May 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 20, 2025 titled Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities. The order seeks to advance a goal previously promised by the president: to close the Department of Education (ED) and give state education departments authority over education standards. The closure of the ED raises questions for students with developmental disabilities and their families, who rely on various programs and services offered by the ED. What does this change mean?

The executive order states the following:

The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.

The executive order does not single handedly dismantle the ED; it would take an act of Congress to fully enact such a change. However, Trump’s order signals the beginning of a significant shift for American education, placing a greater priority on state-level education policy. The executive order does not outline a specific timeline for the transition, and several logistical aspects of the ED’s closure are uncertain.

“The information available to our agency has not changed. Education funding – including Title I and IDEA – is allocated by Congress,” said Meghan Frick, communications director at the Georgia Department of Education. “We have received no indication at this time that the allocations will change. We have not received direct guidance at this time on how President Trump’s executive order or the reductions in force in the U.S. Department of Education may impact programs and services.”

According to Leslie Lipson, a legal advocate for disability issues, it is important for students with disabilities and their families to be proactive in their advocacy for themselves and their educational rights during this time of uncertainty. She encourages families and advocates to closely monitor their state boards of education, legislative committees, and the funding of special education programs in their communities to ensure a well-executed transfer of responsibility to the states. 

In the wake of this order, it is likely that state education policy will matter more than ever. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) will continue to monitor the status of the implementation of the executive order and provide updates on GCDD’s website at https://gcdd.org and through GCDD’s social media channels.

Carla’s Story of Independence, Dignity, and the Power of Support

For many Americans with disabilities, Medicaid is more than just a healthcare program—it's the foundation for a life of independence, stability, and hope. Carla Geeslin, a self-advocate in Macon, GA, relies on Medicaid services and recently shared her story and the critical role this support plays in her life and the lives of countless others.

“Life’s been good,” Carla said. “I get to see a doctor and I have a place to live.” 

Routine healthcare and stable housing are things many take for granted, but they are made possible by Medicaid. In a heartfelt conversation, Carla spoke out against proposed Medicaid cuts, calling them “wrong” and “devastating.” 

Carla explained that if her Medicaid waiver were to be taken away, she would be forced to move back home, losing her independence and the life she has built for herself. “The waiver gives me freedom,” she said. “It lets me live independently, be who I want to be. That’s why I don’t want to move back home.” 

Medicaid isn’t just about access to healthcare—it’s about dignity and the ability to participate fully in society like everyone else. For Carla, and many like her, it means the ability to live in a supportive environment, to see doctors when needed, and to have a life outside of institutional settings. When asked how cuts would affect her friends across the state, Carla didn’t hesitate: “It would hurt them deeply. They’d be disappointed. It would change their lives. Keep Medicaid open for all people with disabilities. We need it. We need to go to the doctor, and we need a place to live.” 

Carla’s voice is a reminder that behind every policy debate are real people whose lives hang in the balance. 

“The word I think of when I am visible is happy.”

Nandi Isaac, GCDD Council MemberI’ve been speaking up for people with disabilities for a long time. Before I joined the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), I was already going to meetings and helping out. I was an ambassador for the Special Olympics, and that’s where I found what I love to do – help others. My mom was an advocate too, and I’ve followed in her footsteps.

I’ve been on the Council for over 10 years and I’ve done a lot I’m proud of. I’ve worked on better transportation, helped parents get support, and encouraged people with disabilities to start their own businesses. At my day program, I’ve helped others become stronger advocates. I even went to the Capitol and stood with a friend while she gave a speech at a press conference. She did a great job!

The meetings feel like being with family. We do group activities and have good conversations. I have gone to Advocacy Days at the Capitol. I learned something every time I went there. 

One thing that’s really important to me is Medicaid. A lot of people I know, including my friends, my family, and my support staff, need it. If they didn’t have it, I wouldn’t be here talking to you. Cutting Medicaid is like turning off the lights and hoping everything’s fine. It’s not. People need it to live.

I want to thank some of the people who’ve helped me along the way—like D’Arcy Robb, GCDD’s Executive Director and Lisa Newbern, GCDD’s Council Chair. I helped Lisa feel more confident, and now she’s the chair of the Council! 

Now, I’m the vice president of a group called United for Change. I hope to stay involved, maybe through my church. There are a lot of people with disabilities in churches and nursing homes, and I want to help them speak up too.

I care about helping people who don’t always get heard. I’ll keep doing that even after my time on the Council is over. 

To all the staff, families, and support workers…thank you for standing with us. I’ll keep using my voice to make sure everyone gets the help they need.

