MHDS hosts lunch and learn, provides resources to disabled individuals

JACKSON, Tenn. — West Tennessee Mental Health and Developmental Services hosted a lunch and learn for individuals with special needs.

“It’s a resource fair for individuals that are within a couple of years from graduating high school, up until two or three years after graduating high school. Really programs that will target their transition to independence into adulthood,” said Nora Buckley, chief operations officer for MHDS.

Within the first 45 minutes of the resource fair, they already had 100 people come out to support this initiative.

“Applicants do have to be TennCare eligible. They do have to have a qualifying intellectual or developmental disability and with some of the programs you have to be within a certain age group,” said Buckley.

Team members acknowledge the success they’ve had at introducing these program to individuals that are younger and allowing them to work towards excelling in necessary benchmarks.

“I think families are excited to know that there are things out there. I think a lot of time they think that those services are only provided in large cities and so they’re excited to know that there are things for their loved ones in rural or smaller towns,” said Buckley.

Buckley expresses their gratitude and the communities sense of relief for additional aid that will set families up for a greater path of potential.

“It’s something that is very close to our hearts. It’s something that our original CEO and our current CEO have always been very passionate about. We’ve been in business for 55-years and we continue to change every year as we see our community grow, and we want to continue that path,” said Buckley.

They offer a family support program that is state funded for people that may be on a waiting list for programs. It helps them receive support for personal assistance, respite service, or home modifications.

Their Medicaid Alternative Pathways service helps youth create independent living skills, travel training, job coaching, and even working towards supported employment for special needs individuals.

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