2012 MAD Winter Article: Reaching Out to Citizens Across Georgia
By Becca Bauer
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is the State’s leader in advancing public policy on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and advocating for an integrated community. GCDD envisions a Georgia where all persons are included in all facets of community life, have the choices to exercise control over their lives and are encouraged and supported to achieve their full potential.
Although many cities and counties across Georgia face similar challenges and share the same goals of working toward enhancing the quality of life for persons living with developmental disabilities, no one community is the same. GCDD makes it a goal to connect with all Georgia citizens, travel across the State to collaborate with the many disability communities and ensure everyone receives a chance to voice their opinion and be heard.
Over the past few months, GCDD has been reaching out and traveling throughout the State to make persons with developmental disabilities and their family members aware of the programs, opportunities and supports available for them and listen to their input.
Unlock the Doors to Real Communities Listening Tour
More than 6,000 people with disabilities across Georgia are waiting to receive funding for home and community-based services, and the list continues to grow each year. When people have support, they can work, take care of their families, participate in their communities and contribute, but most people with disabilities across Georgia lack access to these opportunities.
In an effort to address this issue, GCDD Deputy Director Pat Nobbie coordinated the 2011 Unlock the Doors to Real Communities Listening Tour, traveling to seven communities across the State to speak with families about their experiences, needs and challenges.
From late September to mid-October, GCDD representatives visited Bleckley, Lyons, Quitman, Ocilla, Macon, Summerville and Athens to host a potluck dinner and discussion for parents of children with disabilities, self-advocates, local professionals working in disability supports and services and all other community members who want to make an impact to unite and discuss effective ways to advocate for change.
“Many wonderful people welcomed us into their communities, personal struggles and experiences with the hope of initiating change and building stronger communities of support for people with disabilities,” said Nobbie.
Each one of the seven events was different. Some looked like a small group meeting around a kitchen table, whereas others boasted as many as 30 people or more. Over the course of the tour, law enforcement officers, a probate judge, mayors and city council members, support coordinators, high school principals, a representative from the human service rural transportation system, local Arc representatives and single parents, grandparents, aunts and even neighbors raising or supporting persons with disabilities came out to voice their opinions for collective change.
Despite the differences between each community, Nobbie always heard plenty of feedback from those in attendance and the discussions and answers began to blur together, but with some very common themes.
There is frustration on all sides. Many individuals have cared for their loved ones with disabilities for decades and wondered why it was always so hard, why they have to beg for support and for what they need to care for their loved ones when other “typical” children’s parents don’t need to beg. They are frustrated with the lack of resources, supports and networking available to share information with others in their community.
Providers feel there is too much red tape, too many forms, too much information required that is duplicated and not relevant to the request, and they are frustrated with the reduction in funding and the complication and segmentation of the waivers.
Families feel providers and staff don’t listen, don’t respect their advice when it comes to their own kin and feel staff isn’t paid well enough to survive in the field, even though they care about the work they do.
Others are concerned with more transportation options, supported employment, help with life planning, waivers and the disconnect between the school system, teachers and what people need as adults.
“It’s important to ask how can we support these communities to care for the people they love, while honoring and respecting their relationships, not ignoring their wishes,” says Nobbie. “This listening tour helps us learn how we can ADD to their capacity, so all people in the family home can have a good life.”
“It was a pleasure to have someone come to our community who was really concerned about what goes on outside of Atlanta. Pat gave us great information and inspiration,” added Shirley B. Brooks, executive director of Jessamine Place and an attendee at the Ocilla listening tour.
Media Tour & Roundtable Discussion
In October, GCDD traveled to Gainesville, GA to host a media hospital tour and roundtable discussion with Project SEARCH, the Northeast Georgia Health Systems (NGHS) and the Hall County School System.
The event was arranged to give media representatives the opportunity to interact in a roundtable discussion on policies and programs that affect those with disabilities. In addition, they received a first-hand look at employment and internship opportunities for young people with developmental disabilities at work in Project SEARCH, an employment transition program designed for students with disabilities, at NGHS.
Project Success, a transition program for young adults ages 18–21 years-old similar to Project SEARCH, kicked off the event with a catered lunch provided by three students from the program who attended to help pass out lunch and make sure everything ran smoothly.
“High school gives them their foundation,” says Susan Wright, transition coordinator for Hall County Schools. “With these programs, we are able to take students to the next level of independence with education, training and employment and give them various opportunities where they can experience real jobs and know what they would like to do as adults.”
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson started the media roundtable by welcoming those in attendance including GCDD staff and council members, media, professionals, interns and graduates from Project SEARCH and Project Success, as well as NGHS representatives.
“The point of these roundtables is to introduce the media to the many issues that are important to people with disabilities, and the idea that we are trying to create communities that welcome all people including those with disabilities,” said Jacobson. “We need to focus on how to create a community where we all want to live and make sure people get the services and supports they need.”
Jacobson went on to address the need for employment opportunities for people with disabilities, gave an update on the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) and how communities could get involved in transportation improvements for all Georgians including those with disabilities. Plus, he shared about GCDD’s Real Communities Initiatives.
Project SEARCH, a host to the event, is a business-led transition program offering career exploration to students with disabilities whose main goal is employment. Students learn employment-related job skills while participating in work rotations that prepare them with essential job-specific skills needed to gain and maintain meaningful employment.
