NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed the Tennessee Disability and Aging Act into law, merging the state’s Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) and Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) to create a new Department of Disability and Aging (DDA). The bill received unanimous, bipartisan legislative support and was backed by numerous stakeholders.
The legislation aims to improve coordination and advocacy for Tennessee’s rapidly growing aging population and those with disabilities. By elevating TCAD to a cabinet-level agency and unifying it with DIDD, the state seeks to enhance strategic planning and coordination across state government to better serve the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities.
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Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and House Majority Leader William Lamberth praised the consolidation, stating that it will enable better coordination and stronger advocacy for Tennesseans to live and age with independence and dignity. Senator Becky Massey, who sponsored the legislation, expressed confidence in the newly formed department’s ability to provide exceptional service and a voice for these valued citizens.
Commissioner Brad Turner of the Department of Disability and Aging emphasized the importance of supporting people with disabilities and older adults to age in place while maintaining independence, health, and a high quality of life. Janice Wade-Whitehead, President & CEO of Alzheimer’s Tennessee, celebrated the creation of the new department as a significant milestone for the aging community and the 129,000 Tennesseans living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as the over 360,000 family caregivers in the state.
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