People First of Tennessee

11/21/2025

Check out this great opportunity!

SAVE THE DATE! Free and open to the public!

"The History of Disabilities In Our Community: Living with Physical Disabilities"
Wednesday, December 3, 5:30-8:00 p.m. CT
MLK, Jr. Magnet High School Auditorium, 613 17th Ave. N., Nashville

Now in its third year, Then and Now explores the history and impact of communities in Nashville through the scholarly work of noted historians and the personal stories of community members. Speakers include:

-- Andre L. Churchwell (moderator), Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Inclusion and Community Outreach, Vanderbilt University
-- Megan Hart, Director, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
-- Wanda Willis, Former Executive Director, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities

The series is presented by Vanderbilt University and hosted by Nashville Public Library.

Click here to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUkEq9-A41pfD63bEuC3Vif24xIbm5S3ZMeU0jSj9UjCkuBQ/viewform

11/03/2025

We are so excited to interview Parneeta Mohapatra, who is giving us an inside look into disability in medical education.

We hope this lights a fire in you to advocate for medical professionals in your community to plug into our community.
The disability community.

We hope to create better outcomes for Tennesseeans with disabilities by raising awareness of lack of care for people with disabilities. Parneeta is leading in this space!

More about Parneeta:

“Parneeta Mohapatra is currently a second-year medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She grew up in Chattanooga and got a degree in Global Health Studies in college. Her interest in working in developmental disabilities began when she volunteered in her mom's special education classroom. Parneeta hopes to become a family physician after graduating from medical school.”

Email RHumphries@thearctn.org for link!

10/30/2025

See you there

Please join us tomorrow at the Red Bank Community Center for a Halloween Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 pm. presented by People First Tennessee & Orange Grove!

This event will have a petting zoo, a flag ceremony conducted by Red Bank JROTC's Color Guard, and a photo booth, plus snacks, music, dancing, and all kinds of fun activities! We can't wait to see you there!

10/25/2025

Forget the ghosts… you know what really scares us? No accommodations… or those people who “mean well” but don’t. 😅

What’s way less terrifying?

A Halloween party with all of us celebrating advocacy, accessibility, and People First. 🎃

Come hang out — it’s gonna be spook-tacular! 👻

Special thanks to Orange Grove in Chattanooga, for planning this wonderful event!

See you there! 🎉🎉🎉

10/24/2025

If you’re in Nashville join us this Monday evening! Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

10/24/2025

📅 SAVE THE DATE! 📅

Educate to Advocate Virtual Public Policy Workshop
Wednesday, November 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m. CT
Online - REGISTER HERE: https://vkc.vumc.org/events/7120

Whatever our perspective – trainees and students, researchers, health care professionals, service providers, educators, individuals with disabilities or family members, or simply concerned citizens – we see ways that the disability service system can be improved. One dimension of changing service systems is educating legislators and other public policy makers.

Co-hosted by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Megan Hart and Courtney Taylor, this year's Educate to Advocate will feature disability self-advocates and policy expertise of representatives from the VKC, the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Council, and the Association on University Centers on Disabilities, among others.

On The Agenda:
• "Tennessee Disability Policy": Emma Shouse Garton, Director of Public Policy, Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
• "Federal Disability Policy": Lillie Heigl, Director of Policy, Association of University Centers on Disabilities
• "The Importance of YOUR Voice": Chloe Rothschild, Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) Educational Consultant and autism advocate

Have a disability public policy question you'd like to have answered during Educate to Advocate? There will be a Q&A chat box to ask questions in real time during the live workshop.

10/23/2025

What self advocacy question do you have that you would like to see featured in a future video?

10/06/2025

Guess what? Tomorrow’s People First Day! 🎉

Our Coordinator Rion has loved finding guests to interview, and tomorrow’s interview is going to be extra special. She’s interviewing her very own mom!

Her Mom marks the beginning of Rion’s self-advocacy journey and you might even find a connection to someone who sparked your own self-advocacy journey too.

Join us at 3pm!

Meet Alisa Tharp -
I’m a 40-something mom of three whose life is full of adventure, love, and learning—my oldest is 25 and my youngest is 5! I recently wrote my first children’s story, inspired by the magic of imagination and the beauty of difference. I’m deeply passionate about disability advocacy and reshaping how the world sees and speaks about it. When I’m not writing or with my kids, you’ll find me outside in nature, working out, or diving into all things health and wellness.

09/08/2025

We are so excited to have our People First of Tennessee meeting in just under 2 hours!

Kailey (she/her) is an occupational therapist, accessibility consultant, and co-founder of Wishing Well Collective. She is also the creator of Occupation Beauty, a platform dedicated to reviewing and adapting beauty products through an accessibility lens.

With a background in clinical practice, Kailey has worked with people of all ages, developed the Accessify Database full of adaptive makeup tools, and partnered with beauty brands and industry leaders to highlight inclusive packaging and design. She has been featured in industry conversations and publications for her expertise in bridging occupational therapy with the beauty space.

Drawing from both clinical expertise and lived experience as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult, Kailey’s work centers on helping individuals and companies reimagine beauty as something functional, joyful, and inclusive for all.

Let me know if you need anything else!

Email Rion for the link - RHumphries@thearctn.org
🤍🎉

09/06/2025

Wahoo! We are excited to switch up our meeting time this month.

We will see you on Monday, September 8 at 3 p.m. central.

Tell your friends!

As always, email Rion for the link- RHumphries@thearctn.org 🎉🎉

09/04/2025

Hey People First crew!

Using your voice is cool and if you have received VR services, please take this survey! 

📣 Today is the last day to share your feedback!
The Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, in partnership with the University of Tennessee, is conducting a needs assessment to better understand the needs of Tennesseans with disabilities.
📝 If you are a current or former VR customer, take the survey today! https://forms.office.com/r/NbpeCCNPSC

08/23/2025

Check this out P1!

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

The TN Center for Decision-Making Support is launching a new free monthly webinar series!

📅 First Session: Tuesday, August 26th at 5:30pm CST

💡 Topic: What is Supported Decision-Making and why is it important for people with disabilities?

This is the first of many sessions where we’ll meet on the last Tuesday of each month to explore different areas of supported decision-making together.

✅ Register today! Click the link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMgbMiS4-Hv1eD5kRBSoe6sgwGN9JvLBVbwQml255bD0YmCQ/viewform?usp=header