In today's episode, I chat with Cathlyn Smith and Emma Shouse of the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disability about the work done at the Council as well as the free upcoming leadership program "Partners in Policymaking".
The deadline for the application to join the program is March 31 and the goal of the program is to educate and empower persons with disabilities and their families on how to advocate for their needs and community. Learn more and apply at https://www.tn.gov/cdd/engage-with-us/partners-in-policymaking.html
2:30 What is the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disability
4:40 How is the Council different from other State agencies
6:35 What is the "Partners in Policy Making Program"
11:32 Details of the program
13:34 TABS ( Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters) A Chapter of the Sibling Leadership Network
15:00 Resources for the parents raising children with disabilities(TN): Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, Transitions Tennessee and ARC
18:00 Cathlyn (Cat) and Emma's Story
24:00 Closing Remarks
Bios:
Cathlyn Smith lives in Clarksville (since 2018). She lives in Nashville but grew up in a rural farming community in Arkansas. She went to undergraduate school in AR and graduate school in TN. She is the mother of a daughter who has a congenital and degenerative eye disease and is legally blind. Her daughter is a graduate of the Metro Nashville School System and a college graduate - she lives independently and is employed. She is also a classically trained vocalist.
Emma Shouse lives in Nashville, TN, and works for the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities as their Public Information Specialist. She has been with the Council since 2011 and supports the Council’s communications and outreach efforts. She also leads the Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters (TABS) statewide sibling support network (and the State chapter of the Sibling Leadership Network), launched by the Council and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center over a decade ago. She is passionate about this work because she has two younger brothers, one of whom has autism and other disabilities.
