According to the TN Disability Coalition (TDC), in 2019, considerable progress was made on a bill advocated for by the Tennessee Alliance for the Severe Mental Illness Exclusion (TASMIE), of which TDC is a member. The bill would prohibit courts from sentencing a defendant convicted of first-degree murder to death if there was evidence, at the time of the offense, that the defendant had a severe mental illness. This bill passed the House Judiciary Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Supporters will continue to educate legislators and the community before picking back up next session.

People with severe mental illness face significant mobility challengers in the home. CAPS consultants can help people with severe mental challenges to improve their mobility and accessibility in the home.

Richard Acree is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) offering services as a building inspector, planner and project monitor for home modifications to allow disabled individuals to live in their homes longer. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in collaboration with AARP and other experts, developed the CAPS designation, which is achieved through training and testing during a multicourse educational program. The NAHB has been approved as a provider of American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) training for Marketing & Communicating with the Aging In Place Client (CAPS I), Design Concepts for Livable Homes and Aging In Place (CAPS II) and Details & Solutions for Livable Homes and Aging In Place (CAPS III) courses.

As a CAPS consultant, Richard serves as a building inspector, planner, and project monitor. Richard combines his CAPS certificate with his ADAC certification, years of experience as a home and commercial building inspector, and his degree in engineering to offer a unique combination to develop plans for home modifications for people with mobility issues. ADAC is the American’s with Disabilities Act Coordinator certification required by the US Department of Justice for most government organizations.

Please call Richard today at 615-752-0060 to discuss your needs for improved home accessibility and safety.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.