Ep 140: Tennessee Leads with Innovative, Person‑Centered Support for People with IDD
About this episode
Brad Turner discusses Tennessee's innovative approaches to supporting individuals with IDD, shaped by his personal experiences as a parent.
Brad Turner, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Disabilities and Aging, discusses how his personal experience as a parent of a daughter with cerebral palsy shapes his leadership and commitment to improving supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). He highlights Tennessee's innovations, including extending early intervention services to age five, the Medicaid Alternative Pathways (MAPs) program promoting independence through technology, and the development of statewide Innovation Centers to expand assistive and enabling technologies. Turner emphasizes the need for inclusive, person‑centered systems, better mental health support for people with IDD, and addressing workforce and housing challenges. He also stresses the importance of broader advocacy, community integration, and ensuring people with disabilities have not only a seat and a voice at the table, but true belonging where their voices are genuinely heard.
More episodes of IDD Health Matters
- Ep 145: Personal Experience Driving Better, More Equitable Health Care for People With IDD
- Ep 144: From Immigrant Health to Disability Justice: Dr. Lauren Clark on Advancing Health Equity
- Ep 143: Improving Community‑Based Support Through Person‑Centered Quality Practices
- Ep 142: Charting the LifeCourse: Empowering Individuals with IDD and Families Across the Lifespan
- Ep 141: Mercer University Launches Comprehensive Health Center to Advance Care for Adults with IDD
- Ep 139: From Misdiagnosis to Advocacy: Jacqueline Cuevas Finds Her Voice
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