Letter from Leadership: Keep Learning, Keep Speaking Up, and Keep Going

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.