Berry College, located in Rome, Georgia, launched the Berry College Program for Inclusive Learning the Fall semester in 2024—the first inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) program offered by a private university in Georgia. This program opens new doors for students with intellectual disabilities by providing meaningful academic, social, and career development opportunities beyond high school.

Michelle Haney, Program Director“As a professor and school psychologist, I like to think I have a good grasp on program development, and I have a good handle on helping students with intellectual disabilities get to where they want and need to be,” said Michelle Haney, program director for Berry’s IPSE program. “What I did not know was how to build a college from scratch. I had a lot to learn. The team started with just me and grew from there, and I couldn’t be happier with how the program has grown.”

The program is designed for individuals with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 18 and 26 to continue learning and developing skills that allow them to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.

“I think Berry was the right fit for me overall,” said Kate Jarrett, a student in the IPSE program. “I’ve learned how to navigate the campus, ask for help, and go to different events.”

During her time in the program so far, Jarrett has made the most of her experience. In addition to working with peer mentors, who have helped her acclimate to college life, Jarrett has been proactive at reaching out and engaging with her fellow peers. Her outgoing nature also helped her find fulfilling work on campus.

Kate Jarrett, Berry College IPSE Student“In Fall 2024, I started out as a library assistant,” Jarrett said. “This year, I switched to sports medicine, where I volunteered to help the basketball team. I helped with water, towels, and wound treatment. I loved it. Now, I’m doing the same type of work for the volleyball team in a paid position.”

Jarrett’s goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse, a career path that her aunts and cousins pursued before her. Sports medicine has been an important stepping stone toward reaching her goals. 

IPSE programs are still being established in universities across the state and country at large. In Georgia, there are currently 10 programs in place with nine of those housed within public universities, including Albany Technical College, Georgia State University (GSU), the University of Georgia (UGA), and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Since Berry College is a private institution, it does not receive as much state funding as public institutions whose students can access individual IPSE grant funding. Many alumni of IPSE programs hope to see further progress where IPSE grants cover funding for private institutions.

Charlie Miller, GCDD Legislative Advocacy DirectorCharlie Miller, Legislative Advocacy Director at the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), is a graduate of Kennesaw State University (KSU)’s IPSE Program Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth. He attributes a lot of his success to the various academic and social experiences he had during this time.

“I remember when KSU first got their football team, and I hosted a tailgate with some friends from the academy,” said Miller. “I was responsible for keeping track of everyone, and I remember seeing one of my friends hanging out at a fraternity tailgate, having a great time. I remember thinking, ‘This is what inclusion looks like.’ No one cared that my friend had a disability; we were just a bunch of students enjoying football.”

With Berry College at the forefront of private institutions that offer IPSE programs in Georgia, it inspires hope for further expansion into more colleges and universities. In the future, Miller wants more people to have the opportunity to attend IPSE programs, whether that is by alleviating some of the prohibitive costs or by opening programs at some of Georgia’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

“Inclusive education is not just a hot topic or the ‘in’ thing to do now; it’s the future of the disability community,” said Miller. “We talk about Georgia being the number one state to do business, but now it’s time for it to be the number one state for people with disabilities. The disability community is itching to be a part of the community at large.”

For more information about the Berry College Program for Inclusive Learning visit https://www.berry.edu/academics/ipse/. 

For more information about Georgia’s IPSE programs, visit https://gaipsec.org/.

The Advancing Employment Training and Technical Assistance Center at the  University of Georgia's Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) is a long-running initiative of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). It is making major strides in creating more integrated workplaces for people with disabilities across the state.

Doug Crandell, Public Service Faculty and DirectorNow entering its seventh year, the initiative continues to grow in both scope and influence — thanks to a focused commitment on systems change, ongoing education, and stakeholder engagement.

“We really take seriously that phrase, ‘continually improving,’” said Doug Crandell, Public Service Faculty and Director of the Advancing Employment project. “We’re not just training and providing technical assistance. We’re shaping policy, bringing people together, and pushing toward meaningful employment for all.”

Policy Change Driving the Mission

One of the Center’s most recent projects was advising on a Georgia Senate bill to phase out subminimum wage employment for individuals with disabilities — a practice that, in some cases nationally, has meant people earning as little as 22 cents an hour. “That’s still legal in the U.S.,” Crandell noted. “It’s been our policy for 85 years. Georgia decided that needed to change.”

