June 2025

The Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network is a group of organizations working together to improve services and supports for people with DD in every state. This network is authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) with oversight from the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

The DD Network is made up of three partners: State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils), University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), and Protection & Advocacy Systems (P&As). These partners are charged with finding ways to improve the supports and services for people with DD along with training and support to make sure all voices are heard.

In Georgia, the DD Network is comprised of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) and the following partners:

• Center for Leadership in Disability (UCEDD)
• Georgia Advocacy Office (P&A)
• Institute on Human Development and Disability (UCEDD)

See also What is a DD Network article from this month’s magazine.

Center for Leadership in Disability Breaks Barriers, Builds Leaders Across Georgia's Disability Network

Since 2008, the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU) has been at the forefront of training and developing leaders, supporting families, and shaping disability policy across Georgia. As one of the state’s federally designated UCEDDs, CLD’s reach extends far beyond its Atlanta campus — impacting thousands of professionals, families, and individuals with disabilities throughout Georgia and across the United States each year.

According to Mark Crenshaw, long-time director of interdisciplinary training at CLD, the center’s approach is about more than education — it’s about systemic change and ensuring people with disabilities are included in every conversation that affects their lives.

“Our work is rooted in training future leaders, but we’re also deeply involved in policy, research, and community engagement,” Crenshaw said. “We want to make sure the systems that support people with disabilities are stronger, more inclusive, and driven by the people they serve.”

One of CLD’s flagship programs is Georgia’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, which since 2011 has trained over 400 professionals across disciplines — from audiologists and social workers to speech-language pathologists and family advocates.

Crenshaw noted that CLD was ahead of the curve by including individuals with disabilities and family members as full participants in the LEND program, even before it became a federal requirement.

“It doesn’t make sense to do interdisciplinary training without the voices of autistic and disabled folks at the table,” Crenshaw said. “We’ve been showing other programs how to do that since day one.”

Beyond training, CLD works to fill critical healthcare gaps for Georgians with disabilities. Through its partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CLD leads a State Disability and Health Program that not only trains healthcare providers on disability inclusion but also directly connects individuals with disabilities to medical services across the state.

In 2023 alone, CLD trained more than 1,600 emerging and current professionals, including 600 teachers trained in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). This approach keeps students with challenging behaviors in their classrooms and out of disciplinary systems.

Another standout initiative is CLD’s focus on inclusive higher education through the IDEAL program at GSU, which provides students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity for a college experience alongside their peers. Crenshaw said the program’s impact extends beyond the students themselves.

“When students with intellectual disabilities are on campus, they build relationships with their peers without disabilities, and that changes perspectives for everyone involved,” Crenshaw said. “Professors have even told us they’ve become better teachers because of these students.”

CLD’s work also strengthens Georgia’s broader disability policy network. Crenshaw highlighted how collaboration between the state’s DD Network partners — including CLD, the Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), and GCDD — led to major policy wins, such as restricting restraint and seclusion practices in schools.

“We’re more than programs and reports,” Crenshaw said. “We’re building leaders, changing systems, and creating a Georgia where everyone has a place at the table.”

By the Numbers: CLD’s Impact in Georgia

• 1,600+ professionals trained (2023): Including future physicians, nurses, educators, and audiologists — preparing them to work inclusively with people with disabilities.
• 600 teachers trained in PBIS (2023): Helping educators support students with challenging behaviors and keep them in classrooms.
• 400+ LEND trainees since 2011: CLD’s LEND program has prepared hundreds of interdisciplinary professionals and advocates.
• 60 audiologists trained (2023): A first-of-its-kind continuing education program focusing on autism, hearing loss, and developmental disabilities.
• 300-400 participants annually at CLD’s Autism Conference: Bringing together families, professionals, and self-advocates to share best practices and build community.
• 70+ students impacted annually through the IDEAL program: Including 26 students with intellectual disabilities and over 40 peer mentors at Georgia State University.

Georgia Advocacy Office: The Lifeline for Disability Rights and Justice in Georgia

The Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO) has been a driving force for disability rights, inclusion and safety in Georgia for decades. As the state’s federally designated protection and advocacy (P&A) system, GAO serves as both a lifeline for individuals and a watchdog pushing for systemic change.

“Our work is about preventing abuse and neglect, ensuring civil rights are upheld, and connecting people to the supports they need to live a full life in the community,” said Dana Lloyd, GAO’s director of community outreach and engagement.

GAO’s authority is unique. Unlike many advocacy groups, GAO has federal access rights to enter institutions, schools, jails, and other facilities to investigate claims of abuse, neglect, and rights violations. This access—born from historical failures where people with disabilities were hidden and harmed in institutions—ensures that no one is left unseen or unheard.

