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Tennessee Adopts Software Developed by AWS Foundation and Disability Community

Monday, November 1, 2021

Fort Wayne, Ind. (Nov. 1, 2021) — AWS Foundation announced today that its software platform, Indiana Disability Resource FINDER, was chosen by Tennessee Disability Pathfinder (TNPathfinder.org) to help people with disabilities living in Tennessee. FINDER, Indiana's statewide portal to disability-related information, is designed to make it easier for individuals and their families to find services. Pathfinder's adoption of the FINDER platform highlights the opportunity to expand Indiana's centralized resource model to additional states.

"The FINDER program is uniquely positioned to support the disability community," states Patti Hays, AWS Foundation CEO. "When we realized individuals in other states could benefit from the software, Tennessee Pathfinder was a natural fit with their desire to upgrade an existing platform. Developed in collaboration with individuals of the disability community, we are continually adding new features and functionality based on their user feedback."

The website of disability-related information was created in Fort Wayne by AWS Foundation in collaboration with disability service providers, people with disabilities and their families, and local software developers. The Indiana Disability Resource FINDER program is administered by IU's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) as part of its library information and referral services. Funded by AWS Foundation, FINDER is free to users.

"We're proud of the entire Pathfinder team and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's partnership with so many state agencies and AWS Foundation to make this new website a reality," said Elise McMillan, JD, Co-Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Disabilities and the Faculty Director of Pathfinder.

Tennessee Disability Pathfinder is a project of the Vanderbilt Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The new website upgrades the program's original online directory. Updated interactive features match users anywhere in Tennessee with disability resources, service providers, and community events.

Tennessee Pathfinder recently kicked off the new website with an online Nashville-style launch celebration live across its social media pages, complete with special guests, musical entertainment, and giveaways.

"It has been a great experience working with AWS Foundation," said Pathfinder Program Director Megan Hart. "This upgrade has allowed us to keep the important parts of Pathfinder's existing online services while adding new features that allow users to better access and save information."

InChoice Navigation, LLC, AWS Foundation's fully-owned subsidiary, plans to expand the FINDER platform and its availability to other University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

About AWS Foundation (AWSFoundation.org)
Founded in 2007, AWS Foundation supports a wide range of organizations and service agencies in northeast Indiana, working to develop a community in which people with enduring intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities are engaged fully and meaningfully in all aspects of community life. AWS Foundation's fully-owned subsidiary, InChoice Navigation, LLC, holds the FINDER program.

About Tennessee Disability Pathfinder (TNPathfinder.org)
As part of The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, "Pathfinder" helps people with disabilities, their family members, educators, and other professionals across Tennessee connect to appropriate community resources, provides innovative trainings and presentations. The Pathfinder program aims to remove the barriers that many culturally diverse communities find when trying to access disability resources.

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