Council colleagues,

We wanted to share an example of how the Tennessee Council is working toward our targeted disparity state plan objective: to address the intersection of disability and LGBTQIA+ healthcare needs. To do this, we are strategically working with our DD Network Partners.

This month’s edition of The Compass, an e-newsletter from Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, features an article highlighting this work. It connects the research our DD network has begun to gather, examples of real-life calls we’ve received identifying this intersection as a specific need for our state, and outlines the work we as a network know we have left to do:

• Bridge the disability and LGBTQIA+ communities and more fully understand the needs of people who experience both identities.
• Develop a place to find healthcare resources specifically for this community. These resources will live on the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder website.
• Make sure Tennessee’s healthcare providers have resources and training to best serve people with disabilities who are LGBTQIA+.

We seem to be at a unique moment in Tennessee to include disability in work happening to expand healthcare access for gender and sexual minorities. We are grateful for the partnerships making that possible.

Happy weekend!

Jolene

Jolene Sharp (she/her)| Chief Public Information Officer
Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
xxxxxx@tn.gov  | cell: 615-917-0824

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Need disability resources? Contact TN Disability Pathfinder (1-800-640-4636)