An Introduction to the Katie Beckett Waiver in Tennessee

The first Katie Beckett waiver was implemented in 1981 after President Ronald Reagan was inspired by the story of Katie Beckett. She was a young girl in Iowa who developed a brain infection when she was 5 months old which led to her being paralyzed and spending three years in the hospital. After the hard work of many advocates, the Katie Beckett program launched in Tennessee in November 2020 and is available for ages 1-18.