Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Rise to Work An Insider’s Look at Disabilities and Employment ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [The Dignity of Risk](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/the-dignity-of-risk/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the - [Changing Communities](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/changing-communities/) - What Is a Changing Community? Communities are an important player in increasing access to employment opportunities for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Young people can contribute to their surrounding communities in positive ways, particularly when they feel empowered and supported. Communities benefit from having young people with IDD thrive as active members. Communities are - [Transition Planning](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/transition-planning/) - What Does High-Quality Transition Assessment and Planning Mean? During high school, students, educators, families, and other members of the educational team begin the important task of developing a transition plan outlining the student's postsecondary goals (see box) along with the educational services, supports, and linkages that will help him or her achieve those goals. Age-appropriate - [Teaching Skills](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/teaching-skills/) - What Skills are Important to the Success of Young People with Disabilities in the Workplace? Certain work-related skills and attitudes are important for almost any job. In fact, there is already considerable agreement abut the range of social, vocational, and self-determination skills that can contribute to success in the workplace and predict future employment (Carter - [When Advocacy Efforts Find a Receptive Ear and Heart](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/when-advocacy-efforts-find-a-receptive-ear-and-heart/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the Vanderbilt - [Will ECF CHOICES Let a Parent Serve As Their Child’s Support Worker?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/will-ecf-choices-let-a-parent-serve-as-their-childs-support-worker/) - By Janet Shouse Years ago when I first heard the term “Medicaid waivers,” and people began trying to explain this very complex system of getting supports and services for people with disabilities, I thought there is no way I am ever going to learn all the intricacies of these waivers. Then I began to work - [As We Mark 10 Years as an Employment First State, It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Our Rise to Work Blog](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/as-we-mark-10-years-as-an-employment-first-state-its-time-to-say-goodbye-to-our-rise-to-work-blog/) - By Janet Shouse Tennessee officially celebrated 10 years as an Employment First State this month! For many of us, this is a huge milestone. Being an Employment First State means focusing on the idea that all individuals, including those with the most significant disabilities, are capable of participation in competitive, integrated employment and community life - [What is the Employment and Community First CHOICES Waiver (Part 1)?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-the-employment-and-community-first-choices-waiver-part-1/) - By Janet Shouse First of all, what is a Medicaid Waiver? And why is it important to people with disabilities? Many people with disabilities receive their health care through TennCare, our state’s Medicaid agency, but being on TennCare and being on a Medicaid Waiver are two very different things. Medicaid provides both medical and non-medical - [Supporting Young People on the Autism Spectrum: Setting and Pursuing Self-Determined Goals ](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/supporting-young-people-on-the-autism-spectrum-setting-and-pursuing-self-determined-goals/) - By Beth Malow Whether it is health-related goals, like starting a diet or exercise program, or looking for a dream job, it is challenging for any of us to set goals that matter to us and to maintain the motivation to follow up. We may have set goals in the past and had things turn - [Individual Placement and Support Helps Those with Mental Illness Get, Keep Jobs](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/individual-placement-and-support-helps-those-with-mental-illness-get-keep-jobs/) - By Janet Shouse and Mark Liverman Generally, when we think about employment of people with disabilities, we think about people with physical disabilities or those who are blind or deaf. Working at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, much of our work is focused on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One group, however, is too often - [What is “Enabling Technology”? How Can It Help People with Disabilities?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-enabling-technology-how-can-it-help-people-with-disabilities/) - By Debra Payne About the Author Debra Payne is the commissioner of the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She began her career as a volunteer at Clover Bottom Developmental Center when she was 14 years old, and then, after graduating from Middle Tennessee State University, came back to work at the center as a - [Find Out How the MAPs Program Helps Teens, Young Adults Gain Greater Independence](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/find-out-how-the-maps-program-helps-teens-young-adults-gain-greater-independence/) - By Jason Camperlino Independence is a skill developed over time by finding pathways to tools, tips, and resources that support the life we want to live. That tool may be as simple as a note on your mirror to remind you to do something or an app on your phone or tablet to help you - [Rise to Work: An Insider's Look at Disabilities and Employment](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/blog-2/) - About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, - [Dyersburg State Offers Tennessee’s First Inclusive Higher Education Program at a Community College](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/dyersburg-state-offers-tennessees-first-inclusive-higher-education-program-at-a-community-college/) - By Janet Shouse Last year, Tennessee began to offer grants to colleges and universities in our state to create more inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities or to enhance existing programs. The grant program, which launched last August through the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, is called Tennessee Believes. - [State Kicks Off ‘Model Employer’ Effort With ‘This is Me’ Campaign](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/state-kicks-off-model-employer-effort-with-this-is-me-campaign/) - By Sundi Wright When the State as A Model Employer (SAME) bill passed in May 2021, the Department of Human Resources was placed in charge of putting the program into effect. Since I was new to state government, having just started in April 2021, I had to become familiar with the bill and what it - [Bringing a New ‘World’ to Training for Job Readiness Through Virtual Reality](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/bringing-a-new-world-to-training-for-job-readiness-through-virtual-reality/) - By Carrie Brna and Keivan Stassun Editor’s note: Many of you may know way more about today’s topic than I do because you or your children play video games or you’ve experienced other types of virtual reality. For those of us who aren’t as familiar, virtual reality is a computer-generated “world” with scenes and objects - [What is Medicaid Alternative Pathways to Independence? And Who Does the Program Help?