The Arc of Tennessee, an affiliated chapter of The Arc of the United States, is proud to celebrate the national organization's 60 years of advocacy and service on behalf of people with I/DD and their families.

!!NEWS YOU CAN USE!!

Dear Staff and members of The Arc of Tennessee:

As many of you probably know, Governor Bredesen announced the use of rainy day funds to fund the Family Support Program at $7.1 million each year for the next two years during his budget presentation on Monday, February 1, 2010. The fact that he restored funding to this vital program is a testament to all the grassroots efforts that have been going on across the state to educate people on the importance of this program to individuals with disabilities. Anyone who was involved in this effort should take a moment to congratulate himself/herself and also to thank the Governor and his administration for putting Family Support into his budget. They need to hear our appreciation.

And though having the Governor use the rainy day funds to restore Family Support funding is a step in the right direction, we cannot afford to sit back and celebrate just yet. The legislators are working on the budget right now and we still need to let them to know how important it is to keep the Family Support funding in the final budget. Please continue to contact your legislators. Let them know how important the Family Support funding is to your family and what it does to help you and your loved ones. Continue sharing your stories.

Should you have any questions or concerns about the Family Support program or need assistance in speaking with your legislator, do not hesitate to contact us at office. We would be happy to assist you.

Sincerely, Carrie Hobbs Guiden, Executive Director

Go to http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/gov/state-of-the-state/ for links to Governor Bredesen's address.

Tennessee Voices- Op-ed Piece in Tennessean by Janet Shouse

Family Support Program Faces Big Cuts- Nashville WSMV Channel 4 News covers this story.

Disability Days on the Hill (DDH) provides a unique opportunity for people with disabilities, their families, and friends to engage our state’s policy makers. This year is particularly important because of the loss of the Family Support Program. It is crucial for our lawmakers to understand how important this program is to people with disabilities, and for them to be encouraged to restore funding to this cost-effective program.

Disability Days on the Hill 2010 will be at Legislative Plaza in Nashville from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm the following dates. Tours of the Capitol will be available at 1:00 pm on each day and last about 45 minutes.

Wednesday, February 24 for residents of West Tennessee

Wednesday, March 3 for residents of Middle Tennessee

Wednesday, March 10 for residents of East Tennessee

Dozens of disability agencies will be participating. The Arc of Tennessee will have a display table with helpful information and key talking point sheets to aid members in speaking with their legislators. Make your appointments with your legislators today! They know we are coming! To find your senator and representative go to http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/.

If you need more information about DDH or need help scheduling appointments, please call The Arc at 1-800-835-7077 or 615-248-5878.

Tennessee Family Support Alliance - The purpose of this Alliance is to voice our endorsement of one of Tennessee's most valued and effective statewide programs serving persons of all ages with a variety of severe disabilities, and providing essential support to their families and caregivers. Because of the current economic situation, problems with the reliability of the state's revenue sources, and the pending collapse of many of Tennessee's vital health and human service initiatives, this important program is under imminent threat. Membership in the Alliance is open to anyone.

The Arc of Washington County is seeking applicants for Executive Director. Bachelor's degree with 10 years minimum experience or Master's degree with minimum five years successful experience in management and leadership in disability/advocacy services. Submit resume, three reference letters and cover letter with salary requirements to arc.ed.search@gmail.com.

UnitedHealthcare Grants - Families struggling with the medical bills of children with special needs may get help from the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF). The nonprofit offers grants of up to $5,000 for [but not limited to] speech language treatment, audiology, and hearing aids--not fully covered by health insurance. There are some age, income, and residential qualifiers. For more information, visit Children's Foundation Inc.

Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People with Disabilities - The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a report calling on federal, state and local authorities to make sweeping changes in emergency management practices for people with disabilities. Emergency Preparedness

Overcoming Disabilities Series -

Joshua's Pet Treat Bakery Story on Fox 17 News

Pet Treat Bakery Website

Overcoming Disabilities-Part 2 on Fox 17 News

Overcoming Disabilities-Part 3 on Fox 17 News

ArcLink Roommates - Roommates is a new tool now available for Tennessee citizens with intellectual disabilities already receiving residential funding from DIDS to be able to, along with their family, friends, Independent Support Coordinator or Residential Provider, enter information about themselves in order to search for and locate one or more potential roommates. This is a safe website that does not list personal details. You can access the web site by going to The Arc Link. Click on the "Roommates" tab at the top of the page and then click on "Sign Up". Fill out the brief "application" and submit for approval. You can expect an approval within a day or two of your request. Once you are approved for the website you can enter your information and/or do a search for a potential housemate of two. If you have any questions about the web site or how it might help you or someone you know please feel free to contact Barbara DeBerry or phone 615-253-6888.  

The Arc of Tennessee

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.