Look for GCDD to Reach Out to You
The following is the GCDD Viewpoint article from the Spring 2013 Making a Difference.
Look for GCDD to Reach Out to You
Spring is a time for rebirth and reflection. For many it means flowers and love is in the air. This edition of Making a Difference reflects on how people connect with each other through relationships and how some of those relationships lead to marriage.
We also reflect on the 2013 legislative session that just ended. This session was relatively quiet for issues important to people with developmental disabilities. The State budget continues to reflect a slow economy and most new money for people with developmental disabilities is targeted to those individuals leaving public institutions or those who are at risk of institutionalization. There was not support for increasing the funding beyond the requirements from the Department of Justice settlement. However, we hope to build this funding over the coming years.
Many of you were there on February 21 to help us rally at the 15th Annual Disability Day at the State Capitol, and you heard Governor Deal proclaim his support for expanding post-secondary options for students with intellectual disabilities. This support leads to new funds for the initiative at Kennesaw State University and will allow a new program to begin at a yet to be determined university.
Over 2,500 people attended Disability Day this year. The weather was perfect and speakers such as Governor Deal, Commissioner Frank Barry (DBHDD) and Greg Schmeig (GVRA), reinforced our beliefs and efforts that no person should live in an institution or nursing home and that we need to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. On that day, we stood as a community with our policy leaders and made a statement that every Georgian needs to have a Real Life. We even heard that some of the "old timers" thought this was the best rally ever.
Finally, our advocacy efforts were heard around the world as we pushed to keep Warren Hill from being put to death. Many of us stood on the Capitol steps and spoke about the injustice that would occur if Hill was executed. Now, we must fix Georgia's law so that "beyond a reasonable doubt" becomes a "preponderance of evidence" and aligns Georgia with other states so that no person with an intellectual disability is executed here.
While we had some good things happen, we cannot let our guard down. We must work to build a robust network of advocates around the State who are willing to tell our elected officials that we must expand these efforts. There must be new money in the budget to help the 7,500 people currently on waiting lists. This must happen while we move people out of institutions – we can't wait until 2015.
GCDD will work to help make sure your voice is heard and will be expanding its grassroots advocacy efforts in partnership with others over the coming months. Look for us to reach out to you.
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