“Sometimes our work is the difference between life and death,” Lloyd said. “We get calls when people are at the end of their rope, when no other systems are answering the phone.”

GAO’s work spans the full spectrum of advocacy. In 2023, GAO handled more than 700 service requests for individual advocacy, provided information and referrals to over 730 people, conducted nearly 200 abuse and neglect investigations, and completed 100 representative payee investigations – a critical safeguard against financial exploitation of Social Security recipients.

Its reach extends to the ballot box, where they supported over 10,000 voters with disabilities across 82 counties during the 2024 presidential election. GAO helped with accessibility, absentee ballot navigation, and legal interventions when voters’ rights were at risk.

But Lloyd emphasized that GAO’s work goes beyond numbers. It’s about ensuring dignity. She shared stories of individuals like a woman whose licensing application was nearly blocked by an instructor because of her disability, and a young referee whose career was saved when the Georgia High School Association refused to make accommodations.

“These are not just policy wins,” Lloyd said. “These are people’s lives, their futures, their right to participate in their communities like anyone else.”

GAO’s impact also includes protecting individuals from losing vital services especially during the chaotic Medicaid unwinding process, where people were wrongly deemed ineligible, risking their jobs, health and independence.

What makes GAO’s role even more vital is its ability to bridge the gap between individual stories and systemic change. By collecting data from individual cases, GAO identifies patterns and pushes for broader reforms, such as their current focus on the broken children’s mental health system in Georgia.

Lloyd also highlighted the challenges of visibility. “People don’t think about disability until it’s in their life, but the truth is disability intersects with every part of our community,” she said. “We are the only civil rights group you can become part of at any moment.”

As Georgia and the nation face threats to disability rights protections, Lloyd warns that dismantling the P&A system would have catastrophic consequences. “Without GAO and the DD Network, these laws are just words on paper,” she said. “We are the engine making those rights real for people every day.”

University of Georgia’s IHDD Champions a Community Where Everyone Belongs

For more than four decades, the Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) at the University of Georgia (UGA) has led efforts to expand opportunity, inclusion, and independence for people with developmental disabilities across the state. 

As Georgia’s first UCEDD, IHDD works at the intersection of research, education, and service to advance a simple but powerful mission: a community where everyone belongs.

“Our focus is helping people live meaningful lives in their families and communities, not in segregation or persistent poverty,” said Dr. Zolinda Stoneman, director of IHDD. “We believe everyone deserves relationships, purpose, and prosperity.”

As one of Georgia’s federally designated UCEDDs, IHDD is a leader in research, training, and advocacy that makes a difference in people’s everyday lives.

IHDD has eight distinct areas of where it serves people with developmental disabilities:

• Assistive Technology
• Destination Dawgs Inclusive Post Secondary Education Program
• Employment
• Family Support
• Resources for University Students
• Partner Resources
• Human Rights
• Research and Evaluation

IHDD’s community engagement is guided by key priorities, most notably, addressing poverty through employment and reducing social isolation. “People with disabilities want to work and can work, but too often they’re placed in programs that don’t pay a living wage,” Stoneman said. “Employment is one of the best, most respectful ways to combat poverty.”

IHDD has worked to create job opportunities and career advancement while training future professionals who understand the value of inclusion. In parallel, its work on reducing loneliness goes beyond programs to personalized support: helping people build meaningful relationships, participate in everyday life, and feel truly connected to their communities.

Among its most innovative contributions is its two-decade-long leadership in accessible agriculture. Georgia’s top industry, farming, is both a major employer and a cultural cornerstone. Recognizing this, IHDD partnered with the Farm Again and AgrAbility programs to support farmers with disabilities, especially those aging or recovering from injury.

“Farmers told us they didn’t want to leave the land that had been in their families for generations,” Stoneman said. “We made sure they didn’t have to.”

Since its founding, Farm Again has served 248 farmers and over 2,300 farm families, connecting them with over $1.2 million in assistive technology to help them keep farming. From tractor lifts and automatic gates to ergonomic tools and mobility aids, these supports preserve both livelihoods and legacy.

IHDD’s agricultural work also extends to veterans with disabilities, helping them transition into farming careers as a form of healing and purpose. “For many veterans, agriculture has become a powerful way to continue serving their communities,” Stoneman said.

IHDD has also taken a lead role in tackling the direct support professional (DSP) workforce crisis, helping develop sustainable career pathways and advocating for increased investment in community-based services. The institute supports training, policy development, and statewide collaboration to strengthen Georgia’s HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) system.

