’s New Website Features

VKC TRIAD, Vanderbilt Consortium LEND present two new toolkits on Cognitive Behavioral/Instructional Strategies for Autistic Students

Posted on by Elizabeth Turner
A banner from Vanderbilt Kennedy Center announces two new toolkits: Cognitive Behavioral Strategies for Autistic Students (Elementary) with an image of kids in a classroom, and (Adolescent) with a teen and adult working together.

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) is proud to share two new toolkits and online courses. These educational resources were created by the VKC’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) and the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Training Program. Cognitive Behavioral/Instructional Strategies (CBIS) are interventions based on the simple principle… Read more VKC TRIAD, Vanderbilt Consortium LEND present two new toolkits on Cognitive Behavioral/Instructional Strategies for Autistic Students

From Isolation to Insight: An Autistic Advocate’s Journey

Posted on by Ricki Hurtado
textured light bluish gray background with an image of a melanated woman with curly hair wearing a blue jean jacket and jeans crouched in a corner with her eyes closed behind a brown door and in front of a window with text that says, "ISOLATION." On the right of the image are 3 white arrows facing right to a puzzle piece lightbulb. Above the light bulb to its left is a text bubble with the text, "insight."

When I received my autism diagnosis at 18, I was told it didn’t change anything. “You are more than your autism,” my therapist, family, and teachers repeated over the years. But it wasn’t a surprise to me. I had always known I was different. I struggled to fit in, but because I excelled academically and… Read more From Isolation to Insight: An Autistic Advocate’s Journey

Spotlight – July 2025

Posted on by Jolene Sharp
A website banner for the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities highlights Spotlight: DD Network’s Joint Needs Assessment in large red and white text. Menu and navigation options are visible at the top.

Joint Needs Assessment: What We’ve Learned for the Work Ahead By Jolene Sharp, Chief Strategy Officer, TN Council on Developmental Disabilities Tennessee’s Developmental Disabilities Network has made national history with its just-completed joint needs assessment. What does that really mean for Tennessee’s disability community? First, some background: The Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network exists in every… Read more Spotlight – July 2025

ConnectAbility – July 2025

Posted on by Pathfinder
colorful cartoon graphic image with different people of different abilities, colors, etc. surrounding a globe with text "ConnectAbility." Quote bubbles around the image near the people figures say "Support, Access, Empower, Language, Educate, Engage." On the top left of the image in a blue circle is the disability symbol. On the top right of the image is Pathfinder's logo. And text on the top center of the image says, "RESOURCES."

Navigating resources can be difficult, but differences in abilities, culture, and language can make it even more challenging. By bridging these differences, we aim to emphasize the connection to the necessary resources and support. We’re highlighting programs and sharing resources that address these challenges, fostering greater opportunities to utilize disability resources and creating stronger connections… Read more ConnectAbility – July 2025

Resource Corner – July 2025

Posted on by Pathfinder
Green and centered white color block background image with light green sunburst on the right side of the image. Text in the white color block "Resource Corner." On the top left of the image is a circular framed photo of Pathfinder's website on a laptop screen. To the bottom right of the image is Pathfinder's branded graphic in a white circular frame. On the bottom right of image on a small white geometical shaped color block is text, "TNPathfinder.org."

Tennessee Disability Pathfinder offers a growing library of disability resources available at TNPathfinder.org. In addition to the growing directory of resources on Pathfinder’s website, here are some we’re highlighting this month. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the State of Tennessee has resources available. Regardless of income level or insurance… Read more Resource Corner – July 2025