Disability Services
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is designed to protect the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Five areas of life are covered: state and local government operations, transportation, public accommodations, employment, and telecommunications. For a list of resources that provide accessible housing, transportation, assistive or adaptive equipment, or offer other similar services or products for persons with disabilities, call the Disability Resource Center at 637-3666. For information about housing for older persons with disabilities, see Housing.
American Council of the Blind
1-800-424-8666
National information, referral, and consumer advocacy group. Staff answers phone Mon.-Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Amputee Coalition of America
524-8772
900 E. Hill Avenue, Suite 205, 37915
Outreach, education, advocacy, and empowerment of amputees. Amputee Coalition Resource Center is a comprehensive source of information for people living with limb differences. Provides information and help to all amputees, caregivers, and professionals.
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Blue Book
301-589-3786
TTY (for deaf only): 301-589-3006
Telecommunication for the Deaf, Inc.
8630 Fenton Street, #604, Silver Spring, MD 20910
The “Blue Book, a directory of TTY (teletype and text telephone) residential and business numbers can be purchased from the publisher.
Deaf-Blind Services
1-800-628-7818
TTY (for deaf only): 1-800-270-1349
TN Dept. of Human Services, Deaf-Blind Specialist
Information and technical help for persons who are legally blind or have progressive visual loss leading to blindness and have a chronic or progressive hearing loss that interferes with communication. Numbers are for TN only.
Department of Motor Vehicle
215-2385
300 Main Street, Old Courthouse, Main Floor, 37902
To apply for a handicapped license or placard, call, pick up, or download form for physician to complete. Call for information on application process and costs.
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Disability Law & Advocacy Center of TN
1-800-342-1660
TTY (for deaf only): 1-888-852-2852
9050 Executive Park Drive, 37923
Advocates for legal rights of individuals with disabilities. Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect within institutions, and discrimination in employment, housing, and transportation. Assists with access to services, obtaining assistive technology services and devices, and access to vocational rehabilitation and employment.
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Disability Resource Center
637-3666
TTY (for deaf only): 637-6796
900 E. Hill Avenue, Suite 120, 37915
Provides information and referral, peer support, advocacy, Braille services, and independent living skills training for persons with disabilities. Also provides ADA technical assistance for the community at large.
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East Tennessee Technology Access Center (ETTAC)
219-0130
116 Childress Street, 37920
Provides information and access, through loan and donation, to assistive equipment, including items for people with hearing, visual, and physical disabilities. Sliding scale fees.
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Gift of Sight & Hearing (CAC)
546-6262
Office on Aging
611 Winona Street, 37917
For Knox County residents who cannot afford them, program provides low-cost eye and hearing exams, eyeglasses, and hearing aids for people age 50+, and low-cost denture exams and dentures for people age 60+ (some restrictions apply). Services are provided at no initial charge to participants, who repay cost over time based on ability to pay.
Joni & Friends Knoxville
540-3860
1540 Robinson Road, 37923
Programs such as Special Delivery (a home-visiting program), family retreat, and other assistance for persons with disabilities. Also trains churches for outreach and ministry to persons with disabilities.
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Knox County ADA Office
215-2952
TTY (for deaf only) 215-2497
City-County Building, 400 W. Main Street, Suite 360, 37902
Provides information and referral for people with disabilities.
Knox County Association for Retarded Citizens
524-1311
3000 N. Central Avenue, 37917
Referral for work training and residential services.
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Knoxville Center of the Deaf (KCD)
24-hour line: 579-0832
TTY (for deaf only) 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m.: 573-5640
3731 Martin Mill Pike, 37920
Sign language interpreting services, information and referral, public awareness, advocacy, outreach, technical assistance, peer counseling, independent living skills, and community center activities, including weekly senior citizens’ group. For emergency interpreter services after hours, call the 24-hour line, press 50, and leave message. On-call staff will return your call.
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Knoxville Community Development Division
215-2120
TTY (for deaf only): 215-4581
400 Main Street, City-County Building, 37902
Provides oversight and assures accessibility of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it relates to city-owned facilities and programs. Information and referral for persons with disabilities.
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Library Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
1-800-342-3262
615 Church Street, Nashville, 37219-2314
Has a directory of organizations, programs, and agencies throughout TN that serve the deaf and hard of hearing. Library service, free to TN residents, is a statewide center that provides access to traditional library services for deaf and hard of hearing patrons; information and referral services; book and video lending library; reference periodicals related to deafness; public awareness programs; and loans of TTY and assistive listening devices. Telephone number is voice/TTY.
