The 16th Annual Tennessee Disability MegaConference took place at the Nashville Airport Marriott May 24-25, 2018. Staff and faculty from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center were there to share and absorb information to better support people with disabilities and their families in Tennessee. From private consultations by staff at Tennessee Disability Pathfinder to presentations on topics such as The Dignity of Risk the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center was an active presence and sponsor of Tennessee’s largest conference focused on disability.
Images from the MegaConference activites listed below may be found on the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Facebook page
MegaConference kicked off with The Arc Tennessee Awards banquet. The impressive list of awardees from across the state include four (4) Vanderbilt Kennedy Center affiliated people and programs.
- Janet Shouse received The Arc’s Public Awareness Award. Shouse is a program coordinator in the VKC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, with a focus on health care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and employment.
- Megan Hart, director of Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, received The Arc Tennessee Self-Determination Award.
- Preston Vienneau, administrative assistant at VKC TRIAD, received The Arc Tennessee Work Initiative Award.
- Vanderbilt Dining Services received The Arc Tennessee Award for Inclusive Employer for its commitment to hiring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Karen Mevis, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder’s Information & Referral Coordinator, provided 10-minute mini-meetings with individuals who requested customized resource information based on needs and questions.
Tennessee Disability Pathfinder’s director, Megan Hart, led a session on the collaborative nature of the Pathfinder model.
A panel discussion on supporting siblings across the lifespan included members of the VKC’s Tennessee Adult Brothers and Sisters (TABS) project.
Next Steps at Vanderbilt director, Tammy Day, moderated a panel of graduates (Steven Greiner and Will McMillan) and their mothers (Carol Greiner and Elise McMillan), who discussed the risks involved in pursuing dreams.
Carol Rabideau, VKC social worker, was co-chair of the conference planning committee.
Last Updated: 5/28/2018 11:34:28 AM
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