Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities

The TN Council on Developmental Disabilities exists to improve services and supports to make life better for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The Council is a: -Bridge builder -Dot connector -Change maker We build bridges between the experiences of real people with disabilities and the policies and service systems that affect their lives. We see the big picture across government programs to help connect dots and fill gaps to meet real needs. We use these connections to make change toward greater inclusion, independence, and self-determination for people with disabilities in Tennessee. The Council sees the big picture, connects our state systems to each other and to real people’s experiences, and moves our entire disability services system toward the future people with disabilities want for themselves. Our focus is broad, covering the lifespan for Tennesseans with intellectual and other types of life-long disabilities that need support services. We are an independent agency within state government. Our work is informed by a diverse group of citizens directly experiencing disability, appointed by the governor as Council representatives from every region of the state. Policymakers from state agencies that oversee Tennessee’s disability programs and other partner agencies also serve on the Council. The Council is established by the federal Developmental Disabilities Act and by Tennessee Executive Order 50. In addition to Councils on Developmental Disabilities, the Developmental Disabilities Act ("DD Act") also created other partner agencies in every state and U.S. territory. These groups make up the state "DD Network" - state councils on developmental disabilities, protection and advocacy agencies, and university centers for excellence in developmental disabilities.