Help for Families

This section contains information to help families navigate systems and connect to resources.

Looking for disability service providers, camps, etc? TN Disability Pathfinder can help.

Links to other disability websites can be found HERE.

Si tiene un niño o miembro de la familia con una incapacidad intelectual o de desarrollo, puede contactuar Pathfinder a: 615-875-5083 para recibir más información sobre recursos y servicios.

The TennCare Standard Spend Down program will again offer open enrollment opportunities to new applicants on Thursday, March 21, 2013 beginning at 6 p.m. CST. Standard Spend Down is available through a waiver to the Medicaid program for a limited number of qualified low-income individuals, or those with high, unpaid medical bills who are aged, blind, disabled, or the caretaker relative of a Medicaid eligible child. Eligible individuals must have enough unpaid medical bills to meet the “spend down” threshold to qualify for coverage. A special call-in phone line has been set up for interested applicants. The only way to request an application is by calling the toll-free number -- 1-866-358-3230 -- which will be open between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. CST on March 21. Operators will close the phone line once 2,500 applicants call in. In previous open enrollment periods, 2,500 calls had been taken within approximately one hour. If 2,500 calls are not received on March 21, the phone lines will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on subsequent weekdays until 2,500 interested applicants call in. Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility qualifications before calling in on TennCare’s website: www.tn.gov/TennCare.

Do you have a child with a disability who is experiencing bullying in school? Call the Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee at 800-342-1660. Download DLAC's Bullying Announcement flyer HERE.

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Volunteer Advocacy Project trains volunteer advocates to provide instrumental and affective support to parents of children with disabilities. Participants will learn more about special education law and advocacy strategies. Each participant will shadow an advocate who is working with a family. Following graduation from the program, participants will be linked with a family of a child with a disability and is expected to work with at least four families, at the discretion of The Arc and STEP. For more information and to apply to be a volunteer advocate, go HERE.

For the latest information on healthcare reform and how it benefits Tennesseans, visit the Tennessee Health Care Campaign website HERE.

UnitedHealthcare Grants - Families struggling with the medical bills of children with special needs may get help from the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF). The nonprofit offers grants of up to $5,000 for [but not limited to] speech language treatment, audiology, and hearing aids--not fully covered by health insurance. There are some age, income, and residential qualifiers. For more information, visit Children's Foundation Inc.

Tucker's House connects Middle TN families with children with disabilities to resources and provides financial assistance for construction management for home modifications to make their houses accessible and therapy friendly.

Protocols - The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) has developed protocols to guide the determination of service requests. Read the DIDD Protocols.