12th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol to Draw 2,000 Advocates and Supporters

Keynotes at Rally On Capitol Steps: Obama Appointee To Share Vision For Workplace Diversity “R” Word Rights Activist To Address Grassroots

US Census and Voter Registration Activities At GA Freight Depot

People with disabilities, their families and advocates for disability rights will rally Thursday, February 25 on the Capitol steps with state lawmakers and supporters from across Georgia.  Disability Day at the Capitol, sponsored by the Georgia Council On Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), is the largest annual public gathering held during the official legislative session.  Disability affects one in five Georgians and over 2,000 supporters from the state are expected for a morning of advocacy activities.

At the 11 am Rally, Kathy Martinez, from the US Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), will share the Obama administration’s vision for workplace diversity as she concludes the Atlanta portion of a national listening tour.  Julie Petty, from SABE (Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered), will motivate, inspire and call for continued action and attitudinal change from Georgia’s grassroots to the highest levels of government.

The Rally has become a tradition for constituents statewide, and many groups will convene in Atlanta from cities across Georgia including Fitzgerald, Macon, Jackson, Lithonia, Glennville, Bogart and Warm Springs.  Impromptu chanting of Count Me In! Count My Vote! Count My Community! will be heard at day-long activities including:

  1. A world languages sign-making workshop including representation of Korean, Spanish, French, German and Mandarin (9 am); the signs created will be used at the Rally Count My Community!
  2. Voter registration and accessible voter machine demonstrations, especially important in an election year (9 am) Count My Vote!
  3. US Census 2010 information distribution (9 am) Count Me In!
  4. State elected officials speak on public policy (11 am)
  5. Recognition of fallen soldiers by Sri Pavan Kumar Kristapati from the Hindu Temple of Atlanta (11am)
  6. Presentation of awards to individuals who have made outstanding service to the disability community (11am)

“We are thrilled to have the distinguished company of Kathy Martinez and Julie Petty, two self advocates who will underscore the importance of meaningful community living and heighten public awareness of social policy issues that impact all people with disabilities,” said GCDD Executive Director Eric E. Jacobson.

The Rally, hosted by Jacobson and GCDD Chair Tom Seegmueller, is sponsored by GCDD with support from a host of state advocacy groups and partners, including a special partnership with US Census 2010 which seeks to ensure all people are counted, including those in the disability community.  It is expected that rights and responsibilities will also be high on the agenda as Martinez and Petty encourage those in attendance to register to vote in this election year and to gather important Census information to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

“As we enter this new decade our commitment to improve our collective quality of life has never been stronger,” Seegmueller said.  “We’ve made extraordinary progress with our increased awareness of social policy issues and voter registration success, but we must continue to push forward.  For 12 years now, Disability Day at the Capitol has provided the impetus for that positive movement into the community.”

Petty, former president of SABE, is a self-advocate from Arkansas who recently participated in making a joint statement on behalf of the disability community to the White House on the topic of the “r” word.  http://sabeusa.org/ .

Blind since birth, Martinez is an internationally recognized disability rights leader specializing in employment, asset building, independent living, international development, diversity and gender issues.  She was confirmed as assistant secretary of ODEP in the current administration.  While she is in Atlanta for Disability Day at the Capitol, she will also moderate the ODEP’s “Listening Session” at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta February 24.

Disability Day at the Capitol begins with registration and breakfast at 9 am at the Georgia Freight Depot.  Advocates from across Georgia will participate in activities and exhibits then prepare for the 11 am rally on the Capitol steps.  A 12:45 pm lunch at the Georgia Freight Depot with legislators from both sides of the aisle will conclude the event.

Among GCDD’s list of public policy priorities are:

The Unlock The Waiting Lists! Campaign calling for funding of community based services for nearly 7,000 persons on waiting lists for vital supports and proposals that will help people receive the services they need to live and thrive in their communities.

GCDD is a Federally-funded state agency that promotes independence, inclusion, integration, self-determination and productivity for Georgians with developmental disabilities so they can live, learn, work, play and worship where and how they choose.  A Developmental Disability is a chronic mental and/or physical disability that occurs before age 22 and is expected to last a lifetime.  It may require supports in three or more of the following life activities: self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, independent living and economic self-sufficiency.  Visit  www.gcdd.org for more information.