The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Set to Host Annual Advocacy Days During the 2025 Legislative Session
Written by Tianna Faulkner on .
January 6, 2025 (Atlanta, GA) - The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is excited to announce its 2025 Advocacy Days, a series of events dedicated to advancing Georgia’s disability rights. Each year during the legislative session, GCDD designates three days at the Georgia State Capitol to mobilize advocates, allies, and community leaders around key legislative issues impacting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
This year, GCDD will focus on employment rights, increasing access to the New Option Waiver Program (NOW)/Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) program, and establishing a new I/DD Innovation Commission. The proposed dates for each day are as follows (please note that these dates are subject to change depending on the legislative calendar, announced in early January):
- Employment/IPSE Day: January 29
- Waivers Day: February 12
- I/DD Commission Day: February 26
Each Advocacy Day will bring together community members, legislators, and advocates to ensure that the voices of those with I/DD are represented at the Capitol. GCDD’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and systemic change underpins each day’s unique focus.
“Advocacy Days are an incredible opportunity for the community to engage with their legislators directly about disability issues that they care about. GCDD hosts these days to make the legislative process more accessible—if you are nervous about coming to the Capitol, please know that we are here to help! I hope to see many new faces join us this year as we advocate for ending subminimum wages, additional NOW/COMP waivers, and the creation of an I/DD Commission,” said Charlotte Densmore, GCDD’s Public Policy Director.
There is no cost to attend an Advocacy Day with GCDD, but registration is required. To register for an Advocacy Day, click one of the following links below:
January 29th - Employment/IPSE: https://EmploymentIPSEAdvocacyDay.eventbrite.com
February 12th -Waivers and Wages: https://WaiversAndWagesAdvocacyDay.eventbrite.com
February 26th - I/DD Commission: https://IDDCommissionAdvocacyDay.eventbrite.com
Additionally, GCDD will host two press conferences during Advocacy Days this year: January 29th and February 12th, where state representatives will speak in support of GCDD’s advocacy and initiatives. State representatives who have participated in Advocacy Days in previous years include Rep. Katie Dempsey, Rep. Scott Hilton, Rep. Sally Harrell, and Rep. El Mahdi Holly. For more information about GCDD’s Advocacy Days or how to register, visit www.gcdd.org.
About the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities: The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is the State's leader in advancing public policy on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities. Its mission is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for the wide spectrum of diverse people/persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play, and worship in their communities. www.gcdd.org
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