INCLUSION RESOURCES

Diversity of perspectives drives innovation, inspires creativity and encourages collaboration, but many companies still struggle with programming to attract a diverse population. As competition for talent is ever increasing, employers must examine every opportunity to increase the depth and breadth of the pool of potential employees.
Williamson, Inc. works to help employers identify programming and training to access talent by cultivating a culture of inclusion. We also work to identify model Williamson County companies who have robust inclusion and diversity programs to share “best practices” with economic investors.


Talking About Autism: Language & Vocab

We know it can be difficult to know what language to use when discussing autism! For that reason, the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation created these resource pages. Also see the results here of a survey completed by the Organization for Autism Research. OAR surveyed 1,000 people, including more than 800 self-advocates, about their opinion on identify-first. vs. person-first language. The survey group overwhelmingly preferred identity-first language.

 

Tips for Managing an Autistic Employee

This resource provides ten tips for successfully supervising an employee with autism (or even just one who demonstrates autistic traits). Not all ten tips will apply to every employee, so we encourage you to present this sheet to your employee and have them indicate if any of the tips don’t apply, by checking the “N/A” box to the left.

These management pointers are particularly helpful for overseeing employees on the autism spectrum, but you will find that they are also, generally speaking, best practices when supervising neurotypical employees.

The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation collaborated with neurodiversity consultant Tim Goldstein to provide this resource. You can learn more about Tim’s work by visiting his website.

This information was shared with Williamson, Inc. by the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation

 

Disability Resource Partners in Williamson County

The Arc Williamson County

Founded in 1957, The Arc Williamson County empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to actively participate in the community throughout their lifetime through advocacy, research, education and quality of life services.

Contact:

129 West Fowlkes Street, Suite 151
Franklin, TN 37064
615.790.5815

www.thearcwc.org

Best Buddies Tennessee

Best Buddies Tennessee offers One-to-One Friendship, Integrated Employment and Leadership Development programs – positively impacting nearly 42,750 individuals with and without disabilities in Tennessee.

Contact:

Best Buddies Tennessee
116 Wilson Pike Circle
Suite 201
Brentwood, TN 37207
615.891.2046

https://www.bestbuddies.org/tennessee/


BrightStone, Inc.

BrightStone expands the potential of adults with special needs by providing opportunities and solutions that enrich their lives.

Mission:

To provide a comprehensive work, social support, and future residential community for adults with special needs, expanding their potential and helping them develop mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

BrightStone gives each adult a reason to get up in the morning and something of value to do.

Contact:

BrightStone, Inc.
P.O. Box 682966
Franklin, TN 37068
615.790.4888

http://brightstone.org/

High Hopes, Inc.

High Hopes is the marriage of an Inclusive Preschool and a Pediatric Therapy Clinic at one location that makes High Hopes Development Center truly unique and tremendously effective.  High Hopes is the only organization to incorporate this unique model in Williamson County and is one of few like it in the nation.

We are a collection of experienced, driven individuals, working together to offer High Hopes to the families and children of our community.

Contact:

Gail Powell
Executive Director

301 High Hopes Court
Franklin, TN 37064
615.550.1436
gpowell@highhopesforkids.org

https://www.highhopesforkids.org/

Saddle UP!

Saddle Up! is the place where all children are equal in the saddle. It’s Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest riding center offering equine-based programs exclusively for children with disabilities. Come learn more about our programs, our highly trained people, and how riding and interaction with horses can make an incredible difference in the life of a child who faces lots of challenges.

Contact:

1549 Old Hillsboro Road
Franklin, TN 37069
615.794.1150

 

Ventures

Ventures is a collaboration among agencies addressing the needs of adolescents and young adults with disabilities in Williamson County.

Contact:

www.thearcwc.org/ventures  

Waves, Inc.

Mission:

Empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to progress toward their full potential.

Contact:

Emily Layton
Development and Community Relations Manager

145 Southeast Parkway, Suite 100
Franklin, TN 37064
615.794.7955
Elayton@wavesinc.com

https://wavesinc.com

YMCA Middle Tennessee

At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

Contact:

Brentwood Family YMCA
8207 Concord Road
Brentwood, TN 37027
615.373.9622

Franklin Family YMCA
501 S. Royal Oaks Blvd.
Franklin, TN 37064
615.591.0322

Maryland Farms YMCA
5101 Maryland Way
Brentwood, TN 37027
615.373.2900

www.ymcamidtn.org

Generational Diversity in the Workforce Resources

Aerial Ellis

Aerial is a strategist and storyteller who became a sought-after thought leader for her ability to help organizations transform culture, improve diversity enhance communication, navigate change, build community, and drive innovation. She currently serves as a professor at Lipscomb University in the Department of Communication and Journalism where she teaches courses in leadership, organizational communication, public relations and cross-cultural communication – each intertwined with a component of faith.

Connect with Aerial on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter and learn more about here at www.aerialellis.com

TIPS FROM AERIAL:

Jessica Stollings

Jessica is a national speaker, author, and the Founder and President of ReGenerations, an organization that unites generations to build a better future. Her passion (besides coffee and dark chocolate) is making sure there is clear understanding and communication between the newest batch of high school and college students and the generation of parents and grandparents already in the office. Leaders across the country have built solutions around her ideas.

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.

TIPS FROM JESSICA:

Veterans in The Workplace

How Will Veterans Be An Asset To Your Workplace?
Hiring Veterans Brings Diversity of Thought and Experience to the Workplace

Local Contacts:

Eric Horton, CWDP

Workforce Essentials, Inc. | Campbell Strong Workforce Partnership Director

101 Ringgold Road | Clarksville, TN | 37042 | 931.802.2176 ext 3105 office | 931.218.3535 cell

e-mail Visit websiteFacebook Twitter

 

Dept of Veterans Affairs

tn.veterans@tn.gov or at (615) 741-2345.

 

Inclusion Workshops

Our Inclusion Workshops are designed to celebrate our differences and teach how to create a workplace environment that places value on treating all employees as individuals, fairly and without bias.

Each workshop is designed to help employers identify programming and training to access talent by identifying model Williamson County and Middle Tennessee companies who have robust inclusion programs.

This event is a free event to all our Williamson County and regional partners, so please come and bring a colleague.

Explore the menu on the left for valuable resources as featured at each of our Inclusion Workshops.

To register for the next Inclusion Workshop head to our Events Calendar here!