Storytelling is a Part of Our Advocacy

In late 2017, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (GCDD) late Public Policy Director Dawn Alford had an idea to support self-advocates sharing their stories with legislators. She believed that the power of constituents’ own stories was the strongest tool in legislative advocacy work for disability rights and equal access. She wanted to create a program to capture the words and images of Georgians with disabilities at school, home, and work and share this information with their state legislators. These stories would serve as a calling card and showcase the people behind the policy. This idea became what is now known as the GCDD Storytelling Project.

L'Arche Atlanta was selected to lead the project and since it began in 2018, more than 200 stories have been captured and shared via a mini-documentary, short films, creative prose, podcasts, written stories, community conversations, and photographs. The project concluded this spring after six years of collecting stories from people whose voices often go unheard.

Irene Turner, the Storytelling Project Director and Producer of the mini documentary “6,000 Waiting” said, “The Storytelling Project created a platform for Georgians with disabilities to be represented on the state level. The stories were in the hands of advocates at the state capitol and eventually in the hands of lawmakers as policy decisions around funding were being considered. The Storytelling Project was a place for Georgians with disabilities to come to speak about their lives and experiences and connect with other self-advocates from around the state. Specifically at our multi-city roadshows there was the opportunity for the community to learn and rally around disability policy in Georgia. Real representation of people with disabilities was created at the capitol and at the project's events around the state.”

Telling Our Stories

Turner and other members of the project team traversed the state meeting people who wanted to share their thoughts and stories. Here are some reflections on the project from self-advocates and family members who participated.

Jessica Cowell (Winowich)

Jessica Cowell (Winowich) is from Columbus, Georgia and was a participant in the 2021 Treasure Maps Roadshow and the Cow Tipping Press creative prose project. Jessica was appointed as a GCDD Council Member in September of this year. 

Jessica shared, “I heard about the GCDD storytelling project three years ago. The project they were doing that year was called Treasure Maps, and I was immediately interested. I was told since preschool that it was important for me to use my voice, because it is not something everyone can do. There have been times in my life when people have made it clear they would rather not hear it. For a while I forgot how important it was. I majored in theatre and history at Columbus State University. I feel more alive in a theatre than anywhere. 

“When I heard about this project it felt like a new way to use my voice. After doing some self-reflection I've realized my loved ones have always called me a storyteller. The year I did my first one, we were still having to take serious precautions due to COVID-19, so we did a good deal of the work online, but that made it more accessible for me because it didn't matter that I was not in Atlanta. We made videos separately and they were edited into a whole movie. 

“Shannon (the woman who organized the project) told me about a storytelling group in Chicago who was doing online events, and I got to meet them and was given the opportunity to be a part of their Story Lab series which was so wonderful. The next year several of us got to work together to make a book of short stories together. I also got to do a project with a close friend and Story Corps. This year we were able to facilitate discussions with people who were interested in understanding more about our lived experience. 

“Each project has been unique and interesting. They have also given us an opportunity to create something that can live beyond ourselves. I have tried to do historical research about people with developmental disabilities, but it is difficult to find many primary resources. For so long we were not meant to be seen and heard so GCDD and Shannon (Turner) giving us this opportunity has been monumental not just for me but for our community as well. I am so grateful.”

Watch Jessica’s Treasure Maps video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA_Xr8ZQG8A)

Ben Oxley

Ben Oxley initially shared his story and images in the Telling Our Stories component of the Storytelling Project in 2019. He was then selected to be a cast member in 2020’s mini documentary, “6,000 Waiting.” Ben lives in McDonough, Georgia.  

Ben reflects, “The GCDD storytelling project positively affected my family and me. It has allowed me to have the space to share my story with others who need a different perspective on life with disabilities. My story shows them that no matter how hard the challenges they face are, they can turn their disabilities into abilities. My family appreciates the recognition they received through the project. They are the reason I am so positive and full of life.”  

Read Ben’s written story: https://story-collection.gcdd.org/ben-oxley 

Watch 6,000 Waiting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEkIFedoUIY. 

Faith Harris

Faith Harris lives in Loganville, Georgia with her family. She participated in our 2021 Treasure Maps project. 

Her mother, LaTonya shared what the experience meant to Faith and her family.

“The Treasure Maps project gave Faith a voice to share with the world who she is and how she brings such joy to the world. They also got to see that she was more than just a person with a disability. And I think that was the biggest takeaway. That she just wasn’t a person with a DD that she was a person who was a part of the community. Everyone who has seen the video has gotten to appreciate how a person who doesn’t have an intelligible voice can still communicate so much love, joy and provide people with peace without saying a word.”

Additionally, LaTonya said the Storytelling Project gave her and Faith something that they could share with people.

“Like employers, we can share with people who are going to work with her. That is what we use it for now. Whenever we are introducing someone to Faith the first thing they get is the link to her video so they can know who Faith is. The things that she likes and how she communicates. That is the introduction to people who come into her life who may not know her. They get to see her firsthand in her element and they get to hear her story.”

Watch Faith’s Treasure Maps video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM2gSgcXKvU

We are proud to have provided this opportunity for Georgians with developmental disabilities to share their hopes, dreams and challenges with the world. GCDD thanks all the participants, their friends and family members who shared their stories as a part of this project. GCDD would like to thank the Friends of L’Arche team for including Tim Moore, Irene Turner, Shannon Turner and countless talented producers, project managers, writers, photographers, story coaches and filmmakers who made Dawn Alford’s idea come to life. We are eternally grateful to you all.

Find the complete Storytelling Project catalog of work on GCDD’s website.