Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging

DDA Employees are inspired by impact!

Director of Volunteer Engagement and Senior Center Liaison Sidney Enss believes that senior centers and volunteers are the heart of the aging community, and creative programming can help older adults stay active, engaged, and connected. She believes working at the Department of Disability and Aging offers countless opportunities to make a change for your fellow Tennessean.

Our team at DDA is stronger thanks to employees like Sidney. The work our employees do is changing lives across the Volunteer State, and we’re beyond grateful for them!

This is what it looks like when state government agencies, legislators, local leaders, and volunteers come together to make something big happen! We're proud to launch a pilot program with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that gets educational materials from SafeSeniorTN to older adults through local meal delivery services!

Now, when thousands of older adults in Knox County get their meals delivered, they also get a magnet and a push card with current information about scams and elder abuse!

The partnership will help educate the thousands of vulnerable Tennesseans who receive home-delivered meals about personal safety, and financial and technological risks.

Thank you to everyone who came out today! We have the best partners! Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Senator Becky Massey, East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA), Knox County Mobile Meals, Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging, Charme Allen, District Attorney General - Knoxville, TN

Tennessee Believes is a program that has a very special place in our hearts! We're so incredibly excited to see what Lee University creates to serve and empower students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in classrooms, campus life, and in their communities.

Thank you to our legislators who continue to value and support this program, to our community partners who advocate for and make these types of programs successful, and, most of all, to the students who prove that inclusive higher education benefits EVERYONE!

Senator J. Adam Lowe, Tennessee District 1, Lee University, Lee University Alumni

Our Seating and Positioning Team at the Middle Regional Office welcomed Nashville State Community College Occupational Therapy Asst. Program to visit the clinic! Students had the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test and get hands-on experience with seating and positioning equipment. Clinicians shared insight on evaluating clients, working with individuals of all ages, and the vital role that proper positioning can play in ensuring a happy and healthy life!

You can’t spell dedicated without DDA!

Charlene Haywood has been serving Tennesseans for 40 years – more than 20 of those years working with the Department of Disability and Aging. As an administrative services assistant, Charlene is passionate about supporting her team and making DDA a great place to work. She knows that her work has the ability to make a difference in the lives of aging adults and individuals with disabilities.

We’re proud of employees like Charlene who’ve dedicated their career and compassion to DDA. You make DDA great!

We want to highlight Beverley Dunn this Older Americans Month!

After retiring, Beverley wanted to keep serving her community. Now, at 80 years young, she is still active at the Lucille McWherter Senior Center, where she has served for over 20 years!

But wait, there’s more... Beverley isn't just dedicated to the community, she’s also the ultimate University of Memphis fan. She's held season tickets for Tiger football, baseball, and both men’s and women’s basketball for 50 YEARS!

Beverley, thank you for your decades of service. Go Tigers, and go Beverley!