August 2023

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From the Council's Chief Public Information Officer

Dear readers,

My note will be short this month, because we have NEW MEMBERS for you to meet! If you follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn, you may have seen some local press about these new Governor appointments. This is a great group of folks, and we can’t wait for you to learn a bit more about them.

Our citizen members are the foundation of our work. They help us know where the gaps and barriers are, so we can work on real solutions for our state’s system of services. In our newest video, which you can watch at this link or embedded below, former member Roddey Coe and current member Martez Williams share their stories of real-world change through their roles on our Council.

And finally, happy new school year for those of you going to school or with school-age kids! My kiddos were thrilled to head into 5th and 8th grades. We have big transitions coming next year. As many of you know, that brings extra layers for our kiddos with disabilities. If students in your life need extra support, check out resources from our partners who do great work in special education:

Happy August!

Jolene Sharp
Chief Public Information Officer

New Council Members: Molly Anderson

Gov. Lee appointed Molly Anderson to represent the Southeast TN development district on the Council on Developmental Disabilities. She is a 2022 graduate of our Partners in Policymaking Leadership Institute.

“I got connected with the Council through my advocacy work,” Anderson said. “I was interested in the Council because it helps bring a systemic change.”

Anderson has a nonverbal disability and uses assistive technology and American Sign Language to communicate. She previously worked for the Arc of Tennessee and currently is the Director of Peer Support for Family Voices, a program of the Tennessee Disability Coalition. She also serves on the Chattanooga Mayor’s Council on Disability.

Senator Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) has worked with Anderson on several issues. “Governor Lee could not have appointed a better person than Molly Anderson to serve on the Council on Developmental Disabilities,” Massey said. “I have known Molly for years and have worked with her on passing legislation and policy to assist Tennesseans with disabilities.

“We first worked to pass a bill to allow American Sign Language as a foreign language credit in Tennessee high schools. Then, due to a bill she helped with, we were able to get policy in place for citizens who are not able to verbally call 911 to be able to text their emergency. Molly is a passionate advocate and will be a great addition to the Council.” 

Anderson is married to Josh Anderson and has a daughter, Lucy, age two. The couple is now expecting their second child. In her free time, Anderson loves to run and kayak. 

New Council Members: Faith Henshaw

Faith Henshaw was appointed by Gov. Lee to represent the Upper Cumberland development district on the Council. 

“When I was 10, my brother dethroned me from being the baby of the family,” Henshaw said. “A week later, we learned he has Down syndrome. From that moment on, I’ve been a part of the disability community.”

“I learned about the Council on Developmental Disabilities when I started participating in Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters conferences. Then I graduated from the Council’s Partners in Policymaking® leadership training in 2011. As an appointed member, I am especially interested in expanding disability programs and accessibility in rural communities.”

Henshaw teaches pre-K for Jackson County schools and group fitness classes at the Putnam County YMCA. She is on the local Imagination Library board and is active in children’s and women’s ministries at Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ in Cookeville. Her family includes a sister, three brothers, two close cousins, and seven nieces and nephews she loves to take on small adventures.

Tammy Woolbright is PreK – 8 Supervisor for Jackson County Schools. “Faith Henshaw is a 15-year Jackson County educator. She has a passion for all students, but especially students with developmental disabilities. An exceptional advocate, Ms. Faith is always willing to share her own personal experiences of being a sibling to a brother with developmental disabilities. She is a great resource to families in the district, county, and regional community. We are confident she will bring that same resilience at driving positive change for the developmental disability community to this council.” 

New Council Members: Courtney Johnson

Gov. Lee appointed Courtney Johnson of Johnson City to represent the First TN development district on the Council.

“I learned about the Council on Developmental Disabilities during my time in their Partners in Policymaking® leadership training,” Courtney Johnson said. She graduated from the program in 2021.

"I was interested in the Council because it felt like a place where I could hopefully help more people. Learning more about the systems, sharing feedback from my local community – these are things I look forward to.”

“As an autistic person with multiple disabilities, I have always been involved with the disability community in some capacity,” Johnson said. “It was normalized a lot for me, from me being hard of hearing to my two brothers’ own autism diagnoses. My primary focus is on showing people that disability is not a bad thing. I want people with disabilities and their families to have access to the resources they need – things like augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), accessible housing, and more.”

Johnson runs a website, JustKeepStimming.com, and social media accounts to share resources for autistic people and their families. She is an AAC mentor for the Tennessee Out and About program. She has been the Tennessee Site Coordinator for the Disability Day of Mourning since 2018.

In her free time, Johnson likes to do different crafts, write, play with her cats, and watch science fiction shows with her support staff. She also loves airplanes and airports. Her family includes fiancé Christopher and two cats, Sheridan and Leia.

New Council Members: Debbie Miller

Debbie Miller of Murfreesboro was appointed by Gov. Lee to represent the Mid-Cumberland development district on the Council.

“I learned about the great work the Council is doing through a friend who served as a member,” Debbie Miller said. “I am looking forward to providing my unique perspective from living with a disability every day of my life and also having a child with a disability.”

“I am interested in inclusion and in expanding programs available to adults with disabilities,” Miller said. “I am also passionate about getting kids in the foster care system services. My child was adopted through the State of Tennessee, so this is especially close to my heart.”

Miller lives in Murfreesboro with her husband, Bob, and their son, Eric. Eric has autism and cerebral palsy. Miller herself has proximal femoral focal deficiency, or PFFD, which was the result of a medication her mother took to prevent miscarriage.

Brad Turner is commissioner of Tennessee’s Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – a separate agency from the Council where Miller will be serving. “I have known Debbie for a long time, both as a friend and as a fierce advocate for people with disabilities,” Turner said. “She’s committed to our community and the vision the Council has established in the name of progress. I know she will bring her passion and leadership to the Council and help create a more inclusive Tennessee for individuals with disabilities.”

New Council Members: Dr. Evelyn Roach

Gov. Lee appointed Dr. Evelyn Roach to represent the First TN development district on the Council.

Dr. Roach is the director of the East Tennessee State University Curriculum Innovation Center.

“To be part of the council you have to be impacted by disability,” said Roach. “I have two children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental disabilities, and they have taught me so much about ability and determination. My child with a learning disability just obtained her bachelor’s degree with honors and has taught me that with the right support and services, anything is possible.”

Roach recently completed certification as a family advocate in the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment Disabilities) program. This program helps reduce and prevent neurodevelopmental disabilities and related disabilities in children and to increase access to family-centered, community-based and culturally competent interprofessional services.

“Dr. Roach’s appointment to the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is a testament to her advocacy and knowledge of disabilities,” said Dr. William Flora, associate provost for curriculum at ETSU. “She cares deeply about improving the quality of life for those with disabilities within the region and across the state. She will be a leader in work to enhance policy and expand opportunities in this area.”

(Press release originally created and published by ETSU.)

Disability Policy Corner (Aug. 2023)

We're on a break from our weekly policy newsletter until the legislature begins again in January. In the meantime, we'll keep you updated here on the most important state and national policy news affecting people with disabilities.