Advocacy During the Legislative Session: What Matters and How You Can Help

Decisions made during Georgia’s legislative session affect the daily lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. These decisions shape whether someone can get help at home, whether a student can stay in an inclusive classroom, and whether people can access the healthcare they need. These choices are not just about policy—they affect real people every day.

This session, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is focused on a small number of clear priorities. These priorities come directly from what we hear from self-advocates, families, educators, and service providers across the state. Our goals are to strengthen community services, support inclusive schools, address staff shortages, expand college options, and protect Medicaid. Just as important, we want people across Georgia to know how they can get involved and make their voices heard.

Advocacy works best when lawmakers hear directly from the people affected by their decisions. GCDD has three Advocacy Days this session—January 28, February 4, and March 4, each focused on key issues.

You can get involved by attending an Advocacy Day, sharing your story, following updates online, or learning more about these issues. You do not need special policy knowledge. Your experiences and your voice matter.

NOW/COMP Waivers Advocacy Day: January 28, 2026

GCDD is calling for funding for 1,217 new NOW/COMP waivers, along with 26 new staff positions at the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD).

NOW/COMP waivers help people with I/DD live in their own homes and communities. These services can include help with daily tasks, job support, and other services that make independent living possible. Without a waiver, many people are at risk of losing support or being placed in institutions.

Even with recent progress, Georgia’s waiting list for waivers is still very long. Many families wait years for services they urgently need.

The request for 1,217 new waivers is based on data that identifies people with the most urgent needs – those most at risk of crisis or losing support. This number is not random. It reflects shared, data-driven information from the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and service providers across the state. When agencies, providers, and advocates agree on the need, it increases the chances that new services can be delivered effectively.

New waivers also require enough staff to manage them. Additional DBHDD staff help ensure services are set up correctly, providers are supported, and families are not left waiting because of paperwork or system delays. Waivers and staff must grow together to work well.

K-12 Education Advocacy Day – February 4, 2026

GCDD continues to focus on moving away from the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support (GNETS) and toward inclusive school settings for students with disabilities.

Separate and segregated programs do not reflect best practices or what many families want for their children. Most families want their children to learn alongside peers in their local schools, with the right supports in place.

Ending GNETS is not just about closing a program. Schools must receive the resources they need to support students, too. This includes more funding for therapeutic supports like mental health services, behavioral supports, and related services within regular schools. Without these supports, schools may struggle to meet student needs, and students may be placed in more restrictive settings.

Inclusive education works when schools are properly supported. GCDD is focused on policies and budget decisions that help schools serve students with disabilities in inclusive, neighborhood classrooms.

In addition, many schools across Georgia are facing serious shortages of special education teachers. When classrooms lack experienced staff, students with disabilities are often the most affected.

One way to help address this problem is to make it easier for retired teachers to return to the classroom. Under current law, teachers must have 30 years of service and wait a full year after retirement before returning to teach. These rules can delay the return of skilled educators who are ready to help.

Changes to be discussed during this legislative session would shorten the time teachers must wait before returning and reduce service requirements. This would allow experienced teachers, especially those trained in special education, to come back sooner. Bringing these educators back more quickly would help schools fill vacancies, improve classroom stability, and better support students with disabilities.

Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs allow students with intellectual disabilities to attend college, learn job skills, and prepare for employment. These programs help students build independence and become more involved in their communities.

Georgia’s IPSE grants have helped expand these programs, but temporary funding makes it hard for colleges and students to plan. GCDD is advocating for permanent funding so these programs can continue and grow.

Making IPSE grants permanent sends a clear message that students with intellectual disabilities belong in higher education and deserve long-term opportunities to succeed.

No Cuts to Care: Medicaid Advocacy Day – March 4, 2026

Medicaid pays for many of the services people with I/DD rely on throughout their lives. This includes healthcare, home and community-based services, and long-term supports that allow people to live in their communities.

After last summer’s federal budget decisions, states are under pressure to reduce Medicaid spending. While these federal changes do not directly target people with disabilities, states may still have to make difficult choices about where to cut costs.

GCDD is closely watching these discussions and is committed to ensuring that no Medicaid funding decisions in Georgia harm people with I/DD.
Cuts to Medicaid can affect families, service providers, and entire communities. Protecting Medicaid is essential to keeping people healthy, supported, and included.

Register for GCDD’s Advocacy Days!

This legislative session is an important chance to improve policies that affect people with I/DD across Georgia. GCDD’s priorities are based on real experiences and focus on practical solutions.

Progress happens when people come together. When self-advocates, families, educators, and allies speak up, lawmakers listen. Your voice matters—and now is the time to use it.

Make your voice heard! Register for GCDD’s Advocacy Days.

• January 28, 2026: NOW/COMP Waivers Advocacy Day - Register to participate
• February 4, 2026: K-12 Education Advocacy Day - Register to participate
• March 4, 2026: No Cuts to Care: Medicaid Advocacy Day - Registration to participate