Though Georgia has two UCEDDs, IHDD at UGA and the Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University, Stoneman describes the relationship as synergistic.

“We work closely, share values, and collaborate on many statewide issues,” she said. “There’s more than enough work to be done.”

As IHDD looks ahead, its vision remains rooted in dignity and opportunity. “We want people with disabilities to have good jobs, meaningful roles, and strong relationships,” said Stoneman. “That’s what it means to belong.”

Information shared in this article current as of May 21, 2025.

As federal lawmakers debate sweeping budget cuts, Georgia’s disability advocacy leaders are working hard to get critical information to our community. What is at stake: the future of Medicaid including vital community-based services, and the network of organizations that have fueled decades of progress for people with developmental disabilities, including the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD).

A coalition of advocates, including the Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), and the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), recently gathered for a public briefing to share what’s at risk and how Georgia’s disability community can take action.

Medicaid Breakdown

The latest federal budget proposal, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, includes $625 billion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years. That reduction could eliminate healthcare coverage for 13.7 million Americans, per the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

In Georgia, Medicaid supports over 2 million residents, including more than 200,000 people with disabilities.

Medicaid is a complex program, and a federal cut can have a big impact on Georgians with disabilities, even if it is not targeted to do so. Because Medicaid is a joint state-federal program, the exact impact of federal Medicaid cuts will vary by state. States make a lot of their own Medicaid budgeting decisions, but certain rules apply everywhere.

Some Medicaid services, like skilled nursing facilities, are mandatory, meaning the government has to pay for them. Others, like Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), are optional.

Georgia’s Disability Services by the Numbers

$625 billion nationally in proposed Medicaid cuts over 10 years

2 million+ Georgians covered by Medicaid

200,000+ people with disabilities in Georgia rely on Medicaid

< .0000001% of the federal budget supports GCDD

“When states are struggling to balance their own Medicaid budgets, one place they can cut is waivers and HCBS,” said D’Arcy Robb, Executive Director of GCDD. “Look back at the Great Recession in 2009, when federal Medicaid was cut. Every single state, including Georgia, cut their funding for Home and Community Based Services.”  

The federal House of Representatives passed the budget on May 22, 2025. Budget work continues in the U.S. Senate, where Senators have already said they want to see changes to the House version of the budget.

Bottom line – no decisions are final. Members of Congress continue to hotly debate the Medicaid budget.

Budget Leak – No More Funds for GCDD?

In early April, a big federal document leaked. That document appears to be from the Department of Health and Human Services. It proposes the elimination of the federal funding that is specifically for GCDD and its sister agencies.

GCDD is a part of the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network, which comprises disability organizations across the country. In Georgia, this includes GCDD, the Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University (GSU), and the Institute for Human Development and Disability (IHDD) at the University of Georgia (UGA).

Together these organizations fund vital projects and provide independent oversight, legal advocacy, public policy and information, and inclusive education and employment programs.

Seventy percent of GCDD’s funding is federal. The agency receives $2.2 million in federal dollars each year, which is less than .0000001% of the federal budget. Two long-term examples of GCDD’s value are Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) and Project SEARCH. 

Over a decade ago, GCDD started both of these programs in Georgia with its federal funding. These programs have grown dramatically over the years and are now supported by other funding sources, offering education and employment experiences every year to hundreds of young Georgians with intellectual or other developmental disabilities.   

GCDD’s current federally funded projects include:

• The UnlockGA coalition to drive positive changes to Home and Community Based Services;
• The Supported Decision Making project that promotes alternatives to guardianship and has been recognized nationally, and;
• The technology training initiative that has educated hundreds of Georgians on skills that boost independence, safety, and life in the community.

GCDD staff also serve as expert policy advisors to state leaders, and have served as technical advisors over the past two years on successful legislation, including Georgia as Model Employer (GAME) for people with disabilities, the Dignity in Pay Act that ends subminimum wages in Georgia, and House Bill 123 that ends the death penalty for people with intellectual disabilities in Georgia. 

“These aren’t just programs,” said Dana Lloyd of the Georgia Advocacy Office. “They’re lifelines.”

Read more about the work of GAO, IHDD, and CLD in another article, The Impact of Georgia's Network.

What Can Advocates Do?

Disability advocates have already had a major impact on the federal budget. Various changes have been taken off the table in response to the public. It is a long process, but it is a critical one and it is far from over.

Georgia’s DD Network leaders strongly encourage constituents to keep contacting their Congressional representatives, share their thoughts about potential budget cuts and changes, and spread the word through social media and community networks.

“This is our moment to speak up,” said Charlie Miller, GCDD’s Legislative Advocacy Director. “The work of building inclusive communities isn’t done.”

