HCDE’s 3 Year Plan for System Changes in Exceptional Education

For 15 years LifeLine has advocated for systems change on behalf of thousands of Hamilton County students with special needs.  With the formation of the Chattanooga Inclusive Ed Working Group a couple of years ago, we joined many others in documenting the needs of the county and offering solutions to meet those needs.  On Thursday evening,…

Ralph Braun Foundation – Accessible Vehicle Fund

“Ralph Braun passed away in 2013. In 2010, Braun recognized that he was getting thousands of requests from people who wanted accessible vehicles but who couldn’t afford to purchase them. He wanted to be able to help everyone who needed an accessible vehicle, but he recognized that was an impossible dream.  So, he created The…

Think College! Inclusive Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Think College is a national organization dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving inclusive higher education options for people with intellectual disability. With a commitment to equity and excellence, Think College supports evidence-based and student centered research and practice by generating and sharing knowledge, guiding institutional change, informing public policy, and engaging with students, professionals and…

Grant and Scholarship Options for Medical Care

Kauffman’s Children Center has created a list of multiple grant and scholarship options are available for families affected by special needs.  Some are diagnosis specific. Some are age specific or state specific. http://www.kidspeech.com/services/1032-grants-general-for-special-needs-children.html

Individual Education Account (IEA) – Voucher Option for Education of Students with Disabilities

The “Individualized Education Act”, adopted by the General Assembly in 2015 per Public Chapter 431, creates the Individualized Education Account Program and related accounts (IEA) for eligible students with disabilities to use for educational purposes. The program provides options for parents and students to choose the education opportunities that best meet their own unique needs…

Transition School

“UDS Transition School helps high school students with a range of disabilities prepare for the future. We teach life skills that enable them to live more independently, better informed and with greater confidence in their abilities. The knowledge gained at the Transition School empowers these young adults to find competitive employment and become contributing members…

Tennessee Association of Microboards & Cooperatives

“A microboard is a small group of committed family and friends who join together with an individual with a disability to create a non-profit organization.” “Microboards and Cooperatives provide natural supports to the individuals who are the focus of their collective energy.  They can also become providers of services under Tennessee’s Home and Community Based…

CARTA – Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority

“CARTA Care-A-Van service is available to residents and visitors in CARTA’s service area who due to injury, illness or functional incapacity of a temporary or permanent nature, are unable to use CARTA’s fixed route transit vehicles. Care-A-Van service requires an application and physician’s statement to verify eligibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act…