Building Momentum: What’s Next for GCDD

As the weather warms and spring gets into full swing, there is a lot to look forward to. GCDD is moving forward with purpose, and we have a great deal to share for the rest of 2026.

GCDD is helping fund a new study through Georgia State University. The study looks at what Georgia gets back when it spends money on NOW/COMP waiver services for people with I/DD. Waivers help people live in their communities and get the support they need. The study will show that this spending also helps the whole state. It creates jobs. It helps family members keep working. It brings in more tax money for Georgia. We want lawmakers to see that funding waivers is not just the right thing to do. It is also a smart investment. Look for more updates on this study in the months ahead.

Advocacy happens all year long. The 2026 election cycle is a pivotal opportunity for the disability community to be seen, heard, and counted. I want to encourage every reader to make a plan to vote. Our partners at United 4 Change are working hard to make sure Georgians with I/DD understand the issues, know the dates, and feel confident and prepared at the polls. The disability vote counts, and this fall, it matters more than ever.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 17, when GCDD will host our 2026 Candidate Forum, a virtual event in partnership with the Georgia Advocacy Office, Sangha Unity Network, and REV Up Georgia. This is a chance to hear directly from candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, and other key statewide offices on the issues that impact our community. I hope you will join us.

Finally, I am excited to share that GCDD has completed the information-gathering phase of our 2027–2031 Five-Year Strategic Plan. Through focus groups, town hall meetings, and surveys across the state, we have heard where our work is needed most. A 45-day public comment period is now underway, and we invite you to share your thoughts on what we have planned for the next five years. You can respond in English at surveymonkey.com/r/5DR2B5S and in Spanish at surveymonkey.com/r/R7JF7QT. Your voice shapes our direction.

Summer and fall will be full of momentum. I am grateful to each of you for being part of this work, and I look forward to everything we will accomplish together in the months ahead.

D’Arcy Robb
GCDD Executive Director