Mission

TNSTEP’s is committed to serving families of children and youth, young adults, and those who are involved in their lives. We provide accurate, timely, and relevant information and training related to special education rights, equal access to quality education, and connections to community resources. We believe that parents and caregivers are their children’s best advocates, and that youth disabilities should be self-advocates. We know that families and youth who are informed, empowered, and engaged can effectively collaborate as part of a team for services and support that will lead to improved outcomes and success in life.

Services

TNSTEP provides specialized training to navigate special education laws and processes to parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and self-advocacy training and transition planning for youth with disabilities. We strive to help parents of children with disabilities know they are not alone while assisting youth with disabilities to find their voice.

Our services are provided through frequent in-person and virtual training opportunities, as well as individualized assistance by phone, email, text, virtual meetings, and one-on-one consultations. We offer individual assistance to review educational plans and assist families in creating and implementing next steps in effectively advocating for their children. We have an extensive referral network and a robust library of resources on our website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms. TNSTEP believes in collaborating with schools and agencies to improve results for Tennessee students. As a collaborator with more than 700 organizations, our materials are routinely used by educators, administrators, and medical professionals in their parent engagement work.

Community Served

TNSTEP provides services in all 95 counties in Tennessee, including all urban and rural areas of the state. The community we serve consists of families or caregivers in Tennessee with children and youth, birth to 26, with a diagnosed or suspected disability or special healthcare/mental health need. While serving youth and young adults with disabilities, we also provide services and information to individuals, educators, and others who work with this population.