GCDD Dives into Post-Secondary School Transitions, Celebrates a Record-Breaking Disability Day and Reports on the Legislative Successes in Making a Difference Spring 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ATLANTA, GA, April 28, 2014 -- Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities' (GCDD) spring edition of Making a Difference quarterly news magazine covers the hot topic of post-secondary transitions for young adults with disabilities, coverage of Disability Day, the history of The Olmstead Decision and much more.
On Disability Day, held on February 20, keynote speaker Governor Nathan Deal declared it as Disability Awareness Day and he laid out his goals of creating job opportunities for all Georgians. He also announced new waivers and support services for an additional 500 families through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Click to tweet this!
RespectAbility USA founder Jennifer Lazlo Mizrahi, who advocates for post-secondary education and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, also spoke at Disability Day. The Emory University alumna championed for people to speak out and get their voices heard and recognized local employers such as he Georgia Aquarium, yhe Atlanta Braves and Publix Supermarkets who have all embraced hiring practices that include people with disabilities. (For photos of Disability Day, please visit http://on.fb.me/1kdkKfN)
The rally is held during the Georgia General Assembly session, which came to a close on March 20. Dawn Alford, GCDD's planning and policy development specialist, offers a recap of the session and highlights the successes which will benefit the disability community.
The magazine further explores post-secondary options in employment and education and how advocates and community leaders are working hard to provide resources for families and youth after high school. The article also highlights what parents can do to ensure their child has a successful post-secondary education opportunities in the future.
Additionally, Talley Wells, director of the Disability Integration Project at Atlanta Legal Aid Society, explains the history of The Olmstead Case, the Supreme Court case that stated that institutionalization was a form of discrimination, in part two of his four-part series for the magazine.
In Perspectives, Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership's Family Engagement Specialist Anne Ladd and Wayne County Schools' Parent Mentor April Lee offer insight on the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership Program and the community's role in fostering success for students with and without disabilities.
Dr. Gregory Blalock, a professor at Columbus State University, delivers expertise in Expert Update on how higher education is starting to develop programs across Georgia for young adults with developmental disabilities.
Andrew Furey, an advocate, writes his personal perspective in Straight Talk about the importance of community partners recognizing the value of people with disabilities in workplaces and college classrooms.
GCDD's next quarterly meeting will be held in Atlanta on July 17-18, 2014. All meetings are open to the public.
Media links:
To read Making a Difference Spring 2014, visit http://bit.ly/1rx7BRz
For photos of Making a Difference Spring 2014, visit http://on.fb.me/1kdkKfN
For photos of GCDD's Disability Day, visit http://on.fb.me/1kdkKfN
About Making a Difference:
Making a Difference is published by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). Current and past issues can be accessed online at gcdd.org and hard copies can be requested by contacting the GCDD Office of Public Information.
Making a Difference is available online in accessible PDF and large print format, as well as on audio by request. www.gcdd.org/news-a-media/making-a-difference-magazine.html
About Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD):
The mission of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play and worship in Georgia communities. gcdd.org
Contact:
Valerie Meadows Suber, Public Information Director
Editor-in-Chief, Making a Difference magazine
Work 404.657.2122, Cell 404.226.0343
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Tags: GCDD, Making a Difference