Tennessee Council for the Deaf Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing
The Tennessee Council for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing (TCDDBHH) has the responsibility for ensuring that state and local public programs and services are accessible to deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and Deaf-Blind citizens. TCDDBHH coordinates communication, information, public awareness, and advocacy services through six regional community service centers. The centers assist the Division of Rehabilitation Services by providing services that compliment those offered by Vocational Rehabilitation staff. TCDDBHH strives to open new avenues which will lead to equal opportunities for Tennesseans who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened or deaf-blind. The centers are located in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, and Jackson.
Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing Centers
| Center | Contact Information | Counties Served |
| BridgesWEST | 2655 Union Avenue Ext. Memphis, TN 38112 901-701-6800 (voice) 901-612-3416 (VP) Email: info@bridgesfordeafandhh.org Website: https://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/ |
Lauderdale, Haywood, Tipton, Shelby, Fayette |
| Jackson Center for Independent Living | 23 Federal Drive Jackson, TN 38305 731-668-2211 (voice) 731-256-7026 (VP) Email: information@jcil.tn.org Website: https://www.j-cil.com/ |
Lake, Obion, Dyer, Crockett, Gibson, Weakley, Henry, Benton,Humphreys, Hickman, Lewis, Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Decatur, Hardin, McNairy, Chester, Hardeman, Madison, Henderson, Carroll |
| BridgesTN | 935 Edgehill Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 615-248-8828 (voice) 615-290-5147 (VP) Email: info@bridgesfordeafandhh.org Website: https://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/ |
Clay, Overton, Jackson, Putnam, White, Warren, Dekalb, Cannon, Rutherford, Bedford, Lincoln, Giles, Marshall, Maury, Williamson, Davidson, Wilson, Smith, Trousdale, Macon, Sumner, Robertson, Montgomery, Stewart, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham, Moore |
| Partnership Deaf Services | 5600 Brainerd Road, Suite E-1, Eastgate Towne Center Chattanooga, TN 37411 423-697-3842 (voice) 423-208-9801 (VP) Email: info@partnershipfca.com Website: https://www.partnershipdhh.com/ |
Cumberland, Van Buren, Bledsoe, Rhea, Meigs, McMinn, Polk, Bradley, Hamilton, Sequatchie, Grundy, Marion, Franklin, Coffee |
| Knoxville Center of the Deaf | 3731 Martin Mill Pike Knoxville, TN 37920 865-579-0832 (voice) 865-978-6051 (VP) Email: interpreter@kcdtn.org Website: http://www.kcdtn.org/ |
Campbell, Anderson, Knox, Sevier, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Roane, Anderson, Morgan, Fentress, Pickett, Scott |
| BridgesEAST | P.O. Box 5306 Johnson City, TN 37602 423-818-1222 (voice) 423-615-9051 (VP) Email: info@bridgesfordeafandhh.org Website: https://www.bridgesfordeafandhh.org/bridgeseast |
Johnson, Carter, Sullivan, Washington, Unicoi, Greene, Cocke, Hamblen, Jefferson, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Claiborne, Union |
TCDDBHH SOLIDARITY STATEMENT:
Tennessee Open Meetings Act requires that all meetings of a governing body be open to the public. Per the Open Meetings Act, the Tennessee Council for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing is open and welcoming to everyone. Regardless of where the quarterly Council meetings are held, all Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, Deaf Disabled, late-deafened individuals and parents of minors who are Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing are welcome to attend Council meetings.
Deaf Driver ID Safety
Provided by Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Council Meeting Schedule
February 2, 2024
May 3, 2024 | Live Meeting Link
August 2, 2024
November 1, 2024
All meetings of the Tennessee Council for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing are open to the public. For a Zoom meeting link, please email Lisa Rimmell at lisa.rimmell@tn.gov no later than close of business on the day before the meeting with your request.
This vlog is to share some exciting news. The Tennessee Council for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing has switched from a Zoom platform to a livestream format. The meeting on May 3, 2024, will be our first attempt at livestreaming the meeting through the Department of Human Services YouTube account. A link to the livestream will be posted on the TCDDBHH website, which is https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/ds/councils-and-committees/tcddbhh.html
You can also Google TCDDBHH and it will take you straight to the website.
Livestreaming will allow anyone to access the meeting either as it happens or it can be viewed as a recording after the meeting. Of course, moving to a new format means there will be changes in the way we view the meeting. We anticipate a better viewing experience for those watching. Viewers will be able to see the entire Council sitting around the table rather than only seeing the speaker. But the biggest change is that anyone wanting to make a public comment will have to email Lisa Rimmell at lisa.rimmell@tn.gov BEFORE the meeting to be able to comment. Lisa will send a special link which will allow you to be recognized during the public comments section of the meeting. The livestream format does not allow us to recognize individuals who have not signed up to speak in advance. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we modernize our Council meetings with the new livestream. Hope you all can join us either in person at Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Nashville or via the new livestream on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 9:00am-12:00pm CST. Everyone is welcome.
Become a Council Member
Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Tennessee Council for the Deaf Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing. In order to be considered as a council member you must do the following:
• Write a letter showing your interest in serving on the council
• Create an updated resume
• Complete the application
Once you have completed the above items, please mail all three of them to:
Tennessee Council for the Deaf Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing
Department of Human Services
Langley Building, 3rd floor
520 West Summit Hill Drive, Suite 301
Knoxville, TN 37902
Tennessee Council for the Deaf Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing’s (TCDDBHH) Mission Statement
The TCDDBHH exists to serve as an advocate for culturally appropriate services affecting Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing persons through coordination, public awareness, and consultation in areas of public service, health care, and education and employment.