It’s peak advocacy season for people with disabilities, which means Disability Day on the Hill (DDH) is just around the corner! The theme for DDH 2025 is “Liberty. Not Limits.”
But what exactly does that mean?
Let’s start with liberty. On its face, the concept of liberty can seem a little vague and broad. The dictionary definition for Liberty is “the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.” In the US Constitution, liberty is defined as “the right of individuals to be free from unreasonable government control.” It is a fundamental civil liberty that includes the freedom to make choices, pursue goals, and express oneself.
We believe that having a disability should not limit our liberty to live a life of our choosing. We are not defined by our disabilities, nor should our freedom to make choices, pursue goals, and express oneself be limited by them.
There are multiple ways you can get involved in DDH this year. We hope you join us as we show lawmakers that we should have Liberty. Not Limits., here in Tennessee.
Virtual options:
- DDH Legislative Webinar on February 27th at 1-2pm CT and 5:30-6:30pm CT
- Join us for a Legislative Webinar on February 27th. This is a great opportunity to hear from our Public Policy Director, Jeff Strand, about the bills we are working on to help improve the lives of Tennesseans with disabilities. We will host the same webinar twice, once at 1pm CT and once at 5:30pm CT.
- Disability Advocacy Day on March 11th – All Day!
- Another virtual option is to participate in Disability Advocacy Day. For the fifth year in a row, March 11th will be declared “Disability Advocacy Day” in Tennessee. 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 landmarks will, once again, light up “Coalition Blue” in support and solidarity. You can join in on the fun by wearing blue, finding Tennessee landmarks that are lit up, and even lighting up your own social media feed. (A list of participating landmarks will be available on our website closer to March 11th.)
In-person opportunities:
- TDC Community Party on March 11th at 5-7pm CT
- Join us in Nashville for the party of the year! The TDC Community Party is our opportunity to connect, network, and ultimately build community with other advocates from across the state. You may have also noticed that the Community Party is on Disability Advocacy Day this year. We are so excited to have the opportunity to celebrate our advocacy efforts together, in-person, for the first time. The Community Party is a family friendly event, so come out and bring the whole family with you. There will heavy appetizers (including kid-friendly options), drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and a dedicated sensory space…all the makings of a good party.
- Disability Day on the Hill on March 12th at 9am-2pm CT
- Disability Day on the Hill is held at the Cordell Hull Legislative Building in downtown Nashville. This is your chance to meet with your legislators and advocate! 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 will be releasing policy videos and other 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
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/250065890305050