DHS marks Disability Employment Awareness Month with special announcement
Vocational Rehab maintains momentum by growing pool for employment services
NASHVILLE – With October being Disability Employment Awareness Month, which highlights the talents and abilities of Tennessee citizens with disabilities, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has a special announcement about an update to the client pool for services it provides to people with disabilities, and is publicizing events for the month.
Since 2001, Tennessee has operated under a four-category Order of Selection that requires the State to serve first, through Priority Category 1, those who are deemed the most significantly disabled and who require the most services for the longest duration. DHS has continued to serve Priority Category 1. Priority Category 2 was opened last year. In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, DHS will begin serving those on the waiting list for Priority Category 3, starting October 1, 2013.
“A key focus for this administration has been developing a strategy to provide services to Tennesseans living with disabilities who are interested in moving into high-quality jobs in an effort to move toward greater self-sufficiency,” Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter said. “We do this in a manner that ensures effective fiscal stewardship while also helping Tennessee individuals and their families move forward.”
People who had been on the waiting list for Priority Category 3 will receive a letter from their VR Counselors about the change in their status.
“Because We Are EQUAL to the Task” is the theme of the 2013 National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Vocational rehabilitation offices across the state, as well as the 17 Tennessee Rehabilitation Centers in rural communities and the residential comprehensive Tennessee Rehabilitation Center in Smyrna provide numerous services to clients – including vocational training, physical or occupational therapy and transitional life skills. For more information on the TRCs across Tennessee, please visit http://www.state.tn.us
/humanserv/rehab/vrs.html.
DHS staff members are working with businesses and agencies across Tennessee on activities recognizing Disability Employment Awareness Month. Here is a partial list of scheduled events:
October 1
10 a.m.
TN Career Coach from TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development to conduct
JOBS4TN workshop
TN Rehabilitation Center at Greeneville
241 Baileyton Road Greeneville, TN
Contact: Michele Keffer, (423) 639-5148
October 8
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Area Recognition Awards Luncheon by Chattanooga Area Employment Consortium
Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center
One Carter Plaza
Chattanooga, TN
Contact: Lana Bazemore at (423)634-6706
1 p.m. to 7p.m.
Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House and Transition School to Work Program
TN Rehabilitation Center at Clarksville
1575 Corporate Parkway Boulevard
Clarksville, TN
Contact: Virginia Talley (931) 648-5560
October 15
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Chamber of Commerce Disabilities Awareness Month Coffee
TN Rehabilitation Center at Shelbyville
1618 Railroad Avenue
Shelbyville, TN
Contact: Teresa A. Lawson (931) 685-5017
October 16
Disability Mentoring Day (statewide, all day)
Contact: Trish Farmer (615) 313-4907
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House and Mayoral
Proclamations
TN Rehabilitation Center at Cleveland
3069 Overlook Dr.; Suite B
Cleveland, TN
Contact: Delwyn Smith (423) 478-0332
October 17
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Abilities Expo
TN Rehabilitation Center at Smyrna
460 Ninth Avenue
Smyrna, TN
Contact: Nancy Patterson (615) 459-6811, ext. 204
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair hosted by TN Department of Labor & Workforce
Development
Appalachian Federal Credit Union
5034 Bobby Hicks Hwy, Suite 2
Gray, TN
Contact: Teresa Smith, (423) 434-6950
5:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities Recognition Awards
Nashville Farmers’ Market
900 Rosa Parks Boulevard
Nashville, TN
Contact: Bridget Galvin, (615) 862-6034
October 18
10 a.m. to 2p.m.
Disability Employment Awareness Month Community Open House
TN Rehabilitation Center at Murfreesboro
1132 Haley Road
Murfreesboro, TN
Contact: Pam Furlong, (615) 898-8088
October 21
7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tennessee Works Employment Summit &Statewide Community Conversation
Registration: https://kc.vanderbilt.edu/site/newsandevents/calendar/register.aspx?id=4103
Vanderbilt Student Life Center
310 25th Avenue South, Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Contact: Sarah Harvey, (615) 322-4999
October 22
11:30 a.m.
Area Recognition Awards Luncheon and TN Career Coach from TN Department of Labor
and Workforce Development will be on site.
TN Rehabilitation Center of Dyersburg
1365 Morgan Road
Dyersburg, TN
Contact: Ronda Baker, (731) 286-8315
October 23
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ability Focus Job & Resource Fair
TN Rehabilitation Center at Clarksville
1575 Corporate Parkway
Clarksville, TN
Contact: Virginia Talley, (931) 648-5560
October 29
8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Northeast TN Diversity in Employment Employee Consortium will host the Regional Workforce Employer Outreach Committee Awareness Month Disability Forum
New York Times best-selling author & 9/11 survivor Michael Hingson will discuss his escape from the 78th Floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center.
Toy F. Reid Employee Center Eastman Chemical Company
400 South Wilcox Drive
Kingsport, TN
Contact: Teresa Smith, (423) 434-6613
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Northeast TN Diversity in Employment Consortium will host the Regional Workforce Employer Outreach Committee Awareness Month Disability Forum
New York Times best-selling author & 9/11 survivor Michael Hingson will discuss his escape from the 78th Floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center.
Walters State Community College Lyceum
500 Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN
Contact: Adina Chumley, (865) 594-0139
October 30
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Knoxville Area Employment Consortium will host the Regional Workforce Employer Outreach Committee Employment Awareness Month and Disability Mentoring Day Breakfast Recognition New York Times best-selling author & 9/11 survivor Michael Hingson will discuss his escape from the 78th Floor of Tower One of the World Trade Center
Contact: Tina Jones, (865) 594-6060, ext. 1105
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 401 West Summit Hill, Knoxville, TN
October 31
10 a.m. to noon
Disability Employment Awareness Day
TN Rehabilitation Center at Maryville
1749 Triangle Park Drive
Maryville, TN
Contact: Deborah Quillen (865) 981-2382
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