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@tennessee_dda

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Supporting Tennesseans with disabilities and older adults to live the lives they envision for themselves. Message us to learn more about supports.

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I am currently looking for a job!

Not only do I want to do this, it’s also the sixth and final goal I need to do with the MAPs program. It is great that I have my own career with creating art and stories, but having a job in the real world is just as important ‘cause I need to be out in the community, learn a variety of skills that will help my grow, and earn an income.

I will also receive support from a job coach, and I really appreciate the opportunity I’ve gotten from the @tennessee_dda

#lookingforajob #thisisimportant #beingapartofthecommunity #learnnewskills #earnanincome

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This month’s episode of State of the Workforce focuses on creating meaningful employment opportunities for Tennesseans with disabilities. Hear from Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging Commissioner Brad Turner about the importance of employment, workplace support and helping people with disabilities build greater independence in their communities.

The episode also features Levi Armstrong, a Stockdale’s employee in Paris, Tennessee, and Lorena, a Medicaid Alternative Pathways participant who is building workplace and transportation skills while working at McDonald’s.

Watch the October episode during National Disability Employment Awareness Month: https://loom.ly/7ONWwys

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Family realities, managing the day to day, taking it all in stride and prioritizing the quality interaction that represents us.
We survive it all, we manage it all And we take it all step-by-step.

Misophonia is real = aversion to specific sounds.

In this case, chewing sounds when we are in any space. Even though there may be additional sounds, the effect of chewing and sounds that may be generated while eating really bother her.

And it's just very difficult, so she asks for space, and I give her the space, and we move on with life.

#autismacceptance #comorbidities

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🎙️ Season 13 may be over, but there’s still plenty to catch up on!

We’re looking back at some of the incredible guests who joined us on Waves of Awareness this season. From conversations about early intervention and person-centered practices to community partnerships and the people making a difference across Middle Tennessee, Season 13 brought us some amazing guests and conversations.

Swipe through to meet the headliners who joined us this season, then go back and catch up on any episodes you missed! 🎧

Season 14 returns next month, so now’s the perfect time to get caught up. See you there!

#WavesOfAwareness #Podcast #DisabilityInclusion #IDD #MiddleTN

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The SHORT Case Of The Day!
Previous root canal with apical surgery performed overseas. Patient was told teeth needed to be extracted and implants placed. She came to see me for a second opinion. We worked our magic 🪄

#drricoshort #VistaApexSolutions #endodontickeysandcases #bioceramicsandwich #endodontics

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Our latest Waves of Awareness episode is here 💚

Amanda Brewer from the Tennessee Department of Disability & Aging joins John, Jeni, and Staci Davis for a conversation about person-centered support, self-advocacy, and the importance of listening to the people we support.

They talk about what person-centered practices can look like in everyday life—and how meaningful choice and greater independence can start with simply making sure people have a voice in their own lives.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube!

#Podcast #FranklinTN #TNDDA #DDA #PersonCenteredSupport

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To be 18 and a recipient of the Thrive Grant by @metroartsnash is just incredible!
This grant supports my project to build community, support people in their sensory space and allow art to bring peace to their lives.
Yes, a project that starts small and mighty and will grow and benefit many.

Thanks to everyone believing in me.
Immense thanks to @hapiarts Healing Arts Project Inc for saying yes so quickly and becoming my fiscal sponsor.

What a grand responsibility for all!

Let art thrive in our day to day!
The doors are open for youth like me to build their future!
So ready!

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Thank you to our awesome sponsors for helping make this #MegaConference the best yet!

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Men are statistically more likely to use substances and less likely to seek treatment. The reason is often the same: asking for help has been labeled as weakness.

We are here to rewrite that story.

Serenity Recovery Centers offers IOP Male Group Sessions every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM—a safe, judgment-free space built for men ready to take the next step.

🍃 Call us today.
(901) 521-1131 | serenityrecovery.org
1094 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38105

#MensMentalHealth #RecoveryIsPossible #SerenityRecovery

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🍃 Trauma does not always begin with us. Sometimes it is passed down through generations, shaping how families cope, communicate, and survive.

🍃 Generational trauma is one of the most overlooked contributors to substance use, especially in communities where mental health has been a taboo topic.

🍃 Healing is not just personal. It can be generational. At Serenity Recovery Centers, our trauma-informed care addresses the roots of addiction, not just the symptoms.

(901) 521-1131 | serenityrecovery.org
1094 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38105

#GenerationalHealing #RecoveryIsPossible #SerenityRecovery

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💚 We are deeply grateful to Redeemers Group for planning such a meaningful fundraiser and for choosing Serenity Recovery Centers as the recipient.

Your kindness and dedication to furthering our mission will have a long-lasting effect on the people and communities we serve. Because of your generosity, we can keep giving people in need hope, healing, and recovery.

💚With profound gratitude,
The Team at Serenity Recovery Centers

📍 1094 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38105
📞 (901) 521-1131 | serenityrecovery.org

#RecoveryIsPossible #LoveWell5K #SerenityRecoveryCenters

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An Associated Press investigation reports growing concern among disability advocates that recent federal policy changes could weaken inclusive education and community based supports. Critics fear shifting special education oversight and changing legal guidance could move the nation away from decades of progress toward equal opportunity and independent living.

Reading this is difficult because the divide does not begin when someone becomes an adult. It begins the day a child is diagnosed. Even in 2026, too many families still hear predictions instead of possibilities. Parents are told their child will never speak, never work, never live independently, or will eventually end up in an institution.

My mom heard something completely different almost fifteen years ago.

She was told, "You will play a huge role in your child's place in society."

That message changed everything.

Instead of mourning the future, my parents built one. They fought for therapies, learned about nutrition, searched for community, challenged schools and teachers, read everything they could, and kept introducing me to people who believed I belonged. They never assumed I could do everything, but they also refused to assume I could do nothing.

Looking at my life before turning eighteen, I see five self-published books, international exhibitions, speaking at the United Nations Science Summit #79, three appearances at NFT.NYC, artwork on the Moon with MoonMars Museum, and the beginning of a business designing sensory spaces. None of that happened because someone lowered expectations. It happened because my parents, few teachers, mentors, and community kept asking, "What is possible next?"

That is the conversation we need.

Not every person on the autism spectrum will follow the same path. Support needs are real and different for everyone. But predicting someone's future when they are three years old is not science. It is a limitation placed on a child before they have had the chance to grow.

These are scary times for anyone who is different. Rights that took decades to build should never be taken for granted. Inclusion is not charity. Opportunity is not a luxury.

I will keep creating.

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