PolicyBite: February 3, 2017

Hello Advocates!

Let us first say a big thank you to all of the advocates that came out on Wednesday for our DD waivers/IPSE Advocacy Day. Turnout was so high that we actually ran out of chairs in Central Presbyterian Church - talk about a good "problem" to have!

If you missed the advocacy day, don't worry. You have four more chances to attend and make your voice heard! You can register online at bit.ly/2fRxoYX

  • Feb 7 - DD Waivers Advocacy Day 2
  • Feb 23 - Employment Advocacy Day
  • Feb 28 - Enable Work and Families Advocacy Day (Family Care Act, Peach Work, Phillip Payne Personal Assistance Program, & Change the Standard to Prove Intellectual Disabilities)
  • March 9 - Home & Community Advocacy Day (Elder & Disabled Abuser Registry, People First Language, Residential Housing Study Committee, Transportation)

Be sure to bring a form of identification and leave all weapons at home.

Catch our weekly phone call, every Monday during session at 9:30 am. Dial in at 1-888-355-1249 Code: 232357. Call in to learn about different bills we are following, our upcoming Advocacy Days, and the status of the Big Budget.  

Since we last spoke, quite a few things have happened.

The Senate put out their adjournment resolution which means we FINALLY know when Sine Die, the last day of session, will be. It's March 30 by the way. Crossover Day will be March 3 this year, meaning that is deadline for legislation to move from the House to the Senate, or vice versa. If it does not make this deadline, the bill is dead until next year.

Call to Action: WE NEED YOU

We will be hosting a Call to Action on this Wednesday, February 8. We need you to make 2 phone calls.

On Wednesday, we need you to call both your Representative, and Madam Chair Katie Dempsey (she is the head of the Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of DD Waiver Funding and Inclusive Post-Secondary Education in the House of Representatives).

To find out who your representative is, click here: Once you enter your address and click search, be sure to click on your Representative who is in the HOUSE. If you click on their name, their phone number will appear on the next page.

Phone Call #1: your Representative:

Hello my name is ____(your name)______.

May I leave a message for __(your representative)_________________?

I am your constituent. I live in ___(insert city or town)___ .

I am calling to tell you we need more DD waivers because we have almost 9,000 people on the waiting list. People with intellectual disabilities also have a right to a good education.

We need the Appropriations Committee to add

  1. $24.2 million for DD Waivers
  2. and $300,000 for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education to the Big Budget.

We need your help to make this happen. Would you please talk to Madam Chair Katie Dempsey about this important issue?

Thank you.

Phone Call #2: Madam Chair Katie Dempsey (404.463.2247)

Hello my name is __(insert your name)____.

May I leave a message for Madam Chair Dempsey?

I am calling to tell you we need more DD waivers because we have almost 9,000 people on the waiting list. People with intellectual disabilities also have a right to a good education.

We need the Appropriations Committee to add

  1. $24.2 million for DD Waivers
  2. and $300,000 for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education to the Big Budget.

Thank you

Other Events:

February 9, 5:30 -7:00 pm at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, 75 N. Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, Georgia, Rooms 4 & 5.  A public meeting to discuss the problems of accessibility on Jekyll Island beaches is being held with State ADA Coordinator Mike Galifianakis. The more people who can participate in person the better, though if you cannot participate, you can email your written comments to Carol Jones at by February 7.

February 9, Department of Community Health Board Meeting, 10:15 am, Call in # is 1-650-479-3207.

February 16, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Board Meeting, 1:00 pm, 2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, 24th Floor Board Room

February 21, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 1790 Lavista Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329. A teach-in to discuss changing the Standard of Proof for Intellectual Disability in Death Penalty cases in Georgia. Georgians with intellectual disabilities are very vulnerable in Georgia's criminal justice system because it is very hard to prove you have an intellectual disability in death penalty cases. Join us to learn more about the issue.

Our Partner's Advocacy Days (we share a common legislative goal)

Our Friend's Advocacy Days