My Time Serving as a Council Member for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

Hi, my name is Dorothy Harris, and I am from Fitzgerald, Georgia. I have served as a Council Member for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) off and on since 2015. I’m rolling off again now, and I’ll be honest, it feels emotional. This council has been a big part of my life.

I came back to serve again on purpose. I knew there was more work to do, and I wanted to be part of it. Being a Council Member has been very educational for me. I’ve learned a lot and had the chance to meet and connect with so many people from across the state of Georgia.

One of the most rewarding parts of serving as a Council Member for GCDD has been advocating for policy change. I like policy work because it gives me the chance to speak  directly to lawmakers about issues that affect me and others with disabilities. That makes me feel important—like my voice matters. I’m not just sitting on the sidelines; I am a part of something big, and I am helping to make change.

While I have been serving as a Council Member, I have worked on a few big issues that are important to me, like Medicaid. These issues matter because they affect the way people with disabilities live and how much support they get. I also helped advocate against the death penalty for people with intellectual disabilities. That’s something I really care about. Everyone deserves fair treatment, especially in serious situations like that.

I am going to miss serving as a GCDD Council Member – the meetings, the learning, and especially getting to know so many different people. The friendships and the network I have built mean a lot to me.

For anyone new to the council, or to anyone who is thinking about serving as a Council Member, my advice is simple: participate. Show up in person when you can, and stay connected online when you cannot. Keep learning, keep speaking up, and keep going.

I will still follow the news and stay up to date on what is happening in the disability community throughout the state of Georgia. I will keep showing up for GCDD’s Advocacy Days and continue to support GCDD’s however I can. If I am ever invited back, I will be there.

This work is too important to stop. Everyone has a voice, and we all deserve to be heard.

The Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network is a group of organizations that work together to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. This network was created by a law passed in 2000 to protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities. It is overseen by a federal agency called the Administration for Community Living. In Georgia, this includes:

• Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)
• University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs)
• Protection & Advocacy Systems (P&As)

These groups focus on training, advocacy, and making sure people with disabilities are included in decisions that affect them.

Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University

• Center for Leadership in Disability is one of Georgia’s two UCEDDs
• Trains future leaders and professionals to better support people with disabilities.
• Runs the LEND program, which has trained over 400 professionals since 2011.
• Offers the IDEAL program, giving students with intellectual disabilities a real college experience.
• Works with healthcare providers to improve access and inclusion.
• Helped train over 1,600 professionals, including 600 teachers in 2023.
• Collaborates with other DD Network partners to influence state policies.

Learn more about Center for Leadership in Disability (CLD) at Georgia State University.

Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO)

• The Georgia Advocacy Office is Georgia’s P&A
• Protects the rights of people with disabilities and investigates abuse or neglect.
• Has legal authority to enter institutions and ensure people are safe and treated fairly.
• In 2023, handled over 700 individual advocacy cases and supported over 10,000 voters with disabilities.
• Helps people keep essential services like Medicaid.
• Uses individual stories to push for bigger policy changes, like fixing the children’s mental health system.

Learn more about Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO).

Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) at the University of Georgia

• Institute on Human Development and Disability is one of is one of Georgia’s two UCEDDs
• Works to ensure people with disabilities can live full lives in their communities.
• Focuses on jobs, relationships, and reducing isolation.
• Supports farmers with disabilities through programs like Farm Again, helping them stay on their land with assistive technology.
• Helps veterans with disabilities find purpose through farming.
• Tackles the shortage of direct support professionals by training and advocating for better jobs in the field.

Learn more about the Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) at the University of Georgia. 

Georgia’s DD Network is making a big difference by training leaders, protecting rights, and creating opportunities for people with disabilities. Their work helps ensure that everyone has a chance to live a meaningful, included life.

For more detailed information, read The Impact of Georgia’s DD Network.

Brook Kubik, a council member for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, went to the 2025 Disability Seminar in Washington, D.C. She returned to Georgia with more than policy updates – she came back with a new understanding of the strength of relationships, the importance of advocating with heart and facts, and the power of telling stories that help people connect.

The Disability Policy Seminar is held every year in Washington, D.C. It brings together self-advocates, families, professionals and policymakers from across the country to discuss disability-related public policy. This year’s conference focused heavily on Medicaid — how it works, what services it provides, and how proposed cuts could affect people. For Kubik, the experience was as personal as it was political.

While much of the content, including a deep dive into Medicaid’s role in services for people with disabilities, was familiar to Kubik because of her existing work on public policy, Kubik said the real value of the event came from the relationships and conversations outside of the main sessions.

