COVID-19 Specific Media Coverage
Georgia Recorder 5-5-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in an interview with Jill Nolin at the Georgia Recorder.
Read the article here: “Coronavirus creates extra hardship for workers with disabilities” or download the print article.
The article also ran in the Daily Citizen-News Online on 5-11-2020.
AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) 4-26-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in several discussions with journalist Jessica Ravitz, over the course of many weeks, for a feature in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In the piece, Jessica profiles a senior citizen with Down syndrome, how he and his family are navigating access to services and supports and why the process is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though GCDD is not directly mentioned in the piece, we provided Jessica with extensive background on such issues as home and community-based Medicaid waivers for Georgians with disabilities, legislative updates regarding budget considerations and more.
Read the article here: “A caretaker’s dilemma” or download the print article.
GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) News 4-24-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in an interview with reporter Jade Abdul-Malik at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
In a recent article, Jade profiles a family navigating the system to find both state-funded and private supports. She also discusses how the family’s journey is complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the piece, GCDD offers insight into the home and community-based Medicaid waiver programs for Georgians with developmental disabilities.
Read the article here: “Fight Or Flight Mode: How A Mother Fights For Her Son With Autism” or download the print article.
Memory Well 4-24-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in several discussions with journalist Jessica Ravitz, over the course of many weeks, for a feature for Memory Well. Memory Well is a national, independent news platform targeting caregivers, family members and loved ones of people who are elderly and people with disabilities.
In the piece, Jessica profiles a senior citizen with Down syndrome, how he and his family are navigating access to services and supports and why the process is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, GCDD offers insight about such issues as home and community-based Medicaid waivers for Georgians with disabilities, associated waiting lists, legislative updates regarding budget considerations and more.
Read the article here: “Fighting for Ed: A woman’s struggle to care for her aging cousin with Down syndrome” or download the print article.
WABE Radio 4-23-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in an interview with reporter Sam Whitehead at WABE, Atlanta’s NPR station.
In a recent episode of the new podcast, “Did You Wash Your Hands?,” Sam discusses what COVID-19 means for people with disabilities.
Though GCDD is not directly mentioned in the piece, we provided WABE with extensive background on the issue and helped put the reporter in touch with leadership at the Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO).
Listen to the segment here: “An Advocate Worries What COVID-19 Could Mean For People With Disabilities”
Disability Matters Radio 4-14-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in a live, on-air interview with disability employment consultant and advocate Joyce Bender for her international radio show, “Disability Matters.”
Eric was joined by Marlyn Tillman of the Gwinnett Parent Coalition to Dismantle the School-to-Prison Pipeline (Gwinnett SToPP). GCDD helps fund Gwinnett SToPP to develop and implement a plan to reduce the number of African American males in special education classes who are at risk of being pushed out of school and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems - a trend known as the "school-to-prison pipeline.”
During the show, Joyce discusses with Eric and Marlyn how the COVID-19 pandemic is being addressed for people with developmental disabilities. She also focuses on why dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline is especially important at this time.
Listen to the full radio show here: “Emergency COVID-19 Show : How the COVID-19 Crisis Is Being Addressed for those with Developmental Disabilities”
YANA Radio 3-28-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in an live, on-air interview with advocate and host Rick Knight for his WAEC AM Love 860 radio show, “YANA Nation.” YANA stands for “you are not alone.”
During the show, Eric and Rick discussed GCDD initiatives, tips for advocacy, COVID-19 resources and more.
No recording is available, but you may learn more about the show here: WAEC AM Love 860 Broadcast Schedule
Nella Joi Nation Radio 3-24-2020
GCDD Executive Director Eric Jacobson participated in an on-air interview with advocate and host Norma Stanley for her BTalk 100 radio show, “Nella Joi Nation.”
During the show, Norma discusses with Eric proposed budget cuts to state funding of services for people with disabilities, resources for the disability community during the COVID-19 pandemic and more.
Listen to a featured segment here: “Nella Joi Nation Welcomes the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities”
