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If you ask Aaron Warren, founder and CEO of Zipped Brands, to introduce and describe himself, he’ll start with the basics.

“I’m just a regular guy trying to do the best that I can and get out and live life to the fullest with my friends and loved ones,” Aaron says.

A TennCare member most of his life, Aaron joined the Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES program when he turned 18. The program, designed to provide coverage and support for members with disabilities, appealed to his sense of independence and his love of connecting with others.

“That word ‘community’ really resonated with me when I was choosing a program,” Aaron explains. “I love going out and being in the community. That’s a big part of my life socially, and an important factor in my getting out and doing things.”

A support system that relies on member input

Aaron’s medical condition requires caregiver support around the clock. Luckily, he’s eligible for benefits with   ECF CHOICES, including access to paid caregivers Aaron himself interviews, hires and helps train.

ECF CHOICES helps put Aaron in the driver’s seat of his care and empowers him  to take an active role in pursuing his goals. He’s one of thousands of Tennesseans overcoming challenges through ECF CHOICES to help these individuals become more independent and fulfilled in their daily lives.

A member making the most of it

“Aaron is a great example of a successful member for ECF CHOICES,” says Gertrude Davis, Aaron’s program support coordinator at BlueCare Tennessee. “He knows what he wants in life and isn’t afraid to speak up for himself. My job is to help get him the resources he needs to reach those goals.”

Meeting with members at least once a month, support coordinators like Gertrude help ECF CHOICES members prioritize their goals, navigate obstacles and connect with providers, organizations and resources that can help.

“Sometimes that might look like securing job training for a member to pursue a career they’re interested in, or securing a loan for their first home or vehicle, or even just talking out what exactly they want to do with their independence,” Gertrude explains. “With Aaron, setting goals has never been a challenge. He’s often identifying to me what he needs help with!”

Gertrude and Aaron work as a team to tackle challenges and strategize use of his benefits,  making the most of what’s available. She also connects with a team of external professionals, advocates and providers to help make sure Aaron’s needs are met and the quality of care he receives is high.

“Gertrude has been with me from the beginning with the ECF CHOICES program,” Aaron points out. “And I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.”

Gertrude herself is quick to acknowledge that a team of BlueCare professionals work together to support Aaron, and that his drive and energy make him the real leader of his care. To Aaron, that team gives him the chance to take the lead in his own life.

“This program really supports my independence,” Aaron says. “It helps take care of those basic daily needs so that I’m not having to focus on survival. It helps me thrive.”

Aaron’s passions run the gamut, from coding and tech to spending time outdoors with friends, working in the accessibility field and advocating for those with disabilities. Aaron even served on BlueCare’s Member Advisory Board, sharing his perspective on challenges he’s faced  as a member and advocating for faster review periods to hire support staff. Thanks to Aaron raising his voice, the hiring process has been improved for all members, so they can get support professionals on-boarded more quickly and get their needs met swiftly.

Pursuing his creative vision and addressing the challenges of disability head-on led Aaron to a game-changing idea.

Advocating for himself, making a difference for others

As a young man with an active social life, having a great pair of shoes is a priority for Aaron. Shoes made to be accessible for people with disabilities existed on the market, but not in the styles and brands that Aaron was looking for.

“To me, true inclusion is being able to do the things your peers and friends are doing,” Aaron explains. “And that means getting to dress like them, getting to participate in the fashion as much as the conversation.”

But putting on his favorite kicks was difficult and frustrating. After injuring his foot trying to put on his sneakers one day, Aaron took matters into his own hands.

“I went to a local cobbler with my idea for a zipper running along the length of the shoe, making it easier for anyone to put it on, regardless of ability,” Aaron says. “When I shared the design on social media, it got hundreds of likes and tens of thousands of shares.  I realized this might be something way bigger than just me.”

Just doing it

Aaron developed the idea for Zipped through social media, and word spread rapidly, as did demand for his after-market modifications. Now with a patent and in-house production, Zipped has customers in six different countries, and modifies shoes of any brand make and style to be more accessible.

Many customers share their stories with Aaron and even photos of themselves wearing their new favorite sneakers.

“It really warms my heart when I hear from families with kids who finally feel like they fit in,” Aaron says. “One child wore her shoes to school and immediately made friends with another kid wearing the same type of shoe. That’s what it’s all about for me.”

Having a community to support him and include him has helped Aaron make an impact on his community and touch an even larger community of customers around the world. It’s an impact on others’ lives he feels honored to have.

“If you can make the world even a bit better in your lifetime, you should try to do it,”  Aaron says. “That’s what life is all about to me.”