WORKERS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Tennessee Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to People with Developmental Disabilities

The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) is the state agency responsible for providing services and supports to Tennesseans with intellectual disabilities. DIDD provides services directly or through contracts with community providers in a variety of settings. These settings range from institutional care to individual supported living in the community.

Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
15th Floor Andrew Jackson Building
500 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-532-6530 or 800-535-9725
TTY: 615-253-7714 or 866-249-0711
Fax: 615-532-9940

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities

Vocational Rehabilitation, a division of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, helps Tennesseans with disabilities, age 18 years and older, enter or re-enter employment in their home or community. Vocational Rehabilitation is a Federal/State-funded program providing services to help individuals with disabilities enter or return to employment. A listing of regional Vocational Rehabilitation offices can be found at their web site.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services
400 Deadrick Street, 15th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-1403
Phone: 615-313-4700
Fax: 615-741-4165

Sheltered Employment

The Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities uses CARF accreditation to accredit vocational facilities. CARF requires providers to conduct an annual comprehensive safety inspection, emergency procedures, personnel training on safety issues, and critical incident reporting, among other things.
website
Phone: 888-281-6531 (located in Tucson, AZ)

Employment programs are funded by state government and federal grants to provide adults with developmental disabilities a range of vocational services including supported employment, vocational training and day vocational programs. The Department's goal is a comprehensive array of quality prevention, early intervention, treatment, habilitation and rehabilitation services and supports, allowing people to live in their own communities within settings based on the needs and choices of individuals and families served. To access services, contact the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities:

Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
15th Floor Andrew Jackson Building
500 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-532-6530 or 800-535-9725
TTY: 615-253-7714 or 866-249-0711
Fax: 615-532-9940

Competitive Employment

Supported Employment is competitive work in integrated work settings in which individuals are working toward competitive work, consistent with the strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice of the individual. Contracts provide Supported Employment services through a number of facilities coordinated through Rehabilitation Services and Mental Health and Retardation. Employment opportunities are available to every person regardless of the severity of disability. Working in cooperation with the Division of Rehabilitation Services, an array of supports for employment are available.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Citizens Plaza State Office Building
2nd Floor, 400 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-1403
Phone: 615-313-4891
TTY: 615-313-5695
TTY (Long Distance): 800-270-1349
Fax: 615-741-6508

Health and Safety

Consultative Services is a program offered to employers to assist them in achieving a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. Consultative Services offers both occupational safety and industrial hygiene services to manufacturing, construction, and other types of businesses in Tennessee. This no-cost service is designed to assist employers in developing or enhancing safety and health management systems.

TOSHA
220 French Landing Drive
Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Phone: 615-741-2793
Fax: 615-253-1623
Toll Free: 800-249-8510

The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Act (Title 50, Chapter 3) assures safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women throughout the state. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSHA) has the primary responsibility for administering the Act. TOSHA is charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing provisions of the Act in both the private and public sectors.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (TOSHA) (Title 50, Chapter 3) covers every Tennessee employer in a business, trade, commercial or industrial activity, which has one or more employees. Therefore, public employees are covered by this act. TOSHA does have a Public Sector section that deals with the health and safety of workers in the public sector.

To file a complaint about workplace health or safety, report an emergency or seek TOSHA advice, assistance or information call 800-249-8510 or contact the nearest TOSHA regional office:
website

Tennessee Occupational Safety & Health Admin.
220 French Landing Drive
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-2793
Fax: 615-741-3325
Toll Free: 800-249-8510

TOSHA
State Office Building
Suite 600 West
540 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37402-2066
Phone: 423-634-6424
Fax: 423-634-8179

TOSHA
Box 19, Suite 120
225 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: 731-423-5640
Fax: 731-426-0505

TOSHA
1908 Bowater Drive
Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: 423-224-2042
Fax: 423-245-1179

TOSHA
KCDC Civic Building, 2nd Floor
1610 University Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: 865-594-6180
Fax: 865-594-5171

TOSHA
170 North Main Street
11th Floor
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-543-7259
Fax: 901-543-7557

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Adult Protective Services staff investigate reports of abuse, neglect (including self-neglect) or financial exploitation of adults who are unable to protect themselves due to a physical or mental limitation. Adult Protective Services staff assess the need for protective services and provide services to reduce the identified risk to the adult. Adult Protective Services may assist an adult in any living arrangement including nursing homes, group homes, their own homes, homes of relatives or friends, etc. The exception is residents of state operated institutions for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. This exception became effective May 2001.

If you are within the calling area for the following offices, please call:
Knoxville 865-594-5685
Chattanooga 423-634-6624
Nashville 615-532-3492
Memphis 901-320-7220
Toll Free: 888-277-8366
Web: website

Protection and Advocacy

The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is a state office that promotes public policies to increase and support the inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities in their communities.

Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
Parkway Towers, Suite 130
404 James Robertson Pkwy.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0228
Phone; 615-532-6615
Fax: 615-532-6964

The Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee (DLAC) advocates for the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to be productive and respected members of our society. All people with disability related concerns are eligible for information and referral services. The toll free advocacy assistance unit handles all requests for services and all information referral services.

Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee, Inc.
2416 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
800-342-1660 (Toll free)
615-298-1080
888-852-2852 (TTY)
615-29802046 (Fax)