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Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging presents programs after July 2024 merger
Summary
Department leaders told the House Population Health Subcommittee the merged Department of Disability and Aging will provide expanded supports — including the Katie Beckett waiver, Tennessee Early Intervention System and community grants — and outlined services and grant programs for people with disabilities and older Tennesseans.
At a practice meeting of the House Population Health Subcommittee, Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging leaders summarized services, grants and program changes following the merger that took effect July 1, 2024.
The department’s commissioner, Brad Turner, told members the merger combined functions previously performed by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability and created a single cabinet-level department intended to improve efficiency and service access. “Why DDA? … adults 65 and older are actually the fastest growing demographic in the state of Tennessee,” Turner said, and he described housing, caregiver support, transportation and independence as shared priorities for older adults and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Turner outlined major programs administered by the department, including the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), the Katie Beckett waiver, Medicaid home- and community-based waivers (including 1915(c) and ECF choices for IDD), the Options program for older adults, a long-term care ombudsman program, a statewide seating and positioning clinic with three regional locations plus a mobile clinic, Meals on Wheels and a family support grant program that operates in all 95 counties.
Turner also highlighted several grant programs the department says it has used to increase inclusion and access: senior-center grants under the GRAMA program, adult-size changing table grants for businesses and municipalities, Tennessee Believes postsecondary inclusion grants, respite grants for faith-based organizations and nonprofits, and an inclusive-playground grant that drew more than 80 applications. “DDA provides various grants to communities and businesses to spur inclusion and access,” Turner said.
Representative Sabida Kumar asked specifically about the Katie Beckett waiver’s status in Tennessee. Turner replied the waiver is “fully functional” and said “we have north of 4,000 families that are able to benefit from that program,” adding the program was designed to give parents flexibility to purchase supports — for example, home modifications or fencing when a child is at elopement risk — that private insurance may not cover. On waiting lists, Turner said there is not one “right now” but that demand could create some waiting in the future and that DDA coordinates with TennCare and the governor’s office to minimize wait times.
On TEIS, Turner said Tennessee is unique in serving children through early intervention up to kindergarten age, which he described as helping children arrive at school with stronger foundational skills. He said anyone can make a TEIS referral — medical providers, family members or neighbors — and that the department has worked with local school districts to coordinate transitions into kindergarten.
Turner described the long-term care ombudsman program as an independent advocacy service for residents of long-term care facilities and said DDA is coordinating with the state ombudsman and the Department of Health to support residents who lack family advocates. He said the department maintains a new, consolidated website and that the department’s goal is a “no wrong door” approach to accessing services.
The committee took an initial practice vote using a new electronic voting system to confirm the meeting format; the clerk recorded 8 ayes and 1 nay. Committee members then questioned department staff on program details and next steps for outreach and implementation.
The department said it will provide additional materials and contact information to committee members after the meeting and invited members to request follow-up briefings on specific programs or local provider capacity.
Less critical details: Turner said the Disability and Aging Act was signed into law in April 2024 and became effective July 1, 2024; he also described the department’s seating and positioning clinic, nutrition and benefits counseling programs, and a long-standing family support grant that has operated for more than 30 years.
