Ep 140: Tennessee Leads with Innovative, Person‑Centered Support for People with IDD
From IDD Health Matters by IntellectAbility
March 23, 2026 · 32 min
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.
People in this episode
Guest: Brad Turner
Topics covered
- person-centered support
- intellectual and developmental disabilities
- mental health support
- community integration
- assistive technology
- advocacy
- workforce challenges
Keywords
- Tennessee
- IDD
- person-centered
- assistive technology
- mental health
- advocacy
- community integration
- workforce challenges
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Tennessee Department of Disabilities and Aging
Products: Medicaid Alternative Pathways (MAPs)
Places: Tennessee, Innovation Centers
More episodes of IDD Health Matters
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- Ep 150: Empowering Learning: Building Inclusive Skills for Adults with Disabilities · June 1, 2026 · 21 min
- Ep 149: Why 'Not Acting Right' Signals Hidden Health and Life Issues in IDD · May 25, 2026 · 57 min
- Ep 148: Putting People First: The Power of Person-Centered Care · May 18, 2026 · 19 min
- Ep 147: Leading with Compassion: Building Inclusive, Person‑Centered Supports for People with IDD · May 11, 2026 · 23 min
- Ep 146: Dental Care Without Borders: Reaching Refugees and People with Disabilities · May 4, 2026 · 23 min
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