The VR Saga

The Vocational Rehabilitation Saga: How I Am Navigating It

By Sarah Silberberg

I have been working with vocational rehab for a year now. I have sent them endless documentation and I am still in the process of being approved for financial assistance. I need college tuition, adaptive driving equipment and training to use that driving equipment. At last, I reached out to Christina, a colleague of mine at Disability Connection Midsouth where I intern. She reached out to some people that she knew who worked for Vocational Rehab and asked them questions regarding the documentation I was required to send. 

She assisted me with speaking to my vocational rehab counselor regarding required documents. She also sat in with me for my Interview with an evaluator for a vocational assessment. That consists of two cognitive tests and a career aptitude test. Having Christina in my corner made navigating Vocational Rehab requirements smoother. I am sharing what has helped me so far in the hope that it will help present and future vocational rehab clients. Do not let Vocational Rehab beat you down.

When I felt that I could use a little bit of help, I asked for assistance.

When I was being asked for multiple documents, I reached out to Christina to guide me so I knew how to do better to get the services I was requesting. I also absorbed advice that other people with disabilities who went through Vocational Rehab gave me. When I wrote the first draft of this paper, the draft was sent to a consultant for pointers on how to improve it. A week later, I met with her. Her name was Judy, and she told me that she had also gone through Vocational Rehab to get services and that she had worked for an Independent Living center up in Denver, Colorado. I told her my struggles with Vocational Rehab and I listened to every piece of advice she gave me.

Ask for the list of documentation.

Now, this is not part of the advice that she gave me. But, I found that it was easier to fulfill requirements when I requested a list of documentation requirements from my vocational rehab counselor. When I had the list, it gave me a step-by-step list of documentation to send so that I could send the documentation efficiently.

 

Keep a folder of all the documentation you send.

As part of my request for college tuition financial assistance, one of the documentations that my vocational rehab counselor asked for was my acceptance letter. Luckily, I had already had a folder of every document that I had emailed to my vocational rehab counselor. Judy asked me: “do you have a folder that you keep the documentation in?” I replied: “yes”.

Even before I spoke with Judy, when I signed up with Vocational Rehab, one of the first things I did was create a folder of every document that I had sent or was planning to send to my vocational rehab counselor. I am extremely glad I did because they asked for some documentation that I had already sent them. Because I have a folder of the documentation that I have sent, the documentation will be a little bit easier to get together to resend.

 

Ask for it in writing if what they are requiring you to do sounds ridiculous.

Ask: “Where is the policy that states that this is a requirement?” And then, ask them to email that specific policy for you to review. This was the second piece of advice that Judy gave me and it's a really good idea. I recommend that you do the same.

When you sign up with Vocational Rehab, get people in your corner that can help you as soon as you sign up. Look up if there is an Independent Living Center near your area. They will be able to help you navigate the process since many of them have disabilities themselves. They can also connect you with people who have disabilities who may have also gone through Vocational Rehab and can give you advice on how to navigate the requirements and the processes. And if something seems ridiculous, ask to see the policy that pertains to it. If you follow these steps, hopefully the process will go smoother for you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sarah Silberberg has just concluded her summer semester as an intern with Disability Connection. Thank you so much for your work with us and good luck this year. We hope to see you soon.

A History of DCM

Forty Years of Independent Living 

EDITORS NOTE: This is from the Welcome speech given my Tim Wheat at the 2025 Deborah Cunningham Access Awards Dinner, Friday, July 25.

Disability Connection Midsouth was chartered in 1985 as Access All Areas and changed names officially in 1992 to Memphis Center for Independent Living. Forty years of Independence. That is who we are. 

Since 1985 The Center has been a tower of empowerment for individuals with disabilities; even though we work out of a basement. From that basement we are deeply rooted in the principles of self-determination and community integration. 

In May of 2008, New Mobility magazine profiled many of our Memphis consumers. The odd thing was they did not interview them in Memphis, they all lived in Denver. This Center bravely helped people like Devoe Mack, Willie Robinson and Darrell Williams move out of a Nursing Home in Tennessee to live in their own home in Colorado. 

Often it was “Against Doctor’s Orders” and many families did not approve. But our Center fought for equal rights and responsibilities of citizens with disabilities. This includes challenging the systemic marginalization that has historically plagued our community—a marginalization fueled by bigotry, discrimination, poverty, isolation, dependency, and pity. 

LaTonya Reeves was the first to use the Underground Railroad out of Memphis. LaTonya died two years ago; but she lived and worked in Denver for over 35 years. Back then, our state put people with disabilities in expensive nursing homes. The Center was determined to avoid that. LaTonya knew about nursing homes and said she would have died there.  The average life-expectancy of someone in a nursing home today is less than 14 months. 

