NASHVILLE, TN -To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the historic signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Tennessee State officials from the Department of Human Services are sharing testimonies from recipients of programs provided by the Volunteer State, designed to help citizens with disabilities find employment. State officials said much of this work had been done through the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Division of Rehabilitation Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program.
Officials said this program has helped individuals with social and developmental disabilities gain employment and maintain their independence. State officials even boast that the department has helped as many as 6,000 Tennesseans gain competitive integrated employment through their VR program. Tennessee Technology Access Program Executive Director Kim Lilley said the VR program helps provide employers who are looking to diversify their workforce with qualified workers who have a disability.
This ability to work is something many Tennessee families are in desperate need of, as 31.4% of Tennesseans who according to KFF, earn income that is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level as of 2023, and who also estimate 194,000 uninsured adults would be eligible for Medicaid if the state decided to expand its programs. Instead, Tennessee chose not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover nearly all Non-elderly adults below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level…