Becoming a Grassroots Advocate
At GCDD, we know that Georgians with developmental disabilities (DD) want to live full lives in our communities and they are fully capable of doing so. And we know that if we, the citizens of Georgia, choose to make positive changes to our system, more and more people with DD will be working in our communities, living with their families or friends or independently as they so choose, and participating in their communities all across Georgia. When all of our citizens, including those with DD, are able to use their gifts and talents and pursue their dreams, it creates a better Georgia for us all. To make this a reality, we all have to become advocates to promote public policy that is truly inclusive of citizens with DD.
Tools for Grassroots Advocacy
- NOW/COMP Waiver Waitlist: The Time is Now (2014)
- 2023 Advocacy Day One Pagers
- 2021 GCDD HCBS Advocacy Day – January 27, 2021
- Introduction to Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waivers (PPT)
- A Deeper Dive into Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waivers (PPT)
- An HCBS Waiver Primer (PDF)
- Share Your Story with Policymakers: Virtual Edition! (PDF)
- Legislative Advocate Tool - Letter Email Template (DOC)
- Why is Advocacy Important? A video from the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (VIDEO)
- Navigating the Georgia State Capitol A video from the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia highlighting accessibility features, transportation options, and more (VIDEO)
- Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers Infographic (PDF)
- Achieving Accessibility for Election Websites and Sample Ballots: A Toolkit for Disability Advocates (PDF)
- 2018 UNLOCK! The Vote Webinar (PDF)
- 2018 Election Accessibility Toolkit (PDF) (DOC)
- Legislative Testimony Training (PDF) (DOC)
- Legislative Testimony Template (PDF)
- Guide to Meeting with Your Legislator (PDF)
- UNLOCK Legislative Priorities Flyer - 2018 GCDD Advocacy Day (PDF)
- Supported Employment Flyer - 2018 GCDD Advocacy Day (PDF)
- DD Waivers - 2018 GCDD Advocacy Day (PDF)
- Telling Your Story to Legislators (Downloadable Document): https://gcdd.org/telling-your-story-downloadable-document.html
- The Disability Guide to Voting: http://www.gcdd.org/the-disability-guide-to-voting.html
- Find your State Legislators here: http://openstates.org/
- Georgia State Constitution (PDF)
- Georgia’s Budget Process: https://opb.georgia.gov/budget-process
- State of Georgia Budget Cycle (PDF)
- Capitol Hill Parking Map (if you visit Georgia’s Gold Dome) (PDF)
- Listing of Public Parking Areas around Georgia State Capitol: https://gba.georgia.gov/general-public-parking
- Speak Up: A Guide To Self Advocacy – Thanks to the ARC of Washington State (PDF) (Text Accessible)
- Legislative Advocacy Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) (Text Accessible)
- How A Bill is Passed in the Georgia Legislature (PDF)
- Advocacy Demystified: Tools & Strategies for Effective Consumer Health Advocacy (PDF)
- Capitol Accessibility Guide for Visitors with Disabilities (State of Georgia) (PDF)
- Telling Your Story Effectively to State Legislators, Dawn Alford, our public policy director, participated with Rep. Pat Gardner in a webinar hosted by Parent 2 Parent (Video)
- 2018 EVV Introduction (PDF)
- 2018 EVV Resources (PDF)