The Arc Davidson County and Greater Nashville

11/12/2025

🎄 The Festival of Trees is Coming to Nashville! 🎄

Join us at the beautiful Holiday Inn Vanderbilt, in the heart of Nashville’s West End/Vanderbilt area.

We would love for any local business looking to donate an item or experience for our silent auction. Your contribution will directly benefit individuals and families in our local special needs community, helping provide advocacy, education, and quality-of-life services throughout the year.

All donations are tax deductible.

💌 Interested in donating? Contact us today (info@arcdc.org) and help make this holiday season truly magical!

10/25/2025

🎄 Festival of Trees Viewing Party 🎄

Even if you’re not sponsoring a tree, you can support the disability community by attending!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-of-trees-2025-tickets-1761901407539?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ticket includes:
Heavy hors d’oeuvres
First drink included at the cash bar
Tree viewing & silent auction

💌 Interested in participating or have questions? Email info@arcdc.org
🏢 Companies or corporations interested in donating auction items, please reach out to info@arcdc.org

Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland at Festival of Trees, an event highlighting the agencies supporting the disability community!

10/25/2025

🎄 Festival of Trees Viewing Party 🎄

The Arc Williamson and The Arc Davidson County/Greater Nashville invite you to our Festival of Trees Viewing Party!

📅 Date: Thursday, December 4th
⏰ Time: 5 PM – 7 PM
📍 Location: Holiday Inn at Vanderbilt

Each year, local non-profits decorate and display trees representing their agency in the lobby throughout the holiday season. This year:

Decorating: Tuesday, December 2nd, 9 AM – 1 PM

Agencies may include signage with a QR code linking to your website.

✨ Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities:
9 FT Tree – $3,000

Prominent placement

Logo in promotional materials

Sponsor sign, certificate, recognition at event

10 tickets to the party

7 FT Tree – $2,000

Tree to decorate

Logo in promotional materials

Certificate, recognition at event

8 tickets to the party

🎁 Non-Profit Participation:
6 FT Tree – $100

Tree to decorate

Organization name and logo

Certificate, recognition at event

6 tickets to the party

🏆 Awards for “Best of The Festival Tree” and “Most Creative Tree” will be announced at the party!

10/22/2025

Hi Fellow Non-Profits,
Once again, The Arc Williamson and The Arc Davidson County/Greater Nashville will host the Festival of Trees Viewing Party on Thursday, December 4th, from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Holiday Inn at Vanderbilt.
Each year, we invite other non-profit agencies that support individuals with disabilities to decorate and display trees representing your agency. Your trees will remain in the lobby throughout the holiday season. This year, decorating will take place on Tuesday, December 2nd, from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. Agencies are encouraged to include signage with a QR code linking to your website.
“Undecorating” will occur on December 29th. Volunteers from The Arc will make every effort to have your decorations ready for pickup that day, though any help you can provide in undecorating your own tree would be greatly appreciated.
The cost to participate is $100, which includes 6 tickets to the viewing party. Payment can be made by check or card. The party will feature heavy appetizers, a cash bar (first drink included), tree viewing, and a silent auction to support The Arc’s mission. There will also be an award for the best-themed tree!
If you would like to participate or have questions, please reach out to me at this email.
Even if you aren’t sponsoring a tree, you can still support the disability community by purchasing tickets here: Festival of Trees 2025 Tickets

10/09/2025

We are excited to be a part of the two-day Autism Response Conference, developed by the University of Tennessee’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center.
The event will take place October 15–16, 2025, in Franklin, TN, and is free for law enforcement personnel to attend.

This is an amazing opportunity to bring together law enforcement professionals and subject matter experts for collaboration, education, and scenario-based training. The training is open to all law enforcement agencies across the state of Tennessee.

See link below: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/state/tennessee/williamson-county/university-of-tennessee-hosting-free-autism-response-training-for-tenn-law-enforcement-next-week #:~:text=The%20two%2Dday%20immersive%20program,panel%20discussions%20and%20training%20programs.

10/09/2025

We’re thrilled to be part of this amazing event!

Repost:
We are thrilled that this guy (Tanner Smith) is going to be a part of our Effective Policing: Autism Response Conference, October 15-16, 2025, in Franklin, Tennessee. What an amazing opportunity we have to bring law enforcement, subject matter experts such as Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging, Tennessee Department of Human Services (Adult Protective Services), Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, The Arc Williamson County, The Arc Davidson County and Greater Nashville, The Arc Tennessee, The Jenkins Center (and more) together for collaboration, education, and scenario-based training! This training is open to all law enforcement across the state of Tennessee it's free thanks to funding from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (Office of Criminal Justice Programs).

Registration is filling up! Go to: https://forms.office.com/r/iRAUSjTcGd to register or call 865-946-3234.

Thank you to our law enforcement partners who are providing training for the breakout scenario-based training: Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Lebanon Police Department, Franklin Police Department, Murfreesboro TN Police Department.

09/26/2025

🌟 Looking for a story of hope, inclusion, and the transformative power of resilience? 🌟

Check out McKenzie Can Talk — the inspiring journey of McKenzie, a young girl whose path has not been easy. She faced significant challenges in schools unequipped to meet her needs, along with a lack of understanding about nonverbal communication. Sadly, these obstacles are all too common for students with disabilities.

But McKenzie’s story is ultimately one of hope and perseverance. When schools, parents, and teachers make a committed effort to include students like McKenzie, it doesn’t just change one life — it enriches the entire school community, teaching all students the values of empathy, diversity, and strength. 💜

✨ McKenzie Can Talk is now available for purchase wherever books are sold online!

👉 Learn more at: www.traitmarkermedia.com/mckenziecantalk

09/26/2025

Want to learn how to make good choices? Join the TN Center for Decision-Making Support for a fun and interactive session where we’ll explore how supported decision-making helps people weigh options, learn from experiences, and use trusted supports to make decisions that match their goals and values.

📅 Date: September 30th
⏰ Time: 5:30PM CST
📲 Scan the QR code to register and save your spot!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMgbMiS4-Hv1eD5kRBSoe6sgwGN9JvLBVbwQml255bD0YmCQ/viewform

09/25/2025

We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist with the Effective Policing Autism Response Conference, a two-day training designed to equip patrol officers and leadership with the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to individuals on the autism spectrum.

Volunteer Roles Include:

Directing traffic and parking
Guiding participants to conference sessions and classes within the main building

Details:

Volunteers will receive full event information, job responsibilities, and their point of contact one week prior to the event.
This is a great opportunity to support a meaningful cause, connect with the community, and help ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all attendees.

Scan the QR code to register for volunteer opportunities or email us for more information @arcdc.org

09/25/2025

📢 Community Update: The Arc Davidson County is relocating!

Starting September 30th, our office will be moving from 240 Great Circle Road to 545 Mainstream Drive, Suite 110.

We’re excited for our new space and can’t wait to welcome you! 🏢✨

09/25/2025

Empower Me Center is hosting a “Party on the Property” Resource Fair! 🎉

📍 Location: 1160 South Hartmann Drive, Lebanon, TN
🕙 Time: Saturday, 10 AM – 1 PM
💰 Cost: Free to the community

Join for a Fall Sports Festival, play areas for kids, a family resource fair, tours, and food trucks!

Come out and enjoy a fun, family-friendly day! 🍂