The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (VKC UCEDD) will host its annual Educate to Advocate Public Policy Workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. CT. This year’s event will once again be virtual to allow for participants across the state to take part. Click here to register for the Zoom link.
Whatever our perspective – trainees and students, researchers, health care professionals, service providers, educators, individuals with disabilities or family members, or simply concerned citizens – we see ways that the disability service system can be improved. One dimension of changing service systems is educating legislators and other public policy makers.
This virtual workshop will feature stories and strategies from disability advocates, hot topics in state and federal disability policy, and information on the upcoming 2022 Disability Day on the Hill (DDH) and Disability Policy Seminar.
Educate to Advocate is presented in collaboration with the UT Health Science Center UCEDD, the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Tennessee Disability Coalition, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.
This year’s workshop will begin with a conversation between DD Council public policy director Brian Keller and Council members Chrissy Hood and Roddey Coe about building relationships with lawmakers. Hood and Coe have worked closely with their elected representatives to sponsor the Universal Changing Tables Bill, which is under consideration for review during this year’s session of the Tennessee Legislative Assembly.
Next, Tennessee Disability Coalition coordinator of Government and External Affairs Jeff Strand will give a rundown of bills and government action to watch for in Tennessee this year. Strand will share this year’s plans for Disability Days on the Hill and its 2022 theme, TeamWork TN, as many elements have gone virtual, Parent advocate Tamara Tuckson will then share her experience participating in Disability Day on the Hill, and the two will discuss how advocacy might be different when done virtually versus in-person.
Finally, AUCD director of Public Policy Cindy Smith, J.D., will speak on legislative highlights at the Federal level, and how Tennesseans can get involved. Smith will also share information about this year’s Disability Policy Seminar, taking place Mar. 28-30 in Washington, D.C. Educate to Advocate will conclude with a Q&A session and a brief synopsis of the information shared over the hour.
Tennessee Disability Coalition staff are currently assembling virtual legislative team meetings to prepare disability advocates to meet with their respective lawmakers about policy that is important to them. These meetings will be scheduled from Feb. 21 through Mar.7. RSVP to join an advocacy team in your area. Additional information about and links for regional Facebook groups may be found on the Coalition’s DDH webpage.
For more information about Educate to Advocate, visit the VKC Events Calendar page or email kc@vumc.org. For more information about the VKC’s involvement in public policy throughout the year, click here.