According to the CDC, one in four adults – about 61 million Americans – is born with a disability of some kind(cdc.gov, 2018). In Tennessee, one in three adults, or 1,705,934 people, have a disability (cdc.gov). The staff of Vista Points Special Needs Trusts believe each of these families deserves a valuable resource and an advocate.
Vista Points helps individuals and families struggling with disabilities maintain independence and a quality of life. A recent case illustrates the need: One gentleman client, in his 40s, has an intellectual disability. His wife also has a disability, and they have children with disabilities. Despite their obvious love and respect for each other, they wererecently evicted from their home due to a lack of cleanliness and hoarding. Through Vista Points Special NeedsTrusts, this client has worked with responsible case managers to learn the importance of cleanliness and how to keep a clean home and clutter-free. His family and he are now able to keep their new home clean and also havescheduled regular, professional pest treatment and home cleaning.
Vista Points meets these needs and many other needs, for families throughout the state. Vista Points is centrally located in Mt. Juliet outside of Nashville, TN. The organization recently opened offices in Knoxvilleand Memphis to better serve individuals living with a physical, mental, or intellectual disability and their families,as well as attorneys, and other professionals.
The Knoxville office opened July 23, 2021, and is located at 9111 Cross Park Drive, Suite D-200, Knoxville,TN 37923. The phone number is 865-658-1615.
The Memphis office opened August 10, 2021, and is located at 5865 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Suite300, Memphis, TN 38120. The phone number is 901-902-5515.
“We are excited to offer our resources to more Tennesseans across the state, as we work to highlight thegrowing need for special needs trusts. We want to ensure a better quality of life for individuals and their families,” Executive Director Darlene Kemp shared. “We also hope to grow our network of attorneys interested in adding special needs trusts to their practice, therefore making these services more accessibleto all of those in need.”
Lenny Harris, the long-time Financial Systems Coordinator, has had the privilege of serving many Vista Points’clients. “It is an honor to do this type of work,” he says. “This expansion will reach more people, giving their families peace of mind and providing the person living with the disability a good quality of life.” His genuinepassion for serving people with disabilities is shared by all Vista Points employees.
“If you live anywhere across Tennessee, from Johnson City to Memphis, I invite you to schedule an appointment. Theoffices are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. central time,” says Kemp.
# # #
About Vista Points
Established in 2000, Vista Points serves as a resource center for individuals with disabilities and their families, specialized in serving as trustee and maintaining special needs trusts. Vista Points also has programs to educate and assist attorneys in this highly specialized legal need. For additional information, visit www.vistapoints.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VistaPointsInc, or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/vistapointssnt.
