In Making a Difference Winter 2017, we previously covered Real Communities Partnerships which create welcoming and inclusive communities where people of all abilities are valued equally and are active participants in making life better for everyone. Through a circle and collaborative approach,...

By Kurt Vogel My name is Kurt Vogel, I’m a student at Georgia Tech’s Expanding Career, Education and Leadership Opportunities (Excel) Program, a program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Through Excel, I am a research assistant at Georgia Tech’s Center for...

The following is a transcript of remarks given by Rep. Tony Coehlo at Employment Advocacy Day. I take the view that if you give me the right to fail then I have the opportunity to succeed. What happens in our country today is so many people ask the question “can you do this if you have a...

Senator Nan Orrock and Representative Valencia Stovall spoke at the Employment Advocacy Days reminding attendees that sharing their story is the way to facilitate change in policy that affects people with disabilities. Below are excerpts of their brief addresses to the advocates. Senator Nan...

People with disabilities and their families are forever in a defensive posture for defending the legitimacy of their need for Medicaid to provide healthcare and home and community-based services (HCBS) so they can live in the same communities as everyone else. Believe me, those of us fortunate...

Since 1992, a little known nonprofit organization in Athens, GA has been steadily making strides in caring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). By working on a case by case basis, Georgia Options has dedicated itself to ensure people with disabilities thrive...

With sweeping changes occurring in Washington, DC under the new administration, one of the biggest proposals to come out of the White House was the American Health Care Act (AHCA) – a replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that became law on March 23, 2010. Many of those changes would...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) held the 2017 Advocacy Days in February and March this year at the Georgia State Capitol – five different days of advocacy dedicated to issues that are integral to the success of the developmental disability community in the State. While a...