Disability Advocacy Day - March 11
For the sixth consecutive year, March 11, 2026 will be Disability Advocacy Day in Tennessee!
People with disabilities learn early that advocacy is essential to breaking down barriers in a world not always built with us in mind. Progress requires community, collaboration, and clarity about what is needed. Access, inclusion, and meaningful support don’t happen by accident, they happen because we show up and demand them.
Advocacy is how we secure the opportunities and protections others may take for granted. We show up. We speak up. We follow up. And most importantly, we stand together.
Through self-advocacy and collective action, our community has made a powerful and lasting impact on state policy—and we’re not done yet.
Achievements of Tennesseans with Disabilities
- Katie Beckett Program
- Autism Equity Act
- TN Family Support Program
- Tennessee Autism Council
- STEP UP Scholarship
- Expanding home-and community-based services
- Nurse delegation of health maintenance tasks
- Claire’s Law (hearing aids for kids)
- Concussion management protocol in schools
- Support for aging caregivers
- Protecting student rights
- Service animal protections
- Fair housing
- Protecting individual rights in deinstitutionalization
- Disability Vote Alliance
- Personal assistance licensure
- Modernizing state laws on mental health and developmental disabilities
- Tennessee Disability Act
- Supporting and licensing medication administration in the community
- Ensuring accessibility in Legislative Plaza and the Cordell Hull building
- Limiting institutional care
- Open Doors Home Health Care Act
- Lane v. State of TN – equal access to justice
- Prohibiting employment discrimination
- Protecting and expanding access to Medicaid
Ways you Can Join the Celebration
- Wear “Coalition Blue” or your DDH 2026 t-shirt to show support and solidarity.
- “Light up” your social media by posting about Disability Advocacy Day.
- Find a landmark that is lit up near you and snap a picture!
How can you or your organization participate in Disability Advocacy Day?
Contact us if your organization would like information or assistance with lighting up “Coalition Blue” at 615-383-9442.
Disability Advocacy Day Toolkit
Check out our digital library of graphics including social media images, messaging, associated hashtags, and other resources to show your support for Disability Advocacy in Tennessee and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Join us on March 11th as Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day to honor the accomplishments and advocacy of the 1.6 million Tennesseans with disabilities! See below for a Disability Advocacy Day Social Toolkit. Don’t forget to tag us @tndisability so we can share your posts!
Hashtags to use in your posts:
- #DDH2026
- #DisabilityAdvocacyDayTN
- #TNLeg
Social Media Graphics
Alt-text: Picture of Nissan Stadium lit up blue. Text reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day.”
Alt-text: blue background with a white phone opened to a graphic that reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day. Wednesday, March 11th”
Alt-text: Picture of Nissan Stadium, lit up blue. A hand holding a phone up with a graphic that reads “Wednesday, March 11th. Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day.”
Alt-text: blue background with people holding their phones up. Text reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day. Wednesday, March 11th.”
Alt-text: blue background with a white phone opened to a graphic that reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day. Wednesday, March 11th.”
Alt-text: Pictures of Tennessee landmarks lit up blue. Text reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day. Wednesday, March 11th.”
Alt-text: Nashville’s skyline with the bridge lit up blue. Text reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day. Wednesday, March 11th.”
Alt-text: blurry sunset photo in the background. Text reads “Tennessee Lights Up Blue for Disability Advocacy Day. Wednesday, March 11th.”
Sample Posts
Not sure what to say? Use one of our messages in your post:
#DisabilityAdvocacyDayTN honors the hard work and advocacy of the 1.6 million Tennesseans with disabilities who are improving our state laws for the better. Today, we light up [landmark] to honor these accomplishments and their advocacy.
As we celebrate #DisabilityAdvocacyDayTN [landmark] will light up “Coalition Blue” in support, solidarity, and recognition of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the successful advocacy work done by the disability community in Tennessee.
[landmark] is lighting up blue to honor the importance of advocacy in the lives of the 1.6 million Tennesseans with disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act as we celebrate Disability Advocacy Day!
#DisabilityAdvocacyDayTN honors Tennesseans with disabilities who continue to speak up for basic services and speak out against policies that infringe on civil rights and other legal protections afforded under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tonight, we light up blue in solidarity.
From diabetes to depression, to Down Syndrome and everything in between, today on Disability Advocacy Day we celebrate the accomplishments and advocacy of the incredibly diverse disability community in Tennessee.
On March 11th, [landmark] will glow light blue for the sixth-annual Disability Advocacy Day to celebrate the accomplishments of the disability community across the state and in recognition of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The 114th General Assembly has proclaimed March 11th, 2026 #DisabilityAdvocacyDayTN for the sixth year, to honor the importance of advocacy in the lives of Tennesseans with disabilities and improve access to equal opportunities across the state. [landmark] joins other cities across the state in showing support by lighting up blue in support and recognition of Tennessee Advocates and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Get Involved in Disability Advocacy Day
Get in touch if you want to learn more about how you can get involved in Disability Advocacy Day.