News
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June 2, 2023End of the Public Health Emergency & Information on Long COVID
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared that May 11, 2023 marked the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). You can find our blog post discussing the end of the PHE and its effect on access to certain governmental programs by clicking here. The White House released a […]
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May 31, 2023Let’s Talk About Mental Health
With Mental Health Awareness Month coming to an end, I wanted to reflect on what I learned, my experience with mental health, and share resources for you. A Brief Introduction May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and I found it to be particularly inspiring this year. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Jess […]
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May 18, 2023Brown v. Board of Education
In 1954, the Supreme Court declared that “separate but equal” was unconstitutional, paving the way for the Civil Rights Act. At Disability Rights Tennessee, we recognize today as monumental, not only for Black rights in the United States but also for disability rights. This decision laid the groundwork for an integrated public education for all […]
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May 18, 2023Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
The Asian American and Pacific Islander community has played a significant role in U.S. History. Today, we celebrate them, bring awareness to AAPI people with disabilities, and share resources. History of AAPI Heritage Month The month of May has been designated as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month since 1990, focused on celebrating the […]
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May 11, 2023The End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared that May 11, 2023 marks the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the United States government declared a “Public Health Emergency” that changed the way government programs were accessed, and more. The […]
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March 16, 2023Tennessean | “Tennessee child advocates raise alarm as GOP moves to dissolve child advocacy commission”
View original article here. Melissa Brown and Josh Keefe, Nashville Tennessean (Published March 16, 2023) Multiple Tennessee child advocacy experts say they are alarmed by a sudden move from a top-ranking legislative Republican to dissolve an independent children’s advocacy commission and distribute its responsibilities to other state agencies. Senate Majority Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, was set […]
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February 28, 2023All Well and Good: Sharing the Story of Haben Girma
By Freeman World, M.Div How does she communicate? How does she get around? How… how does she do life? These were just a few of the questions that came to mind when I learned the story of Haben Girma. Born deaf and blind in Oakland, CA, to immigrant parents from Africa, Girma is a lawyer […]
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January 6, 2023Willowbrook 51 Years Later: A look at history and modern advocacy
A 1972 exposé by Geraldo Rivera exposed the revolting conditions at the Willowbrook State School, a facility for youth with intellectual disabilities, in Staten Island, New York. The abuse and neglect revealed by this report led to national outcry, successful legal action, and the establishment of a federally mandated network of legal advocacy agencies protecting the rights of persons with disabilities (the Protection & Advocacy Network). 51 years since the exposé’s release, Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agencies, like Disability Rights Tennessee (DRT), are continuing this critical work of investigating conditions of abuse and neglect, reporting these findings, and advocating for workable solutions.
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December 20, 2022Families Not Facilities: New Report on Embattled TN Department of Children Services
Families Not Facilities: Press Release Families Not Facilities: Full Report For more information, contact: Lee Sherwood for Disability Rights Tennessee, 409-771-0098 (call/text) LeeS@DisabilityRightsTN.org Kathy Bonk for Youth Law Center, 202-234-6629 (cell/text) KathyBonk@Mac.com, Media Coverage: WPLN: “Problems at Tennessee DCS prompt advocates to call for reforms, with less emphasis on facilities” WKRN Nashville: “Nonprofits release solution-based […]