DDA

HOW IT WORKS: PRECIOUS CARGO ACT

What if law enforcement had a little more information before a traffic stop began?

Tennessee Highway Patrol's Major Travis Plotzer explains how the Precious Cargo program helps officers better understand when a driver or passenger may need extra time or assistance.

The program is free, voluntary, and confidential—and it helps create safer, more understanding interactions for everyone involved.

Watch Major Plotzer explain how it works.

A QUICK REMINDER: Registration is open!

Don’t miss your chance to join us at DDA’s first‑ever Tennessee State Conference on Aging! You can be part of the event where national and community experts will come together to spark new ideas and strengthen support for older adults across Tennessee.

Reserve your spot today: https://bit.ly/4aiQmTk

When? Sep 9–10, 2026

Where? Murfreesboro, TN

More details: https://bit.ly/4gp2Qg0

This is a friendly reminder that all Supported Employment Quality Incentive Payment (SEQIP) requests for the January 2026- June 2026 reporting period are due no later than September 30, 2026.

Base tier payment is $1,500 (minimum 390 hours worked during the SEQIP period)

Top tier payment is $2,000 (minimum 520 hours worked during the SEQIP period)

You can find the SEQIP request form here:

TN DDA and SHIFT are proud to announce two exciting Employment First scholarship opportunities - one for individual professionals and one for provider organizations - each designed to expand access to quality education and build stronger Employment First systems across Tennessee.

For Individual Professionals:

If you currently work in—or are seeking to work in—employment services, this is your chance to strengthen your skills and earn a SHIFT Employment First Certification at no cost.

What the scholarship covers: Full tuition for SHIFT’s Employment First education and certification.

Visit SHIFT’s Employment First Education & Accreditation Project page to review the types of education offered prior to completing your organization’s application. *The EFJD course is ACRE approved.

How to Apply:

Review the organizational scholarship details and questions in advance.

Prepare thoughtful, thorough narrative responses (drafting in Word first is recommended).

Submit the Scholarship Application by July 31, 2026.

What We Look For:

Provide thoughtful, well-developed responses to each question (typically 3–6 sentences per prompt). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Selection:

A limited number of scholarships are available, and the selection process is competitive. Applicants are encouraged to submit thoughtful, detailed responses. We recommend reviewing all questions in advance and drafting your responses in a separate document, as partially completed forms cannot be saved. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.

Applications will be reviewed by SHIFT subject matter experts and will be consulted with DDA's Division of Program Innovation. Once the team has completed evaluation of all applications, applicants will be notified as to whether their organization has been selected for a scholarship.

For Provider Organizations:

What the scholarship covers: Education for staff at all levels of the organization - from direct support staff to employment specialists to organizational leadership.  Once all educational requirements are met, organizations will have the opportunity to apply for SHIFT’s Employment First Accreditation program.  Organizations accepted into the accreditation program will be partnered with subject matter experts to guide them through the process of developing the policies, procedures, systems, and processes rooted in standards and best practices. 

Visit SHIFT’s Employment First Education & Accreditation Project page to review the types of education offered prior to completing your organization’s application. 

How to Apply:

Review the organizational scholarship details and questions in advance.

Prepare thoughtful, thorough narrative responses (drafting in Word first is recommended).

Submit the Scholarship Application by July 31, 2026.

Selection:

A limited number of scholarships are available, and the selection process is competitive. Applicants are encouraged to submit thoughtful, detailed responses. We recommend reviewing all questions in advance and drafting your responses in a separate document, as partially completed forms cannot be saved. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.

Applications will be reviewed by SHIFT subject matter experts and will be consulted with DDA's Division of Program Innovation. Once the team has completed evaluation of all applications, applicants will be notified as to whether their organization has been selected for a scholarship.

Questions?

If you need assistance with the application or have other questions related to SHIFT's Education or Accreditation, please contact Beth Dyer - SHIFT's Education & Projects Coordinator - at [email protected].  

Contact Carrie Brna, State Director of Employment Innovation & Community Inclusion, at [email protected] regarding questions about the scholarship program offered by TN DDA.  

As a part of the Job Coach waiver service reauthorization process, Job Coach Fading Plans (which are required for DDA to continue funding job coaching) need to be reviewed and signed by the DDA Employment Innovation Coordinators prior to the service being reauthorized. To facilitate a smooth reauthorization process, providers will be required to send Job Coach Fading Plans to the Regional Employment Coordinator for review and approval at the email address listed below prior to the circle of support (COS) meeting for reauthorization of the service. This will be in effect as of August 1, 2026. If you need any assistance with completing the Job Coach Fading Plan or if you need a copy of the template, please get in touch with your regional Employment Coordinator or email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.

Statewide: [email protected]

East: [email protected]   

Middle: [email protected]   

It is that time of year again for all agencies who contract with DDA to provide services [including, but not limited to, 1915(c) waiver services, TEIS, Katie Beckett, Older Americans Act, MAPs, etc.] to fill out the annual Title VI Self Survey.

