Director Spotlight: Brad Turner (TN)
1. What inspired you to enter the I/DD field?
My daughter, Kinsley, is my inspiration not only for my work but also for my entire life. She was born with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, and she motivates me every day. First and foremost, I’m a father and an advocate for her and her friends. I truly believe God has called me to do this job. Prior to joining state government, I was a county commissioner for nearly ten years. To have a professional role where I can live out my passion for advocating for people with disabilities while also serving my community in a meaningful way is truly a blessing.
2. Which priorities are guiding your work this year?
My priorities this coming year are expansion and innovation. I want to continue to reach every person and every family that needs help in both the IDD community and the aging community. What drives me every day is the desire to continue finding those who need help but don’t know it’s available. I also want to continue to lead the nation in pursuing innovation in services. All states must work within limited budgets and competing priorities. Innovation can help us meet those needs, whether it’s in the MAPs program and equipping transition-aged youth with technology and tools to set them up for success, implementing value-based purchasing principles into HCBS waiver services to incentivize employment and independence, expanding how we work with children with IDD in state custody, leveraging our local farmers to increase access to nutrition for aging adults, or supporting the work to make our state parks the most accessible in the nation.
3. What place best reflects the spirit of your state?
Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State, and you see that spirit in both rural and urban communities across the grand divisions. From Memphis on the shores of the Mississippi River all the way to Bristol in the Appalachian region, Tennesseans are motivated by being their brother’s keeper and helping their neighbor. It’s not just a place… Tennessee is an experience and a way of life!