DDH Brainstorming Session 2

Strategies & Talking Points for Disability Day on The Hill 2023.

On February 16, 2023, we will be meeting from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.  to continue the discussion on strategies and talking points for Disability Day on The Hill 2023. Anyone is welcome to attend this follow up meeting. 

Doria Panvini will be also be attending this follow-up meeting. Doria will present the bills being considered for legislation during this session. The second hour will be a review of topics raised during our brainstorming session. This will be our opportunity to lobby on issues important to us. Those topics are listed below. You can email me at dave@autismtn.org if you have a topic you would like to add to our list and you intend to join us for our meeting on February 16, 2023. We will discuss how we will proceed on making these topics known to our legislators.

This meeting will be on zoom only.

Topics raised at our last brainstorming session:

• Access to consistent and reliable healthcare for adults.  Lack of PCPs and specialists that are able to provide care for autistic adults.
• Expanded access to therapies not currently recognized by the state of TN
• Transportation - availability and cost associated with reliable transportation is a barrier to many aspects of daily life.
• Lack of DSPs, high turnover rates
• Job coaches that are directly impacted by a related disability - example: a job coach with autism for a person with autism
• Special Education Advocacy
• Professional and social networking resources for autistic people

Please reach out to Dave Griffin at dave@autismtn.org if you have any questions.

Doria Panvini is a parent of a son with intellectual disability. Chris has Medicaid waiver services and is supported by Mid-TN Supported Living to live in his own home with staff supports. She chairs the Public Policy Committee of The Arc Tennessee and is on the Community Advisory Council for the UCEDD at Vanderbilt.