July 2026

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) invites you to ask our team questions about legislation, supports, services, or other topics that are related to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The following is this month's question and answer.

The Question: A GCDD community member from Alpharetta asked: Please provide information about programs where an unemployed caretaker is paid for a caregiving role.

The Answer: Georgia operates programs that allow family members to get paid for providing care. Both programs are funded through the Medicaid waiver system and are for people who are actively enrolled in Medicaid.

Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)

The SFC program provides a tax-free daily stipend to primary caregivers who live in the same home as the person receiving care.

• The Benefit: Caregivers typically receive a daily stipend ranging from $65 to over $100, depending on the care recipient's level of need.
• Eligibility: Adult biological, adoptive, or step-relatives are eligible and can be paid. The caregiver must live in the same primary residence as the person they are caring for.
• Who CANNOT Be Paid: Legally responsible individuals are not eligible. This means that spouses and legal guardians (parents or other adults who are responsible for the care of a child) are strictly excluded from being paid under SFC.

Personal Support Services (PSS)

PSS pays family members directly for providing hands-on assistance to elderly, disabled, and medically fragile individuals. It is a program of Georgia's CCSP (Community Care Services Program) and SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment) waivers.

• The Benefit: Caregivers are paid an hourly rate to help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and light housekeeping.
• Eligibility: To qualify for these programs, both the caregiver and the person receiving care must meet specific requirements. The requirements include income limits and an evaluation to prove that the person needs the same level of care as a person in a skilled nursing home. The person who needs care must be enrolled in either the CCSP or SOURCE waiver programs.
• Who CANNOT Be Paid: Spouses, parents of minor children, legal guardians, and conservators are not eligible to receive payment as caregivers.

Visit Georgia’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection web page for more information on this program.

Participant-Directed Services (NOW and COMP Waivers)

Participant Direction (also called Self-Direction) allows individuals with I/DD, or their representatives, to hire and supervise their own support staff. This often includes family members who can be paid. It is available through Georgia's NOW (New Options Waiver) and COMP (Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program). For adults with I/DD, this is usually the most significant Medicaid-funded option.

• The Benefit: Family members and other workers can be hired and paid to provide authorized support services. The individual or their representative directs care by choosing, hiring, and supervising their own staff, giving families greater control over who provides support and how.
• Eligibility: To qualify, the person receiving care must have either a NOW or COMP waiver, and the specific service must be authorized in their Individual Service Plan (ISP). A Financial Support Services provider handles payroll and taxes for the hired workers.
• Who CANNOT Be Paid: Not every family member is eligible. Legally responsible relatives are often restricted from being paid as caregivers in certain circumstances.

Learn more on Georgia’s Participant Direct website.

Georgia Pediatric Program (GAPP)

GAPP provides in-home nursing and personal care services for medically fragile children under Medicaid. Under certain circumstances, parents or family members may be paid as caregivers.

• The Benefit: Family members, and in some cases parents, may be paid to provide in-home care. Services primarily include skilled nursing and personal care delivered in the home.
• Eligibility: The child must be medically fragile and enrolled in Medicaid. They must also qualify for GAPP's nursing or personal care services. Eligibility for a parent or family member to be paid depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
• Who CANNOT Be Paid: Eligibility for paid family caregivers is based on the individual case and is not guaranteed. Specific restrictions on which relatives can be paid vary by case and program rules.

Visit the Georgia Pediatric Program website for additional details.

Caregiver Training

All programs require that caregivers meet state-mandated skill sets. The type of training, time commitment, and certifications differ between the programs.

Do you have a question for the GCDD team? Submit your question here.

The ADA’s Promise: Progress Made, Challenges Remain

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law 36 years ago on July 26, 1990. It protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and helps make sure they have the same opportunities as everyone else.

The ADA says that people with disabilities should be able to participate fully in their communities. This includes having access to public places and services, equal opportunities at work, accessible housing and transportation, and communication services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities. The law also protects people from discrimination based on disability.

The law led to many good changes, but people with disabilities still run into problems. They often wait a long time to get services. There aren't enough Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to help them. There isn't enough housing that is accessible and that they can afford. Many towns don’t have public transportation and finding a job can be tough. People with disabilities keep speaking up about these problems so they can live, work, and be a full part of their communities. The disability community continues to advocate for fuller, richer, and more inclusive lives. It’s important to remember that what is possible today is due to the work of advocates like you. For years, before and after the ADA, the community has worked to build spaces that are shaped by the people who live in them

Election Update: Runoff Results and Special Session

Georgia voters returned to the polls on June 16, 2026, for primary runoff elections. A runoff happens when no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the first primary election. The runoff decides which candidate will represent each political party in the November general election.
Several statewide races were decided.

