Community Helps Redefine GCDD

If asked, could you explain just what GCDD does? And could you name the major issues that individuals with developmental disabilities face? If the answer is no or you’re unsure, you’re not alone.

Leading up to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 20th anniversary in July, the results of a study commissioned by GCDD about the public’s level of disability awareness were released. The survey sample was comprised of two groups: a random sample of the general public and individuals with disabilities and their families. There were a total of 379 respondents, and the questions posed to them were intended to evaluate the following:

  • Awareness of and issues related to developmental disabilities
  • Perceptions about employment, educational settings and living environments for persons with developmental disabilities
  • Awareness of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) and other organizations that provide services
  • Awareness of the ADA
  • Support for increasing taxes in order to support persons with developmental disabilities in their communities

The overall objective of the study was to explore the perceptions, attitudes and awareness of developmental disability issues among the general public and contrast them to the opinions of those living with and impacted by the challenges on a daily basis.

Awareness of Issues Related to Developmental Disabilities

The good news was that 55% of the general public and 78% of the disability community participants agreed that adults with disabilities should be able to live on their own with supports and services and not in institutions. In addition, 84% of respondents were likely to consider mental, cognitive or learning disabilities as developmental disabilities, although visual and hearing impairments were least likely to be mentioned. 55% of the general public and 78% of the disabilities community participants agreed that adults with disabilities should be able to live on their own with supports and services and not in institutionsWhile these results seemed to indicate that people are becoming more aware of the needs and desires of the disability community, the survey also revealed that there is more to be done to further educate the public. For instance, only one-quarter of the general public and 28% of participants from the disability community believed it was very likely for persons with developmental disabilities to have careers with opportunities for advancement. In addition, more than half (52.8%) of the general public said that children with developmental disabilities would benefit most from being in separate classrooms or special schools versus learning in general classrooms with all students. [caption id="attachment_596" align="aligncenter" width="456" caption="The new GCDD Logo"]The new GCDD Logo[/caption]

 

The survey revealed that only one-third of Georgia’s general public comes across or interacts with persons with developmental disabilities in their everyday life, even if they or a family member has a disability. Not surprisingly, 38% of respondents said that when they encounter a person with a disability that they sympathize with the difficulties that he or she faces. The general public cited difficulties such as prejudice, discrimination, fear and stigma, but overlooked practical issues, such as accessibility, independent living, employment and financial planning.

Awareness of the ADA

Among the general public, 79.5% had heard of the ADA, and within the developmental disability community, almost all (97.2%) were aware of it. Of the issues that the ADA addresses, respondents from both groups were most familiar with regulations related to the accessibility of public places and telecommunication services.

Awareness of GCDD and other organizations that Serve the Developmental Disability Community

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of respondents within the developmental disability community (86.5%) were familiar with GCDD before taking the survey. However, only 26.5% of the general public respondents had heard of GCDD. When asked to name organizations that serve the developmental disability community, GCDD was mentioned most often among the developmental disabilities sample; the general public named the United Way the most frequently.

Support for Increased Funding to Assist Persons with Developmental Disabilities

The survey revealed that only one-third of Georgia's general public comes across or interacts with persons with developmental disabilities in their everyday life, even if they or a family member has a disabilityThe majority of the total survey sample (87.0%) advocated increasing state government funding to support people with developmental disabilities in their communities. At the same time, neither of the two proposed revenue sources (special purpose sales tax, sin tax) was strongly supported by a majority of respondents outside the developmental disability community. However, survey responses indicated that members of the general public do not understand the variety of issues and funding needs faced by persons with developmental disabilities. GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson commented on the findings by saying, “Persons with developmental disabilities and their issues are still somewhat invisible to everyday society.” Although we've made progress as a result of the ADA, there is still a lot of education to be done among the general public, and the best way to do that is to create a society that better integrates persons with disabilities in our schools, workforce and communityHe added, “Although we have made progress as a result of the ADA, there is still a lot of education to be done among the general public, and the best way to do that is to create a society that better integrates persons with disabilities in our schools, workforce and community. Understanding comes through exposure and awareness. GCDD is committed to achieving this goal through public policy, advocacy programs and public information.” According to Valerie Meadows Suber, GCDD public information director, “The results of the survey are further evidence of the importance of GCDD’s commitment and work to create opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to be more engaged in community life. The general public’s lack of regular interaction with individuals with developmental disabilities, may partially explain the lack of awareness,” she said. “This compounds the extent to which persons with developmental disabilities may go unnoticed and experience social isolation.” The survey outcomes helped inform GCDD’s new public relations initiative, which is being spearheaded by Suber. “We felt that we really needed to get a better sense of public attitudes in order to devise a successful plan to raise awareness and improve perceptions. This led us to reevaluate our approach and make adjustments to our outreach strategy.” In April, GCDD conducted focus groups in which participants were asked to respond to GCDD’s current identity and messaging and answer questions about their knowledge of disability issues. The focus groups were comprised of GCDD’s target audiences: individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, representatives of disability organizations, community leaders and the general public. “The focus groups made it apparent that we need to develop messaging that is easier to understand; clarify exactly what GCDD does; and broaden the awareness of our programs,” Suber said. Though GCDD’s objectives are the same, its messaging has been revised to be more comprehensive and transparent. Its new positioning statement is as follows, “The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is a leading catalyst for systems change for individuals and families living with developmental disabilities. Through public policy initiatives, advocacy programs and community building, GCDD promotes and creates opportunities to enable persons with disabilities to live, work, play and worship as an integral part of society.” Accompanying the new messaging, GCDD has an entirely new look that speaks to its value and presence in the community. The focus groups felt that GCDD should have a bold, unique look and feel that would differentiate it from similar organizations with similar names. Jacobson welcomed the feedback, saying, “It has been over 15 years since we have changed our logo. Last year we had a name change and became part of the newly created Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. This year we undertake a strategic planning process that will guide our activities for a five year span. It seemed like the right time to think about how we are perceived by the public.” Once new logo designs were completed, the focus groups convened again to respond to several logo options. Their final choice was representative of their desire for a design that was bold, simple, memorable and straightforward. The logo design was officially adopted by Council vote at GCDD’s quarterly meeting in July. The new logo and positioning will be incorporated into all media, including the redesign of the GCDD website, which is scheduled to launch in early November. The new website will contain a wealth of new interactive features, including a blog, community resources, the latest news and legislative updates, intuitive site structure and integration with social media outlets so that users can engage with one another and express their reactions to issues affecting the developmental disability community. “We envision GCDD’s new web-site as a virtual gathering place for advocates, their supporters, as well as the general public, to find resources, share information and exchange ideas,” Suber said. “We expect this public relations initiative to enable GCDD to strengthen community ties and reach more people than ever before.” Last year we had a name change and became part of a newly created department.The new website will emphasize GCDD’s philosophy for Real Communities, which covers The Real Communities Initiative and five focus areas: real homes, real careers, real learning, real influence and real supports. Site visitors will easily be able to find information pertaining to these categories by searching and browsing within them. Making a Difference magazine will also undergo aesthetic revisions, so expect a new look for the Winter 2010 issue. The new logo, colors and messaging will form the basis for the magazine’s new look and feel. Until then, be sure to check out the new and improved GCDD website (gcdd.org) around Election Day. Thoughts about the new look and website? We welcome your feedback. Email comments to Valerie Meadows Suber, GCDD public information director at . Also, the complete survey results are available on the GCDD website.