Savannah Luncheon Brings Advocates and Lawmakers to the Table

When the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) traveled to Savannah in October, we did more than hold a meeting. We opened our doors to local leaders and disability advocates.

As part of our October Council meeting, GCDD hosted a community luncheon at the Hotel Indigo Savannah in the city’s historic district. We welcomed disability advocates and elected officials to talk about issues that affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families.

Leaders in attendance included Rep. Jesse Petrea, who represents House District 166, and Rep.-elect MiQuan Green, who will begin representing House District 165 in January. They sat down with Savannah-area residents and Council members for face-to-face conversations.

The biggest topic of conversation was local accessible transportation options.

For many people with I/DD, transportation is more than a way to get around. It can decide whether a person can take a job, keep an appointment, or join a community event. It can also shape how much a person must rely on family members and friends for rides.

Local options matter because transportation looks different from one community to the next. The services available in one neighborhood or county may not reach the next one. That is why conversations with the people who use these services every day are so important. Discussions covered where the system works and where it falls short.

We were pleased that Rep.-elect Green joined this conversation before his term begins in January. Conversations like these matter because elected officials vote on state laws and budgets that affect Georgians with disabilities. Hearing from community members can help lawmakers understand what is working and what needs to change.

GCDD's work reaches across the state, and the Council meets four times a year to learn what is happening in Georgia and around the nation. Meeting in Savannah gave Council members the chance to hear from coastal Georgia residents in their own community.

The luncheon also showed that advocacy does not have to start at the Capitol. It can start with a shared meal and an honest conversation close to home. We invite you to create your own meetings with legislators this fall with our Hometown Advocacy Days. Learn more on our website at GCDD Hometown Advocacy Days.