Last year, Congressman Steve Cohen introduced the LaTonya Reeves Freedom Act to finally close the gap to allow people with disabilities to live in the community rather than being forced into expensive nursing homes or institutions. Tonight we are awarding Representative Cohen our lifetime achievement award. 

Over a dozen people used the “Underground Railroad” to Colorado. Today DCM works to help people live independently in the community and we are currently working with nearly 800 people in the midsouth to remain in their own home and live independently. 

Independence is our legacy. It was this Center that camped out in Governor Bredesen’s office for a record 78 days demanding Home and Community Services. If you read Governor Bredesen’s profile today, it will tell you he is the greatest proponent of nursing home alternatives and that he started the Tennessee CHOICES program. We here at Disability Connection know where those ideas came from. This Calendar year, with our new Transition Coordinator, Early Smith, we have made contact with over 250 nursing home residents and provided countless hours of transition services. 

In 2002 This Center published more than 1,700 violations of the Fair Housing Act. These barriers kept people with disabilities from equally enjoying many new properties in the Memphis area. Today thousands of Units are accessible to our community that would not be without the work of this Center. 

In 2012, with the Urban Institute we managed a survey grant to determine the frequency of disability discrimination in local rental units. And we continue to work on Fair Housing in our area. In the past five years we have documented nearly 4,000 housing issues that DCM has assisted with. 

Before the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act was law, The Center worked to make the Memphis community accepting and accessible. Deborah Cunningham led the way to make movie theaters in Memphis have reasonable access. This Center pioneered using Pro Se Complaints to enforce the ADA. Our consumers, without an attorney, sued restaurants, stores and even Greyhound Bus lines, and won.

The Center led the community in demanding equality in transportation and housing. Over the past 40 years, before the ADA and since, with our Pro Se complaints, peer advocates, DCM Blog, Personal Attendant Services, Barrier Free Memphis, Jingle Hop, and all the community partners, interested locals and all of you here tonight, I cannot imagine all the lives we have impacted this 40 years.  

Memphis's journey with Independent Living began in 1982 when Easter Seals secured the first grant for IL. However, Easter Seals wasn't aligned with the core principles of independent living, particularly the crucial idea of consumer control (meaning people with disabilities leading). 

Because of this mismatch, a group of former Easter Seals staff and consumers took action. They founded a new non-profit organization. What made this new organization different, and what continues to define it, is consumer-control. I am proud this concept is critical to the Center today forty years after our rebellious founding. 

Thank you to each of you for being part of our Rebellious Future.

Goodbye Stephen

Stephen Kier Tennial 1971 - 2025

Disability Connection Midsouth bids a fond farewell to a remarkable individual who has been an integral part of the Disability Connection family, Stephen Kier Tennial. Stephen, who served as both a Human Resources Coordinator and Peer Mentor, is a true embodiment of kindness, resilience, and unwavering dedication.

Born on March 15, 1971, Stephen grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, graduating from Fairly High School in 1989. He later returned to college, earning degrees from Southwest Tennessee Community College and the University of Memphis. Stephen’s career in Human Resources began right here at Disability Connection Midsouth, Memphis' Center for Independent Living.

Stephen had a unique ability to make everyone around him feel seen and valued. His career at DCM provided him with the opportunity to advocate for individuals with disabilities, a cause he championed tirelessly. He was committed to ensuring the disability community was included in vital conversations concerning healthcare services, housing, transportation, and education, among other areas. His impact on the disability community is evident through his representation on numerous boards, including:

• State CHOICES Advisory Board Member for BLUE CARE Tennessee 
• Specialized Transportation Advisory Committee for the Memphis Area Transit Authority (Interim Chair) 
• Disability Rights Tennessee (Secretary) 
• Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, West Tennessee Policy Council 
• Memphis Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities 

As a Peer Mentor, Stephen brought a wealth of lived experience, empathy, and understanding to his role. His mentoring approach centered on listening, empowering, and helping others build confidence in their abilities, making a meaningful impact in the lives of those he mentored. Stephen’s dual roles truly allowed him to foster a workplace and community where everyone felt supported and empowered.

Beyond his professional life, Stephen was a devoted family man. He was a loving husband to Monica Tennial, whom he married on April 24, 2020. Together, they built a home filled with laughter, love, and cherished memories. Stephen was also the proud father of his only child, Kierra Tennial, his “pride and joy”. He spoke highly of Kierra to everyone, guiding her with values of honesty, kindness, respect, and patience.

Stephen’s infectious laughter, keen sense of humor, and unwavering positivity enriched so many lives. He taught those around him the importance of living with love, gratitude, and a sense of purpose.

Stephen is survived by his loving wife, precious daughter, mother, brother, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his sweet sister, Alicia Wilson.

While we will deeply miss Stephen’s presence, his legacy of kindness, advocacy, and dedication will continue to inspire us all.