Governor Appoints Smithville Woman to State Council

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has announced the appointments of 118 Tennesseans to 52 boards and commissions including one from DeKalb County.
Tecia Puckett Pryor is a member of the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities
“I am honored to make these appointments, and I appreciate these men and women who are so willing to serve in this capacity,” Haslam said. “Tennessee will be well-represented on these boards and commissions.”
The governor continues to evaluate the state’s complete range of boards and commissions to identify potential reforms that might be made to ensure Tennesseans have a government that is responsive, effective and efficient.
Appointment terms are varied due to differing statutory requirements or term limits determined by specific qualifications.
The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities is an independent office in state government funded through the federal Developmental Disabilities Act.
The Council works to ensure that Tennesseans with developmental disabilities (including intellectual disabilities) are independent, productive, and included in their communities.
Responsibilities include:
•Conducting comprehensive review and analysis of state disability services
•Identifying state policies and practices that will improve outcomes for Tennesseans with developmental disabilities
•Developing goals to address unmet needs of Tennesseans with developmental disabilities using strategies that include:
. Educating policymakers and the public
. Demonstrating new approaches to services and system design
. Facilitating interagency collaboration and coordination
. Assuring citizen participation in government
The Council works with public and private groups across the State to find necessary supports for individuals with disabilities and their families, so that they may have equal access to public education, employment, housing, health care, and all other aspects of community life.
The Council encourages individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to play decision-making roles in policies and programs that affect them.