GCDD Attends the 2013 Disability Policy Seminar
The following is the Around GCDD article from the Summer 2013 Making a Difference magazine talking about some of the things happening at GCDD over the past quarter. Click here to read the entire magazine.
GCDD Attends the 2013 Disability Policy Seminar
Several members from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) attended this year's annual Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC on April 15-17, 2013, to learn about and discuss the most pressing topics in disability public policy. The two-day seminar is an opportunity for advocates from across the nation to gather and advance the grassroots movement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, followed by a final day to speak directly to elected officials on Capitol Hill.
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson, GCDD Public Policy Director D'Arcy Robb, along with three GCDD Council members, Teresa Ann Heard, Teresa Johnson and Lisa Newbern, and Ryan Johnson from, the Center for Leadership and Disability (CLD), were among the more than 650 attendees.
This year's seminar focused on presidential election-year issues and how to make a difference with grassroots advocacy. The first two days of the seminar offered opportunities to network with peers, as well as 15 informative and educational in-depth sessions with disability policy experts on topics including Medicaid and community living, federal funding, social security, employment and education, healthcare and asset development.
"There were incredible learning opportunities at the seminar, both formally in the presentation sessions and informally while connecting with the other conference participants," said GCDD Council member Lisa Newbern who attended the seminar.
According to Robb, the presentations dedicated to Social Security/SSDI/SSI made the most impact on her. "There were excellent breakdowns and details on how those funds work, which can become quite complicated, and good discussions on their solvency for the future," she said.
In addition to the informative topics explored during the sessions, the group representing GCDD valued the opportunity to network with other disability advocates and the chance to take their concerns and issues directly to Capitol Hill in meetings with nationally elected representatives.
They were able to meet with several representatives including Rep. Tom Price (R-Dist 6) and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Dist 10). They also met with staff for Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Dist 8), Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Dist 11), Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Dist 1) and Rep. Tom Graves (R-Dist 14).
The visits with the senators focused on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) treaty. CRPD is an international human rights instrument of the United Nations that is intended to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made to effectively promote, protect and ensure their full rights. In addition to speaking with senators, they had the opportunity to speak with Rhonda Neuhaus, policy analyst for government affairs of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities who have children with disabilities, about promotion for the treaty. GCDD fully supports this advocacy effort and encourages Georgia citizens to contact Sen. Isakson and Sen. Chambliss urging them to support the convention as well.
While meeting with various representatives, the GCDD members explained their advocacy work and highlighted successful programs such as Project SEARCH, a business-led school-to-work transition program designed for students with disabilities whose main goal is employment and had 70% of this year's participants employed by the program's conclusion.
"Our main goal was to educate the elected officials about the work we do at GCDD and our role as innovators for advancing the rights of people with disabilities and Georgia communities as a whole," shared Robb.
Council member Newbern agrees that education is a key factor in gaining support for the rights of people with disabilities. "We must work with providers to truly see each person they serve. It's about people, not just numbers," she said. "GCDD must continue being visible. With each new legislative session, there are many new people who need to be educated. Being at the conference reaffirms how many people are working on behalf of individuals with disabilities and GCDD is in a unique position to lead this educational outreach back in Georgia."
All in all, the group made good connections with national officials on advocating for the passage of CRPD, gained good perspectives and initiated thought-provoking conversations on the future of crucial entitlement programs such as Medicaid and Social Security. "There is no easy way forward, but we are committed to being a part of forging that path in a way that works for individuals with disabilities and their
families," Robb declared.
The 2013 Disability Policy Seminar was hosted by the American Association of Intellectual Disabilities (AAID), the Arc, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) and United Cerebral Palsy (UPC). For more information on the 2013 Disability Policy Seminar, visit www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2171. And, for more information about the CRPD, visit http://www.gcdd.org/blogs/gcdd-blog/2497-a-brief-look-into-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html
GCDD Elects New Leadership
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is pleased to announce the recent election of new officers and executive committee members to the organization to help drive its legislative advocacy and community-building activities. The 26-member body of GCDD elected two executive officers and three members at-large:
Chair: Mitzi R. Proffitt, Parent Advocate; Brooklet, GA (Statesboro area)
Vice Chair: Tom Connelly, Self-Advocate; Albany, GA
At-large: Josette Akhras, Parent Advocate; Eatonton, GA
At-large: Geneice McCoy, Parent Advocate; Augusta, GA
At-large Advisory: Lisa Newbern, Parent Advocate; Atlanta, GA
"It's an honor to chair this organization which is at the forefront of social and policy change for people with disabilities in Georgia and beyond," Proffitt, the new council chair said. "Because at least 60% of our members either have a developmental disability or a family member who does, this is a knowledgeable, caring and passionate group." For a complete list of current GCDD Council members, visit www.gcdd.org/about/the-council.html.
