Disability Day on the Hill 2025

Disability Day on the Hill 2025: Advocating for Change in Tennessee

On March 11th, staff from Disability Connection Midsouth traveled east on I-40 to Nashville to participate in Disability Day on the Hill (DDH). This annual event, hosted by the Tennessee Disability Coalition, brings together the disability community and advocates from across the state to engage with legislators on critical issues impacting their lives. Each year, key legislative priorities take center stage, and this year was no different. Below, you’ll hear from two of our newest staff members, Kendra Brown and Leo Manriquez, about their first experience at DDH, along with insights from Allison Donald on the legislation that brought us to the Capitol.

First-Time Experiences at Disability Day on the Hill

As newcomers to DDH, Kendra and I were unsure of what to expect. We anticipated a gathering of dedicated advocates, but the scale and enthusiasm of the event far exceeded our expectations! People from all across Tennessee—and even beyond—came together in a powerful display of support and solidarity. The welcoming atmosphere, eagerness to share stories, and commitment to learning from one another made this an unforgettable experience.

DDH provided an invaluable opportunity for advocates, organizations, and families to connect and strengthen the movement for disability rights. For our team at Disability Connection Midsouth, it was particularly rewarding to meet others who share our mission to advocate, educate, and unite our communities. Learning about different advocacy approaches and resource-sharing strategies will help us better serve the people of Memphis and beyond.

Beyond networking, DDH underscores the importance of presenting a united front. The phrase “Nothing about us without us” was a recurring theme, reminding us that decisions impacting the disability community must be made with direct input from those affected. Engaging with legislators, sharing personal experiences, and witnessing government processes firsthand reinforced the necessity of showing up and making our voices heard.

For those considering attending in the future, we wholeheartedly encourage you to get involved! We are already looking forward to what Disability Day on the Hill 2026 will bring.

Kendra Brown and Leo Manriquez

Legislative Focus: The Family Caregiving Act (HB712/SB1178)

A key legislative priority at this year’s DDH was the Family Caregiving Act (HB712/SB1178), a bill designed to address the barriers preventing family members from being paid caregivers for their loved ones. For years, TennCare’s policies have prohibited family members from being hired as Direct Support Workers (DSPs), exacerbating financial strain on families and contributing to the statewide caregiver shortage. This bill seeks to change that.

Family caregivers play an essential role in supporting individuals with disabilities, yet the existing restrictions deny them compensation, even when the state fails to provide necessary services. The Family Caregiving Act aims to recognize and support these caregivers by ensuring they have access to employment opportunities and financial relief.

Key Goals of the Family Caregiving Act:

• Ending Discriminatory Hiring Practices: Removes barriers preventing family caregivers from being employed as DSPs by provider agencies.

• Creating Clear Employment Pathways: Requires TennCare to provide guidance on how agencies can hire and supervise family caregivers.

• Providing Financial Relief: Allows family members to be compensated for caregiving, reducing financial hardship.

• Laying the Groundwork for Future Legislation: Establishes a foundation for additional reforms that enhance caregiver training and compensation.

Advocate Katrina Guber emphasized the significance of this bill, stating, “This legislation acknowledges the role of family caregivers and provides a much-needed pathway for them to be fairly compensated. It’s not just about financial relief—it’s about restoring dignity and fairness to the caregiving process.”

The Family Caregiving Act is part of a broader movement to reform TennCare policies and create a more equitable care system. Additional legislative efforts, including the TennCare Network Reporting Reform and the Katie Beckett Part A HRA bills, further aim to expand care access and flexibility for Tennessee families.

These policy changes are crucial in addressing the financial and systemic challenges faced by family caregivers. By passing the Family Caregiving Act, Tennessee can take an important step toward valuing and supporting those who dedicate their lives to caring for their loved ones.

Looking Ahead

Our participation in Disability Day on the Hill reaffirmed the power of advocacy and the importance of collective action. As we continue to push for meaningful policy changes, we encourage everyone to stay informed, engage with their legislators, and be part of the movement for disability rights. Change happens when we show up, speak out, and demand better for our communities.

Transit Equity Day

“What would Rosa Parks Do?”

By Allison Donald 

Transit Equity Day, observed on February 4th, Rosa Parks’ birthday, honors her pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Specifically her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus in

Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Rosa Parks' action sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. 

Transit Equity Day serves as a reminder that the struggle for civil rights and inclusion are deeply connected to transportation.  Accessing the community is critical for everyone regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or ability. Memphis deserves a transit system that empowers its citizens. 

February 1st in Memphis is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenges that people with disabilities face when trying to access public transportation. For Memphis bus riders with disabilities we face issues with limited paratransit service availability, insufficient bus stop accessibility, inconsistent and non-compliance with ADA. 

Without equitable public transit Memphians with disabilities face greater social isolation, economic hardship, unequal access to community resources and jobs. As a person who relies on paratransit as their primary source of transportation it has become a never ending cycle of hoping that affordable and accessible public transit becomes a reality. Reliable public transit is something that all Memphians can value.

“As a person living with a disability,” said Allison Donald, “I should be able to access public transit just like any other non-disabled Memphian.” 

Transit Equity isn’t just a disability issue, it is a community issue. Affordable and accessible transit options benefit everyone from the people living with disabilities who want to travel independently in their community to the elderly person who may rely on buses to run their errands. An equitable transit system strengthens communities by providing its residents with the opportunity to fully participate in the social, economic and civic life of Memphis.

As Memphis continues to grow and evolve we must continue to demand equal access for all our residents. Transit Equity Day is a reminder that every person regardless of ability should have the right to travel freely and independently within their own communities. For more information about public transit and Transit Equity Day visit https://www.disabilitymidsouth.org/news for the latest news, updates and how to get involved.

