Help Make Georgia a Better Place in 2014
Happy New Year and welcome to 2014. As we move into the New Year, the members and staff of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) wish the best to you and your family. We hope you will join us this year in trying to make Georgia a better place for people with developmental disabilities, and there will be many opportunities for you to join a growing disability movement. In our last edition, we spoke on what it takes to create a movement and connections between the disability movement and other social justice efforts. In this edition, we focus on how YOU can become more civically engaged and help change what is happening.
In his 2011 article "Everyday Democracy," Marc Steers wrote, "An everyday democracy is a society in which we continuously forge new, deep and powerful relationships with those with whom we live. It offers a politics in which we discover shared goals even with those with whom we usually disagree." In other words, if we are not satisfied with the resources and service systems that exist, we must get involved not only in politics but what takes place in our local communities and find the common goals that exist between neighbors. When was the last time you attended a local meeting of the county commission or the chamber of commerce – not to just talk about disability issues but to be a part of the conversation to make your neighborhood or community a better place? Not recently? Maybe it's time to ask how we can get involved. This is our role as members of society, and when we don't participate, we give up our right to complain.
In November, Georgia will hold its mid-term elections. Make sure you are registered to vote and that you go to the polls. During the summer campaign season, ask candidates for offices such as the governor, state representatives and senators, federal representatives, mayor, county commission, etc. about what they are willing to do to increase employment for people with disabilities. Ask them what they are willing to do to make sure students with disabilities graduate with a diploma that allows them to attend college? Ask them if they are willing to make sure that representatives from all marginalized people are at the table when policy decisions are made.
You can begin this journey on February 20th at the 16th Annual Disability Day at the Capitol. Join us as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Olmstead Decision and tell us your story. You can register to vote and join us in telling our elected officials that people with disabilities and their families are important constituents who not only care about "our" issues but in ensuring that all Georgians have an opportunity for a Real Career, Real Home and Real Learning Experiences.
GCDD is here to assist you.
Check out our website and join our advocacy network so you can stay informed. We hope you enjoy reading this magazine and we want to hear from you. Let us know your
thoughts by writing to our Editor-In-Chief at .
Eric Jacobson
Executive Director, GCDD