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Nondriver Identification
TN Dept. of Safety Offices: 594-6399
7320 Region Lane, 37914
West Knoxville Office: 690-6393
430 Montbrook Drive, 37919
Persons with a mental or physical disability who cannot drive can obtain a permanent photo ID. Those who qualify can receive ID at no charge. Proof of name and identity required, including Social Security ID and certified birth certificate (or other certified document with birthdate on it) and marriage certificate (if applicable), and certified statement from doctor stating that applicant is unable to operate a vehicle.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
482-3496
205 Badger Road, Oak Ridge, 37830
Textbooks and other print materials on CD or as downloadable files for people who have difficulty reading print because of dyslexia or other learning disabilities or impaired vision; also for people who cannot turn book pages because of physical disabilities. Eligibility requirements, registration fee.
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Telecommunications Devices Access Program
Voice: 1-800-342-8359
Voice/TTY: 1-888-276-0677
TN Regulatory Authority
Distributes free telephone assistive equipment, on a first-come basis, to people with disabilities such as significant hearing, hearing and visual, speech, or mobility impairments. Equipment includes amplified teletype, big-button, and hands-free phones. To be eligible, recipient must be a permanent resident of Tennessee who has a physician-verified disability.
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Telephone Services
Some telephone service providers offer information on equipment, services, and calling features for people with visual, hearing, physical, or speech impairments. Some also offer free or discounted Directory Assistance to people who, because of a disability, are unable to read or use the phone book. Companies that offer this service often require a letter from a physician and may require additional proof of disability. Some companies may extend these services to nondisabled seniors as well. Some long-distance providers also offer special services for persons with disabilities. Call your phone service or long-distance providers for information about which services they provide for senior citizens or persons with disabilities.
Tell Me!
1-800-555-8355
Voice-activated prerecorded messages on topics such as local weather, movie listings, time, restaurants, taxis, and sports. Also includes stock quotes, shop talk, driving instructions, travel, news, and much more. Information available for local calling area or for anywhere in U.S.
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Tennessee Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
1-800-342-3308
403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, 37243-0313
Recorded books and loaned equipment for listening. Large-print and Braille materials. Free to eligible persons.
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Tennessee Relay Center (TRC)
All calls 711
or, hearing callers: 1-800-848-0299
TTY (for deaf only): 1-800-848-0298
Spanish (Español): 1-866-503-0263
Speech-to-speech service: 1-866-503-0264
Customer service: 1-866-503-0262
Provides free, statewide assisted telephone service to those who have speech, hearing, and visual impairments. Relays telephone calls between voice and TTY customers. Speech-to-speech service allows speech-disabled persons to use their own voice synthesizers rather than a TDD/TTY.
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Tennessee Services for the Blind
594-6060
TN Dept. of Human Services
531 Henley Street, Suites 520, 37902
Rehabilitation Teaching Program provides, for people who are visually impaired or blind, independent-living-skills training, including counseling and instruction in coping with vision loss, communication skills, home and personal management, orientation and mobility, and other activities. Also available:?training and employment opportunities for the severely visually impaired.
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Ticket to Work
1-866-968-7842
TTY (for deaf only): 1-866-833-2967
Social Security Administration
(Administered by Maximus, Inc.)
8530 Kingston Pike, 37919
Work opportunities for individuals with disabilities who are receiving Social Security or SSI benefits and are between the ages of 18 and 64 years.
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Transportation
KAT Lift: 215-7850
TTY (for deaf only): 525-1525
301 Church Street, 37915
Knoxville Area Transit. Minibuses available for passengers with disabilities, Mon.-Sun. See page 159 for full description.
Knox County CAC Transit: 524-0319
Office on Aging
2247 Western Avenue, 37921 (street)
P.O. Box 51650, 37950-1650 (mailing)
Lift-equipped minibuses transport Knox County residents who cannot use the KAT bus system. See page 160 for full description. See sponsor message on page 168.
Volunteer Assisted Transportation (CAC): 524-2786
Office on Aging
2247 Western Avenue, 37921 (street)
P.O. Box 51650, 37950-1650 (mailing)
Volunteers provide transportation in the program’s vehicles for eligible seniors and people with disabilities who require assistance to travel safely. Must apply for service.
U.S. Postal Service
1-800-275-8777
Will deliver mail to the door of persons with disabilities that prevent them from being able to pick their mail up from their curbside or centralized mailbox. To request door delivery, submit a letter to the post office that delivers your mail, requesting this service and a statement from your doctor indicating why you are unable to collect your own mail. The postmaster will make the final determination. Send request to Postmaster, US Postal Service, followed by your city, your state, your ZIP code.
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UT Hearing and Speech Center
Hearing Services: 974-5453
455 S. Stadium Hall, Philip Fulmer Way, 37996-0740
Evaluation of hearing problems. Comparative hearing aid evaluations with medical referral.
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Speech and Language: 974-5451
1600 Peyton Manning Pass, 37996-2500
Speech evaluations and therapy.
Vocational Rehabilitation
594-6720
531 Henley Street, Suite 520, 37902
Job screening and referral for persons with disabilities.
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