Project Description:
This five-year plan is designed to meet the needs of people who have disabilities and is based upon collaborative direction from the University of Tennessee Center on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) statewide Community Advisory Council (CAC), the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Network, and CDD consumers. Four Goals are accompanied by 17 outcome-based Objectives, related Activities, key project personnel, and evaluation indices. Goal I. Interdisciplinary Pre-service Preparation and Continuing Education - Refine and deliver a comprehensive, interdisciplinary pre-service and community training curriculum that includes needs-based objectives for future and current healthcare providers focusing on the areas of health, quality assurance, education, early intervention, and other services. Goal II. Community Services - Provide model community services, technical assistance, and supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan, their families, professionals, paraprofessionals, policymakers, and students so that communities can be accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the local needs of individuals with disabilities and their families with a focus on the areas of employment, recreation, childcare, health, quality assurance, education, early intervention, and other services. Goal III. Research and Evaluation - Contribute to the knowledge base through applied research projects and program evaluations in areas affecting the diverse lives and needs of persons with a lived disability experience, with a focus on the areas of quality assurance, education, employment, health, recreation, early intervention, and other services. Goal IV. Information Dissemination - Disseminate on national, state, regional, and local levels developmental disability information, including resources, available services, and critical policies to consumers, with attention to informing practice, service delivery, and program development, infusing principles of universal design, person-centered language, and reaching those of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities and family members, administrators, university faculty and researchers, service providers, students, the general public, and federal, state, and community policymakers with a focus on the areas of quality assurance, education, employment, health, recreation, early intervention, and other services.
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services, Demonstration Services
Area of Emphasis
Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other - Leadership
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban, Specific Groups, Other
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County, State, Regional, National, International