Notice from the Administration for Community Living

 

Notice of Court Order You are hereby advised that a temporary restraining order has been entered in the case of New York et al. v. Trump, No. 25-cv-39-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), ECF No. 50 (Jan. 31, 2025). You are receiving this Notice pursuant to the Court’s directive that notice of the order be provided “to all Defendants and agencies and their employees, contractors, and grantees by Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.”  This case challenges an alleged “pause” of certain Federal financial assistance, related to OMB Memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs (Jan. 27, 2025) (“OMB Memo”). Although that OMB Memo was rescinded on January 29, 2025, the plaintiffs in the above-referenced case allege that the funding pause directed by the OMB Memo is still in effect, including because of recently issued Executive Orders by the President.  In response, the Court has entered a temporary restraining order prohibiting certain actions by the Defendants in the case, which is effective immediately. All Defendants—including their employees, contractors, and grantees—must immediately comply with the Court’s Order. For complete details and terms of the Court’s Order, please refer to pages 11 and 12 of the Order.  To assist in your compliance, here is a summary of the key terms:       1. Federal agencies cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB Memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.       2. This prohibition applies to all awards or obligations—not just those involving the Plaintiff States in the above-referenced case—and also applies to future assistance (not just current or existing awards or obligations).       3. Agencies may exercise their own authority to pause awards or obligations, provided agencies do so purely based on their own discretion—not as a result of the OMB Memo or the President’s Executive Orders—and provided the pause complies with all notice and procedural requirements in the award, agreement, or other instrument relating to such a pause.            a. On pages 11 and 12 of the Order, the Court prohibits agencies from pausing funding “except on the basis of the applicable authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms.” Thus, agencies remain free to exercise their own discretion under their “authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms,” including any exercise of discretion to pause certain funding. Additionally, agencies remain free to take action pursuant to the terms of the relevant award or obligation, such as in cases of grantee noncompliance.            b. Any exercise of agency discretion, however, cannot be based on the OMB Memo or the President’s Executive Orders, given that the Court has prohibited agencies from “implementing or giving effect to the OMB [Memo] under any other name or title[.]” (Order, pg.12). Additionally, any decision to pause, stop, delay, or otherwise withhold federal financial assistance programs must comply with all notice and procedural requirements in the award, agreement, or other instrument setting forth the terms of the award or obligation.       4. Out of an abundance of caution, all federal agencies (even those not named as defendants in the case) should comply with the above-referenced terms.  As the Court’s Order reflects, the above terms are temporary as litigation in the case is ongoing. At present, however, the Court’s Order is in effect and must be complied with.  If you have any questions about the scope or effect of the Court’s Order, please contact your agency’s Office of General Counsel or your grant officer, as appropriate. Thank you for your attention to this matter.  ACL.gov Advancing independence and inclusion of older adults and people with disabilities This email comes from an unmonitored account. Please do not reply to this email.

MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council

Why Memphis Needs the MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council

Public transit is the lifeblood of a thriving city, connecting people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and essential services. For Memphis, the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is more than just buses and trolleys—it’s a critical component of daily life for thousands of residents. Yet, like many transit systems across the country, MATA faces challenges in meeting the diverse needs of its riders, operators, and the broader community. That’s why the proposed creation of the MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council (MATA SAC) is such an exciting and necessary step forward.

A Voice for the Community
The MATA SAC is designed to bring together a diverse group of voices: bus operators, mechanics, daily riders, and community advocates. By doing so, it ensures that decisions about public transit are informed by those who rely on and operate it daily. This inclusive approach fosters collaboration and provides a platform for meaningful dialogue between MATA management, the Board of Commissioners, and the community.

Too often, public transit decisions are made without fully understanding the on-the-ground realities faced by riders and operators. The MATA SAC aims to change that by prioritizing transparency and creating a direct line of communication for addressing immediate service issues and planning for long-term improvements. This is more critical for the current MATA Board of Commissioners because the one thing the public knows about the Commissioners is that most of them do not ride the bus. 

Building Trust and Accountability
For years, trust between MATA and its stakeholders has been strained by service delays, accessibility challenges, and other systemic issues. The formation of the MATA SAC represents a proactive effort to rebuild that trust. By allowing SAC representatives to present recommendations and ask questions at MATA Board meetings, the council empowers community members to hold decision-makers accountable and to contribute to shaping the future of public transit in Memphis. This is an important value that the recent TransPro report has implied and the new Board has seemed to embrace. 

Immediate and Long-Term Impact
One of the council’s primary goals is to address immediate service issues that affect riders daily. From scheduling and route planning to maintenance and accessibility, the MATA SAC will provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve the rider experience. Over time, the council will also focus on long-term strategic planning, ensuring that MATA evolves to meet the growing needs of Memphis’ diverse population.

Support for the MATA SAC is about equity, accessibility, and opportunity. Reliable public transit is essential for reducing economic disparities, empowering individuals with disabilities, and fostering a more connected community. Advocacy groups like Disability Connection Midsouth and Better Transit for a Better Memphis (BTBM) recognize that the MATA SAC has the potential to drive transformative change by amplifying the voices of those most impacted by transit decisions.

Join the Movement
The MATA SAC is a movement toward a more inclusive and responsive transit system. By involving operators, riders, and advocates, the council will help MATA deliver on its promise of providing equitable, accessible, and reliable transportation for all Memphians.

We urge residents, businesses, and community organizations to support the creation and growth of the MATA Stakeholders Advisory Council. Together, we can build a public transit system that works for everyone and ensures that Memphis remains a city on the move.