In the Republican race for governor, Rick Jackson defeated Burt Jones and will be the Republican nominee for governor in November. In the Republican race for U.S. Senate, Mike Collins defeated Derek Dooley. Collins will face Senator Jon Ossoff, the Democratic nominee, in the November general election.

Other runoff elections selected party nominees for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, labor commissioner, insurance commissioner, state school superintendent, public service commission, and several legislative and local offices. Official election results are available from the Georgia Secretary of State at results.sos.ga.gov.

The day after the runoff election, the Georgia General Assembly began a special legislative session. This session was called by Governor Brian Kemp. A special session is a meeting of the legislature that takes place outside the regular legislative session. During a special session, lawmakers may only consider the topics chosen by the governor.

Many people expected lawmakers to change the boundaries of Georgia's congressional and legislative districts (called redistricting) after a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision changed how states may consider race when creating election districts.

However, legislative leaders announced they would not take up redistricting during this special session. They said they wanted more time to review the legal and practical issues before making changes. As a result, Georgia's current district maps will remain in place for the 2026 elections.

Instead, lawmakers focused on other election-related issues, including extending the deadline for changes to Georgia's voting system. Current law would have required changes to ballot QR codes beginning July 1, 2026, but legislators voted to delay that deadline while they continue studying election technology. Lawmakers also discussed possible property tax legislation during the session.

What Happens Next?

The candidates chosen in the June runoff will appear on the general election ballot on November 3, 2026. Georgia voters will elect a new governor and fill several statewide, legislative, and local offices.

Voters can check their registration status, view sample ballots, and find polling locations through the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter webpage before Election Day.

Public Policy is About the People!

In this month’s Letter from Leadership article [LINK TO THE ARTICLE WILL BE ADDED], GCDD Council member Jessica Cowell wrote, “When people hear the words ‘public policy,' they often think about legislation, committee meetings, or debates under the Gold Dome. They think about bills and resolutions. I understand why. But for me, public policy has never been about paperwork. It's always been about people.” Policy shapes the lives of real people every single day.

How is policy impacting your life? GCDD will be launching a story series to highlight Georgians like you and how everyday policy is affecting your life. What is working to help you live your life in the way you choose? What can be improved through improved policies? Details about this series and how you can be involved will be shared soon!

When people hear the words “public policy,” they often think about legislation, committee meetings, or debates under the Gold Dome. They think about bills and resolutions. I understand why. But for me, public policy has never been about paperwork. It's always been about people.

I joined the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities in 2024, and now I serve as chair of the Public Policy Committee. My role is to stay informed about issues affecting people with disabilities, help respond when legislation moves quickly, and show up wherever I can, whether that's during the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (GCDD) Advocacy Days, legislative hearings, or community conversations.

The work can feel overwhelming sometimes. There is always another issue demanding attention, another decision being made that could affect our lives. But one thing keeps me going: seeing how many people genuinely care. Every GCDD Advocacy Day reminds me that people are willing to stand together and work toward something better. That gives me hope.

The laws our elected officials pass are not abstract ideas. They shape the lives of real people every single day.

One example that means a great deal to me is Georgia's decision to end subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. I remember hearing stories about people working all week and receiving paychecks for only a few dollars. Some argued that the work itself gave dignity to people with disabilities. But I don't believe dignity comes from earning four dollars for a week's work.

I had been talking about that issue for years. When the legislation finally passed, it felt like real progress. I never worked in one of those jobs myself, but that wasn't the point. It should never happen to anyone. Knowing that fewer people will experience that kind of injustice matters to me.

That's why public policy matters.

Many people don't know these issues exist until someone tells them. I didn't become passionate about ending subminimum wage until I learned it was happening. Most people who don't have disabilities, or who don't have disabled family members, simply haven't been exposed to these realities.

Once people understand, many of them care.

That's why sharing information is one of the most important things we can do. Every conversation matters. Every person who learns something new has the potential to tell someone else. Before long, it isn't just a handful of advocates speaking up. It's an entire community.

And lawmakers notice that.

One voice can start a conversation. Hundreds of voices can move policy.

Even during difficult times, I believe change is possible. There are moments when the news feels overwhelming and it seems like progress is moving backward. But that's exactly when we have to keep showing up.

