DDA

"Everyday is a Saturday for me!"

We're wrapping up Older Americans Month with a spotlight on the Roby Fitzgerald Adult Center! At the Roby, there's something to do for everyone, and in an area where more than 60% of the population is over 50, it's a hub for the community in Greeneville, TN!

Thank you to all of the senior centers making a difference in the lives of older adults! The work you do is important, and we're so grateful for what you bring to the table!

Join FRIENDS TriCities Down syndrome Support Group on June 13, 2026, for their 3rd annual Camp FRIENDShip! The fun will be to infinity and beyond! This is a one-of-a-kind summer camp experience for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The goal is to provide a summer camp experience for our region's youth and young adults (alongside family and friends), offering authentic opportunities for campers to grow in self-confidence, independence, make friends, explore, and learn new activities. We hope you’ll join us! Click here to register (registration closes this Sunday, May 31st). 

TN DDA's Division of Program Innovation and Signal Centers are proud to partner to provide a Technology First for Independence Digital Literacy Webinar Series. Tech Fridays are virtual, hands-on workshops designed to help seniors and adults with intellectual disabilities build confidence using everyday technology. Participants learn practical skills, like navigating smartphones, using voice tools, and exploring assistive devices, that support independence at home and in the community. Classes are interactive, with opportunities to practice skills in real time and receive one-on-one guidance. Participants can join at any time and grow their skills at their own pace from the comfort of home. Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CST | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EST Location: - Zoom

Register today by clicking here!

The Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) is seeking an IDD Program Specialist 3, Middle Benefits Coordinator. This preferred service position is under the direct supervision of the Benefits Program Manager, within the Division of Program Innovation. The Middle Benefits Coordinator provides counseling and assistance to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) on benefits such as Social Security, Subsidized Housing, SNAP, TANF, Medicaid and other medical benefits, unemployment, etc. The Middle Benefits Coordinator will support Employment First initiatives by dispelling myths and misconceptions about work and benefits and educating stakeholders about how working impacts benefits.

This position is located in Davidson County and has the potential for Alternative Work Space (AWS) options. Interested candidates should apply on DOHR’s website by following this link: https://www.tn.gov/careers/apply-here.html; Job ID 78055.

The Department of Disability and Aging is proud to recognize the individuals and community partners whose dedication, compassion, and excellence enrich the lives of older adults across Tennessee. Each year, we honor those whose work, leadership, and spirit reflect the very best of our aging network. We invite you to submit nominations in the following categories:

Courage in Aging Award

Spirit of Aging Award  

Advocacy in Aging Award  

Trusted Partner in Aging Award  

Excellence in Aging Programming Award  

Reframing Aging Award  

Volunteer Impact Award

If you know someone whose commitment deserves to be celebrated, please take a moment to complete the electronic nomination form. Your submission helps us honor those making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we serve.

The final date to submit your nomination is July 17th.  Award winners will be recognized at the Tennessee State Conference on Aging in September! TN State Conference on Aging – Award Nomination Form:

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

Introducing the Employment Success Forum!

We’re excited to launch a new space dedicated to sharing ideas, strategies, and resources around job coaching, job development, benefits counseling, and workforce trends. This forum will bring together frontline supervisors, employment specialists, job coaches, and job developers to discuss:

Best practices in job coaching

Employer engagement and job development strategies

Overcoming barriers to employment

Emerging workforce trends and opportunities

Why join?

Network with professionals in the field

Gain actionable insights to support job seekers

Collaborate on innovative solutions for workforce challenges

HSRI and Advancing States are happy to announce that the National Core Indicators – Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD™) 2024-2025 National Report has been released. For the last ten years, NCI-AD has partnered with states to gather data on the experiences of people using long-term services and supports across the US. NCI-AD is a comprehensive source of data on older adults and people with physical disabilities using publicly funded supports. In 2024-25, NCI heard from over 20,000 people in 24 states, including individuals using HCBS waivers, nursing facilities, PACE, and Older Americans Act programs. Some key takeaways from the report are described below. Access to community: 92% of respondents say they always have transportation to get to medical appointments, while 73% always have transportation to do things they want outside of the home. About 2 in 3 respondents (68%) take part in activities they like to do as much as they want. Relationships: Nearly all respondents (95%) say they are always able to see or talk to friends or family when they want. At the same time, nearly 1 in 5 (17%) say they often feel lonely. Health and Access to Health Care: The vast majority of respondents have access to healthy foods (89%), mental health services if they want them (89%), and physical exams/wellness visits in the past year (87%). Nevertheless, 2 in every 5 respondents (42%) went to the emergency room in the past year, and 1 in 4 (26%) stayed overnight in a hospital or rehab/nursing facility in the past year. Overall, just 14% describe their health as excellent or very good. Workforce: As staffing shortages at provider agencies continue, many LTSS users report using family members to provide support. In fact, 2 in 5 people (40%) say that a paid family member or friend is the person who helps them most often. Further, 22% of respondents say that their paid staff change too often. Services meet needs: The data suggest that publicly-funded services are making a positive difference, with 89% saying that services and supports help them live the life they want. However, there is still some room for improvement, as 3 in 4 people surveyed (72%) say that their services meet all needs and goals, and among those with unmet needs (such as personal care, home care, and transportation), just over half (55%) say their case manager talked with them about services to help with unmet needs. For the last 10 years, state AD agencies have worked tirelessly to measure the quality of their systems and have used NCI-AD data to determine areas for improvement. NCI urges partners to continue to use these data in conversations with policymakers and community members to inform decisions around Medicaid program quality improvement. HSRI and Advancing States will continue working closely with state partners to identify opportunities to strengthen service delivery systems and meet the needs of the AD population.

TN DDA's Division of Program Innovation and Signal Centers are proud to partner to provide a Technology First for Independence Digital Literacy Webinar Series. Tech Fridays are virtual, hands-on workshops designed to help seniors and adults with intellectual disabilities build confidence using everyday technology. Participants learn practical skills, like navigating smartphones, using voice tools, and exploring assistive devices, that support independence at home and in the community. Classes are interactive, with opportunities to practice skills in real time and receive one-on-one guidance. Participants can join at any time and grow their skills at their own pace from the comfort of home. Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CST | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EST Location: - Zoom

Register today by clicking here!

S’mores, the outdoors, and enabling tech... that’s the magic of DDA’s Power Up Technology Camp! We had an absolute blast at Henry Horton State Park, blending nature with hands-on innovation. A huge thank you to our fantastic Innovation Team for making this event a success once again. We’re already excited for next year’s camp in West Tennessee!

Introducing the Employment Success Forum!

We’re excited to launch a new space dedicated to sharing ideas, strategies, and resources around job coaching, job development, benefits counseling, and workforce trends. This forum will bring together frontline supervisors, employment specialists, job coaches, and job developers to discuss:

Best practices in job coaching

Employer engagement and job development strategies

Overcoming barriers to employment

Emerging workforce trends and opportunities

Why join?

Network with professionals in the field

Gain actionable insights to support job seekers

Collaborate on innovative solutions for workforce challenges