“It wasn’t just about learning what Medicaid is,” she said. “It was about understanding the system at a national level and bringing that knowledge back to Georgia.”

One of the most revealing moments came during a Q&A session with a speaker from The Arc, a national disability organization. Kubik wanted to learn more about their position on paying people with disabilities less than minimum wage. She waited until the end of her presentation to ask her question — and the answer surprised her. The national group supports ending subminimum wage, but each state chapter makes its own decisions, and local views may differ.

“That one conversation changed how I view the organization,” she said. “It reminded me that real advocacy starts with talking and listening — not assumptions.”

During the last two days of the seminar, Kubik and a small group of Georgia advocates visited offices on Capitol Hill. They met Congressional staff to share stories and policy priorities. After missing a meeting with Georgia’s Sen. Raphael Warnock’s office due to long security lines, they met with a staffer in Sen. Jon Ossoff’s office. Kubik said the staff member listened carefully to them and seemed very interested.

“These staffers are young and often early in their careers,” she said. “They’re listening and that means our stories matter.”

Kubik stated that being a good advocate is more than speaking up during challenging times. It also means staying active and involved when things are going well. 

“We need to be consistently educating, engaging and building relationships,” she added.

Kubik believes that storytelling still matters but says it must be paired with caring and facts. She also called for a stronger presence on social media to connect younger people who want to make a difference.

“Policy is personal,” she said. “Every person has worth, and every person deserves not just to survive, but to thrive.”

The most valuable part of the seminar, Kubik said, was not the sessions or the handouts, but the time spent making meaningful connections with fellow advocates and policymakers.

“True change doesn’t happen when we only talk to people who agree with us,” she said. “It happens when we sit down, share stories and ask the hard questions. That’s the work. And it starts with showing up.”

Find out what's happening during June! Here are some events that may be of interest to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Embracing Possibility: Georgia's Disability Justice Journey

When: May 16, 2025 - June 16, 2026

Where: Tubman African American Museum, 310 Cherry St, Macon, GA 31201

Description: This exhibit, at the Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia, is a powerful and immersive experience that explores the history and future of disability justice in Georgia and beyond. The exhibit is now open and runs through June of 2026. For tickets and museum hours, go to https://tubmanmuseum.com.

Uniting for Change: Community Strong

When: Weekly on Mondays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Online via Zoom

Description: COMMUNITY STRONG, led by self-advocates for self-advocates, is a weekly Zoom gathering about having fun and spending time with each other!

Learn more about this event and get the Zoom link at https://www.uniting4change.org/event-details/community-strong-2025-06-02-16-00.

FOCUS Georgia: Camp Hollywood Summer Camp

When: June 2 - 11, 2025

Where: Alpharetta, Buckhead, Lawrenceville, Marietta, McDonough, and Peachtree City.

Description: FOCUS Georgia’s Camp Hollywood Summer Camp is coming to a community near you! Participating communities include Alpharetta, Buckhead, Lawrenceville, Marietta, McDonough, and Peachtree City beginning June 2 through July 11, 2025. 

For more information or to register your child: https://focus-ga.org/program/summer-day-camps/

FOCUS Georgia: Daddy Daughter Dance

When: June 7, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Embry Hills UMC, 3304 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta

Description: FOCUS Georgia is thrilled to invite you to a special, ballet-inspired event with DJ Rockin Wheels! Whether you’re a dad, grandpa, uncle, or special family friend, this is your time to shine as you join your little ballerina in an afternoon full of fun and twirls!  Moms, this is your chance to enjoy a peaceful moment, Netflix, and unwind—while we take care of the fun and frolics!

Learn more about the event at https://focus-ga.org/event/daddy-daughter-dance-4/.

Uniting for Change: Rise Up, Speak Out Workshop 

When: June 12, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: Online via Zoom 

Description: Self-advocates throughout the state of Georgia are invited along with their allies and supporters to join a workshop to learn about self-advocacy and why it is important.

Register for this event at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/oLXq98nyQTizgpMI6R2tAQ.

Uniting for Change: Statewide Area Network Meeting

When: June 17, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: Online via Zoom 

Description: All self-advocates with their allies and supporters are invited. They will start the meeting together and then break-out into Local Area Networks to continue reviewing Uniting for Change's priorities and next steps for each area.

Register for this event at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zSAzGQupTma8oTuUlLTfFQ.

Uniting for Change: Community Strong

When: June 23, 2025, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Where: Online via Zoom 

Description: COMMUNITY STRONG, led by self-advocates for self-advocates, is a weekly ZOOM gathering about having fun and spending time with each other!

Register for the event at https://www.uniting4change.org/event-details/community-strong-2025-06-23-16-00.