“The program focuses on using their strengths to reach their goals, thus enhancing their self-confidence,” noted Colleen Pirkle, Project SEARCH instructor at NGHS. “They get valuable work experience in three rotations to build a very impressive resume and portfolio.”
There are 14 Project SEARCH sites throughout Georgia including the one at NGHS, GCDD Statewide Project SEARCH Coordinator, Dottie Adams said. “Each of these business sites open their doors to offer opportunities for interns to gain invaluable work experience that will help prepare them for their futures.”
Jesse Stephens, 19-years-old, works in the Bright Spot, a bistro inside the hospital, and stocks food items, helps make sandwiches, bakes and performs various other tasks for his internship.
“Host businesses benefit by having positive interactions with students with disabilities and serving their community by mentoring through our Project SEARCH program and mentors assigned to the students on their rotations,” said Pirkle.
Ricky Sisk, retail manager of the Bright Spot and supervisor to Stephens, agrees and says he values the employees Project SEARCH has provided him with.
“I am looking for him to develop tools that he can use as he goes forward in other avenues,” Sisk adds. “Jesse can put on his resume now that he knows how to stock, rotate, clean and do the kinds of things that any grocery store, convenience store or processing plant would require.”
James Pass, 19-years-old, works at NGHS as a materials technician stocking medical supplies and “is a joy to work with,” according to his supervisor, Tracy Underwood. “He comes in here smiling every day, ready to get started and go to work. Everything we’ve asked him to do, he’s just jumped right in there and done it.”
Pass, who processes information slower than others, needs to have things broken down for him when placing materials in specific locations for his job. “This job is about using my hands, focus and concentration,” Pass said. “If you explain it to me and I see it one time, then I will know how it will go no matter how many times I do it.”
The Cancer Center’s Research Department at NGHS has begun a project to convert patient medical records from paper to electronic records, and Project SEARCH intern Paloma Mendoza, 18, has played an instrumental role.
Mendoza assists in the project by scanning the records onto the computer and making sure they are correct. When placing students into various work rotations, Pirkle recommends students based on their individual talents and interests. Mendoza was a good fit to work in this department because she is working toward her personal future goals.
“I want to work in an office, and this job is helping me learn how to scan and making sure I can look through all of the papers,” Mendoza stated.
Gadge Nieves, 19, enjoys taking things apart and putting them back together, so working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit breaking down and cleaning isolettes focuses on enhancing his talents.
“It’s important we have these isolettes clean at all times so we can decrease any kind of infection that the babies might get,” said Nancy Perrin, charge nurse. “Gadge is doing a great job, and there is a lot quicker turnaround with him.”
As Nieves explained how he takes the isolettes apart, cleans them and puts them back together he added, “One time they gave me one I had never seen before, and I notice things a lot, so I just kept doing it and got it done.”
Nieves also explained he likes to help people and would like to pursue a career in counseling or music. He says working at Project SEARCH “Will help me get to the top, hopefully.”
The NGHS Project SEARCH site has been successful, and “We expect to win the Project SEARCH International Employment Award for the third year next year for outcomes above 80% in our hire rate,” added Pirkle. “We have been able to hire a number of our interns after graduation, which is one of the ultimate goals in the year-long program.”
Jacobson and Valerie Suber, public information director of GCDD, talked with several local radio shows to create more buzz for GCDD’s Gainesville visit and spoke with WKKT-FM, The Martha Zoller Show and WDUN-AM, the Morning Show with Bill & Joel.
“The media tour and roundtable also generated media coverage from the Gainesville Times and segments on Good Day Atlanta,” Suber said. “Georgia Access, an online news outlet, covered our public forum as well.”
GCDD Public Forum
“In addition to media roundtables, GCDD facilitates public forums twice a year to hear directly from local communities and gather information at the grassroots level to gain a better understanding of individual community needs firsthand,” Suber continued.
This October, GCDD hosted a public forum at the Oaks at Lanier Charter Career Academy in Gainesville, GA and invited residents of Northeast Georgia to share their input and have a voice in advocacy change.
With nearly 60 people in attendance including individuals with developmental disabilities, parents, caregivers and educators, Jacobson, Perrin, charge nurse. “Gadge is doing a great job, and there is a lot quicker turnaround with him.”
Tameeka Hunter, GCDD vice chairperson and Dr. Pat Nobbie, GCDD deputy director, acted as the event’s facilitators.
“The public forum is an opportunity for community feedback, and we encourage those in attendance to interact and voice their opinions on the changes needed to State and local officials who can take legislative action for policy changes,” shared Nobbie.
Among the topics discussed by concerned members of the community was the lack of funding available, the bureaucracy and the overwhelming amount of paperwork needed for each individual and the notion that visits to providing facilities by State inspectors should be surprise visits rather than preannounced.
“When we meet with Georgians in their own backyards, something organic happens,” Jacobson said. “We learn what’s important to local residents and can then apply that grassroots information to advocate change that often benefits not only the area we visit, but communities across the State.”
GCDD listened to the local citizens’ comments and plans to take into consideration their concerns when allocating its received funds.
“By traveling across Georgia through our Unlock the Doors to Real Communities Listening Tour, hosting our media roundtables and public forums outside of Atlanta and holding events in different communities throughout the State, we can keep in touch with Georgia citizens,” says Jacobson. “We will continue to reach out to everyone in the State by sharing our policies, programs and hearing their feedback. It is for those individuals, we are fighting for change.”
