Developmental Disabilities

Tennessee Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to the Developmentally Disabled

The Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities created the Office of Developmental Disabilities (ODD) in 2003. ODD has the responsibility to develop policy and plans for providing services to support people with developmental disabilities and to determine eligibility for services funded by DMHDD.

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

Vocational Rehabilitation, a division of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, helps Tennesseans with disabilities, age 18 years and older, enter or re-enter employment in their home or community. Vocational Rehabilitation is a Federal/State-funded program providing services to help individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment. A listing of regional Vocational Rehabilitation offices can be found at their web site.

Sheltered Employment

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities uses CARF accreditation to accredit vocational facilities. CARF requires providers to conduct an annual comprehensive safety inspection, emergency procedures, personnel training on safety issues, and critical incident reporting, among other things.

Employment programs are funded by state government and federal grants to provide adults with developmental disabilities a range of vocational services including supported employment, vocational training and day vocational programs. The Department's goal is a comprehensive array of quality prevention, early intervention, treatment, habilitation and rehabilitation services and supports, allowing people to live in their own communities within settings based on the needs and choices of individuals and families served. To access services, contact the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities:

Competitive Employment

Supported Employment is competitive work in integrated work settings in which individuals are working toward competitive work, consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice of the individual. Contracts provide Supported Employment services through a number of facilities coordinated through Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health and Retardation. Employment opportunities are available to every person regardless of the severity of disability. Working in cooperation with the Division of Rehabilitation Services, an array of supports for employment are available.

Health and Safety

Consultative Services is a program offered to employers to assist them in achieving a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. Consultative Services offers both occupational safety and industrial hygiene services to manufacturing, construction, and other types of businesses in Tennessee. This no-cost service is designed to assist employers in developing or enhancing safety and health management systems.

The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Act (Title 50, Chapter 3) assures safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women throughout the state. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSHA) has the primary responsibility for administering the Act. TOSHA is charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing provisions of the Act in both the private and public sectors.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (TOSHA) (Title 50, Chapter 3) covers every Tennessee employer in a business, trade, commercial or industrial activity, which has one or more employees. Therefore, public employees are covered by this act. TOSHA does have a Public Sector section that deals with the health and safety of workers in the public sector.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Adult Protective Services staff investigate reports of abuse, neglect (including self-neglect) or financial exploitation of adults who are unable to protect themselves due to a physical or mental limitation. Adult Protective Services staff assess the need for protective services and provide services to reduce the identified risk to the adult. Adult Protective Services may assist an adult in any living arrangement including nursing homes, group homes, their own homes, homes of relatives or friends, etc. The exception is residents of state operated institutions for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. This exception became effective May 2001.

Protection and Advocacy

The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is a state office that promotes public policies to increase and support the inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities in their communities.

In 2005 the name "Tennessee Protection & Advocacy, Inc." was changed to the Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee (DLAC) to help the community understand more about what DLAC does and the community it serves. DLAC advocates for the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to be productive and respected members of our society. All people with disability related concerns are eligible for information and referral services. The toll free advocacy assistance unit handles all requests for services and all information referral services.