Crandell, who authored a book titled “Twenty-Two Cents an Hour, Disability Rights and the Fight to End Subminimum Wages,” is referring to the The Dignity and Pay Act that demands community rehabilitation programs pay their workers at or above the minimum wage by 2027. It is now at the desk of Governor Brian Kemp, waiting to be signed into law.

The Center has also been instrumental in Georgia becoming a model employer for people with disabilities and in updating policies around self-employment and financial decision-making.

Tools for Self-Determination

Coming later this year is the launch of Georgia’s version of Disability Benefits 101 (DB101), an online tool that allows users to make informed choices about employment without jeopardizing healthcare or financial benefits. “It’s going to be a game-changer,” Crandell said. “People can sit at home and model different work scenarios and see what happens to their benefits.”

Spreading Knowledge and Community

Education is central to the Center’s mission. Their spring webinar series — held every Tuesday in May — will feature national experts, including presenters from Rhode Island and The Arc of Massachusetts. Topics range from supporting social connection at work to addressing workforce shortages with strategic hiring strategies that includes people with developmental disabilities.

The Center also hosts a monthly virtual Community of Practice focused on different economic sectors. “One month it’s agriculture, the next it might be green jobs or arts and entertainment,” Crandell explained. “We’re talking directly to practitioners who are placing people in real jobs based on their interests.”

Another major development is the recent certification of over 40 Georgia professionals through the Association for Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE). “They’re now part of a growing network that knows how to approach employers and advocate effectively,” Crandell said. That credential helps people get the skills they need to better support individuals with disabilities in finding and keeping jobs.

In addition, the Center will hold its annual celebration aligned with Georgia’s Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. “We use that event to honor progress and plan what’s next. It’s both a celebration and a strategy session,” said Crandell. Details for the celebration will be available in late summer.

Looking Ahead

Whether through webinars, credentialing, or policy reform, the Center continues to build momentum toward a future where employment for people with disabilities is standard, not exceptional. “We’re here for the long haul,” Crandell emphasized. “And we’re doing the work to make sure Georgia leads the way.”

For more information on Advancing Employment’s trainings, webinars, and mission, visit www.advancingemployment.com.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is in the final phases of gathering input for its 2027-2031 Five-Year Strategic Plan. Information gathered from stakeholders across the state will help GCDD form a strategic plan to create systems change for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. The final plan will guide projects that help the Council influence public policy at both state and federal levels, support capacity building through technical assistance and grants, facilitate discussions on creating change, and promote public awareness of the needs of the disability community.

Currently, GCDD is gathering information through focus groups involving families, self-advocates, and providers. These focus groups are crucial for identifying where resources and programming are needed most. 

To ensure the plan reflects the needs and priorities of the community, GCDD is also collecting information from Georgians through an online survey. We are in the final weeks of the survey being open, and it is vital to include as many voices as possible in this data collection effort. Individuals with I/DD, their families, caregivers, and community advocates are encouraged to take the survey and share it with others. 

The survey, available in both English and Spanish, takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and closes soon. To complete the survey, click one of the following links below:

Take the survey:

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G8WYS8J

Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GH3C2LY

By engaging with the community and incorporating their feedback, GCDD’s goal is to ensure that individuals with I/DD are interdependent, included in their communities, and self-determined in their lives. For more information, visit our website.

Your participation is essential in shaping a future where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can thrive. Please complete the survey and share it widely to ensure that every voice is heard.

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

Embracing Possibility: Georgia’s Disability Justice Journey Exhibit at the Tubman African American Museum 

When: May 18, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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

What: Grand opening of The Embracing Possibility Exhibit. This is a free event, but registration is required. 

Register here: https://embracingpossibilityexhibit.eventbrite.com

Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta Mom’s Retreat

When: May 16 – May 19, 2025

What: This event is for DSAA MOMS. Spend three nights at an inn for peace and sleep away from home with other Down syndrome moms who understand the daily challenges. The inn functions like an AirBnB. Guests have 24/7 access to a full kitchen. Breakfast is not provided – you can cook in or eat out. There are many amazing local options or bring your own food. Completely casual – sleep as long as you want. There are no expectations of you. You don't even have to come out of your room if you don't want to! No calendar, no schedule, totally free-style. This event also has a group. You’re welcome to join the group once you register for the event.

Cost: Minimum requested donation is $90 per person and directly supports the inn. Contributions are non-refundable if you have to cancel but remain as a donation to support other caregivers.  

Register here: https://www.amothersrest.org/events/2025-ga-dsaa-moms-may-16 

FOCUS of Georgia Family Six Flags Day

When: May 18, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information and to register: https://focus-ga.org/event/family-six-flags-day/