GCDD On the Road to the 2015 General Assembly
MEDIA ADVISORY: Thursday, September 4, 2014
LISTENING TOUR STOPS IN GAINESVILLE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
Community Conversations Give Insight into Hearts and Minds of Advocates, Families and Neighbors
Who: D'Arcy Robb, GCDD public policy director; Dawn Alford, self-advocate; GCDD policy development specialist; Dave Zilles, Unlock The Waiting Lists! Campaign; Cindy Saylor, Partnerships for Success, program coordinator; Gainesville community leaders; people with disabilities, family members and supporters
What: Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) Public Policy Listening Tours: Whether it's jobs, schools, healthcare, services, housing, transportation, access, all issues are on the table. Members of the disability community, their families and friends are encouraged to help shape the 2015 legislative agenda for GCDD at a meeting to share their concerns, ideas and opinions by dialoguing with the agency's public policy staff and the broader community.
When: Thursday, September 4, 2014
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Lanier Charter Career Academy, 2719 Tumbling Creek Road, Gainesville, GA 30504
Why: The road to the State Capitol begins with advocacy! 50 to 100 are expected at the Gainesville meeting. One in five or 20% of all Americans have some type of disability as an occurrence of birth, injury or as a matter of longevity. Most people are likely to have a loved one, neighbor or co-worker with a disability in their lifetime, or chances are they will acquire a disability themselves.
GCDD, a federally funded, independent state agency, is a leading catalyst for systems change for individuals and families living with developmental disabilities. Through public policy initiatives, public awareness, advocacy programs and community building, GCDD promotes and creates opportunities to enable persons with disabilities to live, work, play and worship as integral members of society.
A developmental disability is a chronic mental and/or physical disability that occurs before age 22 and is expected to last a lifetime. It may require supports in three or more of the following life activities: self-care, language, learning, mobility, self-direction, independent living and economic self-sufficiency.
CONTACT: Valerie Meadows Suber, Public Information Director
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
404-657-2122 (office); 404-801-7873 (mobile)
www.gcdd.org
Previous GCDD Listening Tours and photos:
Thomasville: http://www.gcdd.org/blogs/gcdd-blog/2658-listening-tour-2014-first-stop-thomasville.html?highlight=WyJ0aG9tYXN2aWxsZSJd
Columbus: http://www.gcdd.org/columbuslisteningtour
Savannah: http://gcdd.org/blogs/gcdd-listening-tours/2676-neighbors-in-the-storm.html
Tags: Advocacy, GCDD Listening Tour