GCDD 2018 Annual Report

Message from the Executive Directo

The mission of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play and worship in Georgia communities. For more information on how GCDD is implementing these real changes in communities across Georgia, click on the interactive impact project map below.

5 Real Communities Partnerships

New Five-Year Strategic Plan Adopted by Council

The federal government requires all Developmental Disabilities Councils to create new strategic plans every five years. The Five Year Strategic Plan determines how each Council will allocate funding to create systems change for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and family members through advocacy and capacity-building activities.

By hearing from individuals with I/DD, family members, caregivers, siblings and the community-at-large, it sets the course of what the Council has to work on for the next five years, or 2022-2026.

The new Five Year Strategic Plan has three goals, each with four objectives:
Goal 1: Systems Change
Goal 2: Self-Advocacy
Goal 3: Diversity

Read more about the new GCDD Five Year Strategic Plan.

COVID-19: "Get your vaccine!"

The COVID-19 pandemic continued in 2021, but all efforts were focused on getting people the new COVID-19 vaccines. This began with an advocacy effort that resulted in people with developmental disabilities being put at the top of the list to get the vaccine. DD Network partners began meeting with the Department of Public Health and working to coordinate the dissemination of information and the vaccines. This is a greater advocacy community effort that supported activities such as Zoom Webinars, and worked to organize "get your vaccine" events. More than 1,500 Georgians across the state participated in these 11 virtual webinars. Read more about the DD COVID-19 Network.

The Welcoming Community Movement: The goal of the Welcoming Community Movement is to support grassroots community organizing and advocacy to increase equity and inclusion for people with DD, BIPOC, and other marginalized groups in Georgia.

In 2021, four Welcoming Community Movement coaches were trained, and attendees from thirteen organizations attended a Welcoming Community Movement Retreat in Brunswick, GA. Read more about the Welcoming Community Movement.

5 Advocacy Days at the Capitol 2018

2021 Virtual Advocacy Days Bring Greater Access to Event for People with Disabilities

Over 550 disability advocates registered to virtually attend the 2021 GCDD Advocacy Days – the first time the DD council has hosted the days exclusively online since the initiative’s inception. Advocacy Days focused on policies affecting people with disabilities and brought together advocates from across the state to hear about the issues and work together to brainstorm actions they could take to advocate from home.

The three days covered HCBS Waivers, Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE), and Employment! Read more about Advocacy Days.

Treasure Maps: The Georgia Storytelling Roadshow 2021

The latest initiative from the GCDD Storytelling Project featured a series of drive-in performances held in six target cities across Georgia, showcasing the story performances of 10 people from across the state with developmental disabilities.

Read more about the GCDD Storytelling Project.