Our legislators work for us. They need to hear from us. They need to understand how their decisions affect not only people with disabilities, but also our families, our friends, our coworkers, our churches, and our communities. We belong in every part of public life, and the policies they create should reflect that.

This year also reminds us of the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA changed what is possible for millions of people, including me.

One of my favorite examples is my best friend. Before she bought her current car, she drove it to my house and made sure my wheelchair fit inside before she decided to purchase it. She wanted to know that wherever she went, I could go too.

That may seem like a small story, but it represents something much bigger. Because of accessibility, I can participate in my community. I was able to attend church, where I met that friend in the first place. Accessibility creates opportunities for relationships, friendships, and belonging.

The ADA accomplished so much, but our work isn't finished.

Accessibility looks different for different people. In my town, there are raised warning bumps at crosswalks that help people who are blind or have low vision. Those same bumps make me stumble regularly. Other intersections have audible signals that help people know when it's safe to cross.

Neither solution is wrong. They simply remind us that disability is not one experience. That's why disabled people have to be part of these conversations. People can only make decisions based on what they know.

I'm not upset with someone for not understanding what it's like to live in my body.

What matters is what they choose to do after they learn.

We have to give people that knowledge.

That's also why GCDD focuses so much on public policy. Individual acts of kindness matter, and I'm grateful for every person who chooses to support our community. But kindness alone isn't enough.

Public policy is about the people. Public policy is for the people. And policies create lasting change.

People move away. Leaders retire. Administrations change. Laws remain. When protections are written into law, they continue protecting people long after any one individual is gone. That's why systemic change matters so much.

If I could leave advocates with one message, it would be this: don't be afraid to take up space.

When I was younger, I thought it was strange that I wasn't afraid of public speaking. Later, I learned about the ugly laws that once allowed people with disabilities to be hidden from public view because our existence supposedly made others uncomfortable.

That history changed how I think about using my voice.

People need to see us. They need to hear us. They need to know that we exist, that we belong here, and that we deserve to help shape the communities we live in.

Family members and allies are incredible advocates, and I'm thankful for them every day. But they aren't living in our bodies. They can't fully speak to our experiences.

That's why disabled people have to keep showing up.

We deserve to be seen. We deserve to be heard. We deserve to take up space.

And when enough of us do, public policy becomes exactly what it was always meant to be: for the people.

On June 16th, the Embracing Possibility – Georgia’s Disability Justice Journey exhibit at the Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia, ended its run. After a year of engaging conversations, collaborations, and community gatherings, this exhibit, which focused on what is possible for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), concluded. 

Many groups worked together to make the exhibit happen. They included the Center on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia, the Georgia Advocacy Office, the Sangha Unity Network, Uniting for Change, the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University, Crimminz and Associates, and the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD).

The goal of this exhibit was to show the possibilities that exist for Georgians with I/DD. People with I/DD are often held back by low expectations and a lack of access to opportunities. The exhibit included quilts, paintings, photographs, multimedia works, and historical documents that showcased the impact of people with disabilities. Tevealed through each of the following areas:

• Origins of Disability Devaluation: Sobering, hopeful, transformative
• Discovering Capacities: Visionary, achievable, liberating
• Uniting for Change: A Movement for Inclusion
• Creating Beloved Communities: Everyone belongs together
• Cultivate Support: The Power of Allies
• Belonging to Real Communities: Everyone has a place
• Have Faith: Strength in Resilience
• Get to Work: Expanding Opportunities
• Rise Up: Demand your rights

In the final weeks of the show, the Tubman Museum hosted a reading of the book Waddie Welcome and the Beloved Community. It was led by authors Susan Earle and Tom Kohler. In addition, the Douglass Theatre, which sits across from the Tubman Museum, hosted the Disability Justice Film Screening. The screening included Voice Power by Robin Rayne, The Art of Being L.C. by Carl King, and the trailer for the new film Doodling for Democracy that focuses on the voting rights-themed work of Derek Heard. 

Exhibit organizer and GCDD Public Relations Director Maria Pinkelton had the following to say about the run of the exhibit, “It has been wonderful to see the city of Macon open its hearts and the Tubman Museum open its doors to this exhibit. Representation matters, and when you see the creative talents of people with disabilities along with images of them living, advocating, and celebrating life, the gap of perceived difference and distance grows smaller.”

The Embracing Possibility planning team is in talks with groups that want to be the future home of the exhibit. Stay tuned to GCDD’s social media and this magazine for its next location.