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-medicaid-alternative-pathways-to-independence-and-who-does-the-program-help/) - By Jeremy Norden-Paul The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities recently announced a new program called MAPs, which stands for Medicaid Alternative Pathways to Independence. If you missed the MAPs presentation on March 22, you can watch a recording by clicking here and view the slides by clicking here. So, what is MAPs, who is - [Should You Disclose Your Disability to Your Employer?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/should-you-disclose-your-disability-to-your-employer/) - By Lauren Steinbacher Disclosing a disability to an employer is a controversial and personal topic. Fears of revealing one's disability can lead to anxiety and uncertainty. Frequent questions people ask themselves are “Will my employer accept me for me?” “Will my employer still want me as an employee if they know?” “Will my co-workers treat - [What is an Occupational Diploma?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-an-occupational-diploma/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the - [Employment and Community First CHOICES (Part 5)](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/employment-and-community-first-choices-part-5/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats - [Employment and Community First CHOICES (Part 4)](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/employment-and-community-first-choices-part-4/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the - [So What Services are Available with Employment and Community First CHOICES? (Part 3)](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/so-what-services-are-available-with-employment-and-community-first-choices-part-3/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the - [Employment and Community First CHOICES (Part 2)](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/employment-and-community-first-choices-part-2/) - By Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the - [What is the Employment and Community First CHOICES Waiver Program? (Part 1)](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-the-employment-and-community-first-choices-waiver-part-1-2/) - About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many hats at the Vanderbilt - [Supported Decision-Making: An Alternative to Conservatorship](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/supported-decision-making-an-alternative-to-conservatorship/) - By Lorri Mabry and Janet Shouse About the Author Janet Shouse is a parent of a young adult with autism, and she is passionate about inclusion, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, advocacy, and the intersection of faith and disability. She wears many - [The Basics of Tennessee’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/the-basics-of-tennessees-vocational-rehabilitation-program/) - About the Author Paula Knisley is the director of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Paula has a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education and a Master’s degree in Blind Rehabilitation/Orientation & Mobility. She has worked for Tennessee state government for more than 29 years in a variety of positions related - [Why an Autism Diagnosis Can Be Important to a Teen or Adult](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/why-an-autism-diagnosis-can-be-important-to-a-teen-or-adult/) - I have, on a number of occasions, talked with parents who have an adolescent or young adult who is verbal and has done relatively well academically with an IEP, but has never received a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder despite parental or professional suspicions. These parents often say, “Why bother to get a diagnosis - [Eleanor Lives Next Door](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/eleanor-lives-next-door/) - By Donna Goodaker About the Author For more than 20 years, Donna has been the executive director at Progress Inc., a Nashville nonprofit providing a continuum of supports for adults with intellectual and other disabilities to allow the most independent life possible. Lon- time Nashville resident and mother to two grown sons, she believes in kindness, - [Making the Case for SSI Eligibility When Your Child Has Autism](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/making-the-case-for-ssi-eligibility-when-your-child-has-autism/) - By Cindy Gardner About the Author Cindy Gardner is an attorney focused on serving families with special needs throughout Tennessee, including special needs trusts and conservatorships. She is a partner in the Special Needs Law Center (Maurer & Gardner, PLLC). She has served on the boards of The Arc Tennessee and The Arc of Davidson - [ECF CHOICES Opens 2 New Groups for Those with IDD and Significant Mental/Behavioral Health Concerns](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/ecf-choices-opens-2-new-groups-for-those-with-idd-and-significant-mental-behavioral-health-concerns/) - By Amber Cockings About the Author Amber Cockings is the director of Employment and Community First CHOICES program at TennCare. She has worked with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since her college days, and she has been a case manager, a van driver, a direct support professional, a program director for various services, as - [What is Disability Identity Development, and Why is That Important?](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-disability-identity-development-and-why-is-that-important/) - By Carlyn Mueller, Brad Minotti and Anjali Forber-Pratt Ask any person with a disability: When was the moment when they were told, either openly or indirectly, that they were “different” in some way? Each person will have a different answer, story, or way of understanding their disability. This is one way of beginning to understand - [What is the Alternate Academic Diploma, and Why Would a Student Want One? ](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/what-is-the-alternate-academic-diploma-and-why-would-a-student-want-one/) - By Alison Gauld “What? Another diploma? We already have three others—the regular diploma, the occupational diploma, and the special education diploma.” This was probably your first reaction upon hearing about the newest Tennessee diploma, the alternate academic diploma (AAD). The answers to these questions are found in the history of the diploma’s development as well - [Affordable Housing Often Hard to Find; Here are Some Ways to Start the Search](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/affordable-housing-often-hard-to-find-here-are-some-ways-to-start-the-search/) - By Arthur Ford One of the most vulnerable groups of people who are directly affected by this trend in the housing market are those with disabilities. Finding an accessible, safe, and affordable place to live is ideal but often difficult to attain. SSI and SSDI benefits are typically not enough income to cover market rent, ## Pages - [Blog Archives](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/) - Blog Archives (newest first) As We Mark 10 Years as an Employment First State, It's Time to Say Goodbye to Our Rise to Work Blog Find Out How the MAPs Program Helps Teens, Young Adults Gain Greater Independence Dyersburg State Offers Tennessee's First Inclusive Higher Education Program at a Community College State Kicks Off 'Model - [About the Author](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/rise-author/) - Janet Shouse is a parent of a young autistic adult, and she is passionate about community living, employment of people with disabilities, medical issues related to developmental disabilities, supports and services, public policy, legislative initiatives, and advocacy. She wears many hats at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. She served for several years as a disability employment ## Categories - [Rise to Work Archive](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/category/rise-to-work-archive/) - [Getting to Work](https://www.tennesseeworks.org/category/getting-to-work/)