TennesseeWorks Partnership: Changing the Employment Landscape “The Vanderbilt Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and 28 agencies and organizations will develop a vibrant collaborative across the state to increase the number of young people accessing competitive employment prior to leaving high school; increase the capacity and commitment among families and practitioners to support competitive employment and career development; raise expectations among youth, families, educators and providers; reallocate resources and funding streams toward competitive employment; and increase the number of families and educators accessing professional development, resources, and supports addressing competitive employment.”
“We’re transforming the employment landscape for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state. Meaningful work. Real pay. Opportunities for every Tennessean with a disability.” “This new website is an online resource for those in our state committed to these goals. [You can] [s]elect your role… to find comprehensive information, trainings, videos, success stories, and many other resources to equip, inform, and inspire your work.”
University of Tennessee, Center for Literacy, Education and Employment
“ Support for diversity and inclusion is a value at the core of the Center for Literacy, Education and Employment (CLEE). In addition, we determine the direction of our work by listening to and learning from practitioners, policymakers, business leaders and community leaders, as well as the academic community. As a result, the Center has a long history of involvement in advocacy efforts in the fields of literacy, education and employment, particularly those focused on supporting ALL individuals to flourish in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.”
The state also solidified an agreement that addresses some components of WIOA, created more employment vignettes, and named the series of videos: Way2Work
Tennessee Title Code 67: Taxes and Licenses (2024)
“(2) A job tax credit of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each net new full-time employee job, and two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each net new part-time employee job, for a person with disabilities who is receiving state services directly related to such disabilities, shall be allowed against a taxpayer’s franchise and excise liability tax for that year; provided, that:
(A) The employment of such individual creates a net increase in the number of persons with disabilities employed by the taxpayer within the ninety-day period immediately preceding the employment;
(B) The taxpayer provides such employment for at least twelve (12) consecutive months and for no less than the minimal hours per week; and for employees enrolled in the minimal health care benefits described in subdivision (f)(1), for respective full-time employment jobs and part-time employment jobs…”
“The Self-Determination Waiver offers a continuum of services that are selected by each individual pursuant to a person-centered planning process and support each person’s independence and full integration into the community, including opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive, integrated settings and engage in community life. Services are delivered in a manner which ensures each individual’s rights of privacy, dignity, respect and freedom from coercion and restraint; optimizes individual initiative, autonomy, and independence in making life choices; and are delivered in a manner that comports fully with standards applicable to HCBS settings delivered under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act…”
Tennessee State Plan for the State VR Program… (2014)
This state plan for FY 2014 mentions interagency arrangements to provide supported employment and customized employment services for people with disabilities, addresses the need for official policy regarding transition aged youth, establishes come goals for each of its target areas.
