News
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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 […]
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November 29, 2022Celebrating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: IDEA
On November 29th, we celebrate the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the impact it has had in ensuring students with disabilities have the equal opportunity for an appropriate education. What is IDEA? The IDEA, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a very important law that ensures children with disabilities are provided […]
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November 10, 2022New assessment aims at accessibility in marketing
View original article here. KATELYNN WHITE NOV 3, 2022 Nashville content marketing firm Crayons & Marketers has launched a diversity and inclusion marketing assessment helping brands target all audiences, including individuals with disabilities. According to founder and chief marketing strategist Jacqueline Hayes, the study asks a broad range of questions that touch on various types […]
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November 2, 2022DIDD Launches MAPs Program in Middle Tennessee
Program supports young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and travel independently
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October 20, 2022DEAL 2022 Sponsors
Thank you to our 2022 Disability Employment Awareness Luncheon (DEAL) sponsors that make our event possible
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October 15, 2022Celebrating Marlene Sallo, NDRN’s new Executive Director
On October 16, 2022, Marlene Sallo will become the first woman, first Latina, and first person with a disability to be appointed as Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Disability Rights Tennessee (DRT) is delighted to honor Marlene and her lifelong commitment to advocacy.