In the News
The following is the In the News article from the Spring 2013 Making a Difference.
In the News
Georgia Winter Institute 2013:
The Georgia Winter Institute, which brings together people from across Georgia and beyond to discover how to infuse values-based, person-centered philosophies into community-building efforts, was held January 6-9, 2013 in Columbus, GA at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center and Columbus Marriott.
Attendees had a chance to learn from well-known leaders in the community and explored strategies on sharing stories of successes and dreams of community members, to better understand how to share those stories in ways that both engage and excite the listener and to participate in various activities, including encouraging commitments to sponsor readings of Waddie Welcome and the
Beloved Community. This is a story of friendships transcending divisions of disability, race and income to get Waddie Welcome out of a nursing facility and back home to Savannah.
This four-day annual event was sponsored by the Center for Leadership in Disability, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Georgia Advocacy Office and the Arc of Georgia.
"This is a great event because it facilitates open conversations on how to engage people with disabilities in all aspects of community life and lets others know we
have made tremendous progress toward opportunities for people with disabilities to become an integral part of community life," said GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson.
GCDD Advocating for Hill's Stay of Execution:
GCDD has been closely following the national controversy surrounding the Warren Hill case, a man with an undisputed intellectual disability, and his call for an unconstitutional execution in Georgia. Despite being diagnosed as having an intellectual disability, Georgia law requires that those on death row must prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that they have an intellectual disability. Amidst national outcry on Hill's case, a press conference of disability advocates calling for clemency was held on February 19, 2013 at the Georgia State Capitol on the day Hill was set to be executed.
"People with intellectual disabilities deserve to live as full citizens of this country and State, protected by laws designed to recognize our diversity and uphold our basic rights, despite our differences," said GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson, who spoke at the press conference. "We in Georgia will continue to fight to bring our State into alignment with other states by working with policymakers to change the 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standard."
Although Hill was granted a stay of execution one hour before he was set to die, GCDD will continue to advocate for justice and a fair trial for Hill's case.
Schools Must Open Sports to Kids with Disabilities:
For the first time, the US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights declared that children with disabilities have the right to participate in their school's extracurricular activities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This guidance will allow students with intellectual, developmental, physical and other types of disabilities equal access to their school's sports and opportunities to join their school teams with
modifications, aids and services as needed.
"Sports can provide invaluable lessons in discipline, selflessness, passion and courage, and this guidance will help schools ensure that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to benefit from the life lessons they can learn on the playing field or on the court," said Education Secretary Arne Duncan. For more information, visit www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/01/25/feds-schoolssports/17177/
