by H. M. Cauley While the issues facing people with developmental disabilities are many, a few key areas have the most impact on the quality of life. Five of those specific areas – education, employment, formal and informal supports, real communities and self-advocacy – comprise the cornerstone...

by John B. Wells Fourteen years ago, my son, Joshua, used to work in a sheltered workshop. He was frustrated and wasn’t thriving. So, with the help of an employee at the workshop, my wife and I decided to take “Employment First” into our own hands. We advocated for him, deciding together that...

Earlier this summer, when Welcoming Community Dialogues (WCD) implemented its community meetings, the key question was, “Who’s missing from the table?” This month, the WCD team will bring together communities throughout Georgia for an extensive dialogue on issues, lessons and next steps for...

by Alison Barkoff, Director of Advocacy, Center for Public Representation Summer is winding down in DC, and Congress is returning from their recess. This summer was unusually active, with a number of significant federal rules coming out that impact people with disabilities. This issue will...

By Adrianne Murchison & Devika Rao Every Friday, Digital Technology Partners holds a lunch-staff meeting where each department shares positive activities that took place throughout the week and benefit the company. Among the employees who give a brief report is Hannah Hibben on how many...

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK! DBHDD's Division of Developmental Disabilities is hosting a series of five public forums to collect feedback from families on services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the DBHDD Division Director, Mr....

August is National #ABLEtoSave Month! Georgia’s Office of the State Treasurer, Georgia Department of Community Health, and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities in conjunction with the National STABLE Account program are hosting two information sessions on...

by Zelphine Smith-Dixon, Ed.D., State Director, Special Education Services and Supports At the Georgia Department of Education, the Division for Special Education Services and Supports provides necessary infrastructure and supports for leaders, teachers and families to meet the whole-child...

by Moira Bucciarelli Chanda Davis starts off shy, then she gradually opens up. Her sister and mother laugh because the Chanda they know won’t stop talking. The shy Chanda tells us quietly that she is 48 years old and has Down syndrome, that she has one brother and three sisters. She likes to...

by Jennifer Bosk Georgia Voices for Medicaid: Building a Constituency for Medicaid across Georgia is an initiative is funded by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) and implemented by Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF). In the past year, several Medicaid advocacy training...