Disability Services
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Five life areas 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 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
Information and referral. Mon.-Fri., 9 am – 5 pm on a nationwide network of chapters and support groups. | Website »
Amputee Coalition: 524-8772
900 E. Hill Avenue, Suite 390, 37915
Outreach, education, advocacy, and empowerment of amputees. Comprehensive source of information for people living with limb differences. | Website »
ARC Knox County: 546-9431
3000 N. Central Street, 37917
Referral for work training and residential services for persons with intellectual disabilities. | Website »
TDI: 301-563-9112
Telecommunication for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 121, Silver Spring, MD 20910
National advocacy organization focused on equal access issues in telecommunications, technology and media for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, and deaf-blind. Publishes an annual TDI National Directory and Resource Guide (a.k.a. The Blue Book) | Website »
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. | Website »
Disability Resource Center: 637-3666
TTY (for deaf only): 637-6796
900 E. Hill Avenue, Suite 205, 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. Careworks is an in-home, non-medical personal care service offered by DRC to people with disabilities. Ramps N Rails builds ramps and makes limited home modifications. | Website »
Disability Rights TN: 1-800-342-1660
TTY (for deaf only): 1-888-852-2852
9050 Executive Park Drive Ste. 101 B, 37923
Advocates for legal rights of individuals with disabilities. Investigates allegations of abuse and neglect within institutions, and discrimination in employment and education. Assists with access to services, vocational rehabilitation, and employment. | Website »
Gift of Sight, Hearing & Dentures (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 dentures for people age 60+. Service limited by available funds. Participants repay over time based on ability to pay. | Website »
Joni & Friends Tennessee: 540-3860
410 S. Northshore Drive, 37919
Reaches out to families and individuals affected by disabilities. Partnerships with local churches through ministries, training, and resources. | Website »
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.
Knoxville Center of the Deaf (KCD): 579-0832
Video phone: 978-6051
TTY (for deaf only) 8 am-5 pm: 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 24-hour line, and leave message. On-call staff will return your call. | Website »
Knoxville Community Development Department: 215-2120
City of Knoxville Disability Services Office: 215-2034
TTY: 7-1-1
City-County Building, 400 Main Street, 37902
Provides oversight and assures accessibility to City-owned facilities and programs for seniors and persons with disabilities; provides reasonable accommodations to employees and citizens; offers information and referral assistance on disability-related matters. | Website »
Library Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing: 1-800-342-3262
Video Phone: (615) 290-5211
615 Church Street, Nashville, 37219-2314
Offers a directory of organizations, programs, and agencies throughout TN that serve people who are deaf-blind 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 FM assistive listening devices. | Website »
Rehabilitation Services: 594-6060
TN Dept. of Human Services
520 West Summit Hill Dr., Suite 301, 37902
- TN Services for the Blind & Visually-Impaired
- TN Services for the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired
- Mobility and Independent Living Skills
- General Services
- Vocational Rehabilitation
Services are for people with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities help them find or return to work; includes physical restoration, living skills, counseling, communication skills, training and employment opportunities, and more. | Website »
Spark: 219-0130
Formerly East Tennessee Technology Access Center (ETTAC)
116 Childress Street, 37920
Provides information and access, through loan and donation, to assistive and durable medical equipment, including items for people with hearing, visual, and physical disabilities. Sliding scale fees.| Website »
Telecommunications Devices Access Program: 1-800-342-8359
Voice/TTY: 1-888-276-0677
TN Public Utility Commission
Distributes free telephone assistive equipment to people with significant hearing, hearing and visual, speech, or mobility impairments. Equipment includes amplified teletype, and large-button and hands-free phones. Recipients must be permanent residents of TN with a physician-verified disability. | Website »
Telephone Services
Telephone service providers can offer information on equipment, services, and calling features for people with visual, hearing, physical, or speech impairments. Some offer free or discounted Directory Assistance for people unable to read or use the phone book. Companies often require a letter from a physician and may require additional proof of disability. Some companies extend services to non-disabled seniors. Call your phone service or long-distance providers for information.
Tennessee Identification Card: 594-6399
TN Dept. of Safety
7320 Region Lane, Strawberry Plains, 37914
Persons with a mental or physical disability who cannot drive can obtain a permanent photo ID. Those who qualify can receive free ID. For initial ID, you must go to the full-service TN Dept. of Safety office listed above and provide proof of name and identity, including Social Security ID and certified birth certificate (or other certified document with birthdate), marriage certificate (for name change), two proofs of residency (dated within last four months), and certified statement from doctor stating that applicant is unable to operate a vehicle. For replacement ID, you can go to any driver’s license office; small fee. | Website »
Tennessee Library for Accessible Books & Media: 1-800-342-3308
403 7th Avenue North, Nashville, 37243-0313
Audio, Braille, and large print books and magazines loaned for free to eligible persons. Players available for use with audio materials. | Website »
Tennessee Relay Center (TRC): All calls 711
Hearing callers: 1-800-848-0299
TTY (for deaf only): 1-800-848-0298
Spanish (Español): 1-800-503-0263
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 and hearing 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. | Website »
Ticket to Work: 1-866-968-7842
TTY (for deaf only): 1-866-833-2967
Social Security Administration
8530 Kingston Pike, 37919
Social Security’s Ticket to Work program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI/SSI). Through this free and voluntary program, eligible participants receive support services they need to find and maintain employment so that they may move toward financial independence through work.
Transportation
KAT Lift: 215-7850
301 Church Street, 37915
Knoxville Area Transit’s paratransit service available for passengers with disabilities. Mon.-Sun. See page 151 for full description. | Website »
Knox County CAC Transit: 524-0319
2247 Western Avenue, 37921 (street)
P.O. Box 51650, 37950-1650 (mailing)
Lift-equipped minibuses transport Knox County residents who cannot use the KAT system. | Website »
Volunteer Assisted Transportation (CAC): 673-5001
2247 Western Avenue, 37921 (street)
P.O. Box 51650, 37950-1650 (mailing)
Volunteers provide transportation in program vehicles for eligible seniors and people with disabilities who require
assistance for safe travel. Must apply for service. Volunteer drivers are needed. | Website »
UT Hearing and Speech Center
1600 Peyton Manning Pass, 37996-2500 | Website »
Audiology Services: 974-5453
Evaluation of hearing problems. Comparative hearing aid evaluations with medical referral.
Speech and Language: 974-5451
Speech evaluations and therapy.