The Title VI Self-Survey can be found here: 2026 Title VI Survey 

This message is to inform all Providers that the DDA Legacy systems (PTS and PCP) will be officially decommissioned on July 1, 2026.

DDA must ensure all providers of 1915(c), Katie Beckett, CHOICES CLS/CLS-FM, and Employment and Community First services complete required criminal background and registry checks per the Aligned Background Check Protocol (effective July 1, 2024). Providers must conduct the following checks at hire and monthly thereafter:

All required checks were completed within the 30‑day pre‑contact window and monthly thereafter

Verification with DDA/TennCare was completed when required

Positive matches were reported immediately, and appropriate follow-up actions were taken

Noncompliance may result in sanctions or other remedial actions.

Documentation Requirements

Reviewers must be able to confirm the date each check was completed. To ensure dates are visible:

Enable headers/footers when printing, or

If no date appears, the staff member completing the check must sign and date it.

Backdating is not permitted. Checks without dates must be rerun at the time of the finding, which may result in a “late” determination.

Additional Resources

The “Qualified Provider Review and Monthly Registry Check Resource,” including optional tracking templates, is available under the Provider Resources tab at: https://www.tn.gov/disability-and-aging/about-us/divisions/office-of-quality-management/quality-assurance.html

Contact

There is an opening for a member spot on the East Planning and Policy Council (EPPC) available now! Please see the link below to apply:

The Tennessee Department of Revenue, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA), the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), and the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, is recognizing Disability Pride Month this July and raising awareness about the Precious Cargo program.

Precious Cargo is a free, voluntary program that allows Tennesseans to add a confidential note to a vehicle registration indicating that a driver or passenger may need assistance exiting their vehicle or communicating with law enforcement or a first responder during a traffic stop.

"Precious Cargo is a simple program that can make a meaningful difference for Tennessee families," Revenue Commissioner David Gerregano said. "We want more Tennesseans to know this resource is available."

"Every traffic stop is unique, but each one begins with the same priority: getting everyone home safely," Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long said. "The Precious Cargo program helps our law enforcement officers better understand the needs of the people they are serving. It is a simple, voluntary tool that can lead to better communication, greater understanding, and safer interactions for everyone involved."

"Traffic stops and unexpected emergencies are stressful for anyone,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis, “but they can be incredibly difficult for individuals with communication disorders, autism, or physical disabilities. Through education and programs like Precious Cargo, we are giving law enforcement the tools they need to recognize when a driver needs extra patience or unique assistance. We strongly encourage eligible Tennesseans to register and help us keep everyone safe."

“As the father of a daughter with a disability, I understand what so many parents and caregivers feel in high-stress or out-of-the-ordinary situations,” said DDA Commissioner Brad Turner. “The Precious Cargo program helps ease some of that tension by supporting understanding between families and law enforcement.”

"Awareness is key," said Lauren Pearcy with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. "Even the best new law does not matter if Tennesseans with disabilities do not know about it."

The program became law in 2021 and was expanded in 2024 to allow parents, caregivers, legal guardians, and conservators to request the designation on behalf of someone in their care.

To enroll, complete an application, have the medical section completed by a licensed medical professional, and submit it to your county clerk. For additional information, visit the Department of Revenue’s Precious Cargo website.

From Clinic to Classroom, there's always more to learn!

This Spring, Seating and Positioning Clinicians in East Tennessee met with East Tennessee State University Physical Therapy Students to share the impact of adaptive equipment, custom seating modifications, and a tour of the Mobile Clinic. The Mobile Clinic travels throughout East Tennessee to meet with clients of all ages and abilities. Medical equipment fabricators travel alongside clinicians to help make modifications, custom equipment and necessary repairs.

DDA's Quality Monitoring (formerly Quality Assurance) unit is seeking candidates for one position in Davidson County.

A new training option is available for Employment Service providers to complete the Supported Employment Manager or Frontline Supervisor credentialing requirements. These staff members may now meet these training requirements by earning a Job Developer credential AND attending one LTSS Employment Service Training session. *Previously accepted certificate options are still valid. Trainings will be held once a month throughout 2026.

July Training Details: 

We are pleased to announce an upcoming Behavior Support in The Workplace Training designed to enhance knowledge, skills, and strategies for supporting individuals with diverse behavioral needs.

This training will provide participants with practical tools and evidence-based approaches to:

Describe preventive measures that can be used to help control aberrant behavior in the workplace.

Describe a strategy that can be taught to the client so they can attempt to manage their own behavior.  

Describe a consequent strategy that can be used to decrease aberrant behavior in the workplace.  

See how task selection influences aberrant behavior.  

See how modifying a task can influence the client’s behavior at work.

Training Details: 

Date: July 14, 2026 Time: 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. CST  Location: Virtual Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/3v537syx Questions? Contact: [email protected]

This is a friendly reminder that all Supported Employment Quality Incentive Payment (SEQIP) requests for the January 2026- June 2026 reporting period are due no later than September 30, 2026.

Base tier payment is $1,500 (minimum 390 hours worked during the SEQIP period)

Top tier payment is $2,000 (minimum 520 hours worked during the SEQIP period)

You can find the SEQIP request form here: