Working with You! Working for You!

Four statewide organizations in Tennessee partner with one another and with individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members to ensure that they receive the services and supports they need and jointly they take part in planning those services. Together we are working to promote principles of

• Independence
• Integration
• Self-Determination
• Inclusion
• Productivity

Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee (DLAC)

Each state has a Protection & Advocacy System to empower, protect, and advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities. DLAC advocates for the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to be productive and respected members of our society.

Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities

Each state has a Council whose key functions are systems change, capacity building, and advocacy. The Tennessee Council accomplishes these aims through public policy collaboration, community building, a grant program, leadership development, and public awareness.

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDDs)

This network of 64 centers in every U.S. state and territory supports interdisciplinary training, exemplary services, research, and dissemination of information. This network is coordinated by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Tennessee is one of the few states that has two Centers for Excellence:

• University of Tennessee Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities
• Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• AUCD Health Reform Information

Tennessee Disability Pathfinder provides free information and referral and a searchable web directory of Tennessee services and supports.

Tennessee Featured Projects

• Community Treatment and Services Center in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• Projects of National Significance Partnerships in Employment Systems Change

National Network

This national network of State Councils, Protection and Advocacy, and University Centers for Excellence is supported by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Health and Human Services.

Developmental Disabilities

A developmental disability is a condition that is significant and ongoing, begins before age 22, and substantially limits functioning in daily activities of living. Examples include autism, brain or spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, intellectual disabilities (mental retardation), Prader-Willi syndrome, spina bifida, Williams syndrome. The Network also serves persons with all types of disabilities, including those whose disabilities occur after age 22.