Thank You, Governor Deal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Making Difference Thank You, Governor Deal WINTER gcdd.org 2019 Join Us at the Gold Dome for Advocacy Days! SUMMER 2018 1 Making VOLUME 19, ISSUE 3 WINTER 2019 The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. Difference The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and A quarterly digital magazine from GCDD family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia. FEATURES PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE PEOPLE MORE FEATURES 2019 Legislative Preview Nonprofit Organizations Utilize TA Center to Improve by Hanna Rosenfeld Employment Services Georgia is about to kick off the 2019 by Adrianne Murchison ........ 14 legislative session! With it, we welcome a Take Your Legislator to Work new governor, a new lieutenant governor Day Yields Positive Effects and a new Georgia General Assembly. Join by Adrianne Murchison ........ 15 6 us as we educate legislators about our 2019 DEPARTMENTS legislative priorities and get involved in our VIEWPOINT advocacy network. In the Name of Disability Advocacy Dear Governor Kemp . by Eric E. Jacobson ............... 3 In November, Georgia elected Brian Kemp AROUND THE STATE as its new governor, succeeding Nathan GCDD Impact 2018 ............ 4 Deal. GCDD opened “Dear Governor ...” GCDD IMPACT allowing individuals across the state to Gwinnett SToPP Committed submit ideas and issues that they’d like the to Ending Disproportionate new administration to work on that affect Punishment in Schools ... 16 individuals with disabilities. Read some of GHF Encourages 10 the many responses we received. Stakeholders to Become Medicaid Advocates ........ 17 2019 Advocacy Days WHAT’S HAPPENING IN GCDD will host its Third Annual Advocacy WASHINGTON? Days starting January 30, 2019 during the by Alison Barkoff Georgia General Assembly legislative session. & Molly Burgdorf ...................18 Topics will include the DD Waiver Waiting List, Employment, Inclusive Post-Secondary Thank You, Education, Direct Support Professionals and Governor Deal ................. 20 Home and Community-Based Services. Learn COMMUNITY CALENDAR how to speak with elected officials about January – April ................. 22 12 policies affecting people with disabilities. On the Cover: GCDD thanks outgoing Governor Eric E. Jacobson, Executive Director, [email protected] Nathan Deal with a plaque for his advocacy for 2 Peachtree Street NW , Suite 26-246, Atlanta, GA 30303-3142 individuals with disabilities and their families during his eight years in office. (l to r) GCDD Voice 404.657.2126, Fax 404.657.2132, Toll Free 1.888.275.4233 WINTER Council Member Parker Glick, GCDD Executive www.gcdd.org TDD 404.657.2133, [email protected], 2019 Director Eric E. Jacobson, Governor Deal, GCDD O’Neill Communications, Design & Layout Deputy Director Kate Brady and GCDD Council Member Brenda Liz Muñoz. Devika Rao, [email protected] Making a Difference magazine is available online at gcdd.org in: English, Spanish, Audio and Large Print. Previous Issues are archived on the website as well. 2 MAKING A DIFFERENCE MAGAZINE GCDD VIEWPOINT IN THE NAME OF Jacobson Eric E. DISABILITY ADVOCACY In a recent speech, Governor-Elect Brian Kemp said, “It’s time to stand up for our communities, our families and our Georgia values.” (Source: AJC, 12/2/2018) Now is the time for people with disabilities, family members and advocates to hold the future governor and the legislature accountable for this statement. We have new legislators, as well upcoming legislative session. before the end of the session. as new governor and lieutenant Have you registered? If not, now We will be reporting on this governor, and as the legislative is the time. This is your chance effort throughout the year. session begins, the Georgia Council to come to the Capitol and meet on Developmental Disabilities with your elected officials. It is a (GCDD) and our allies have time to tell them about what it begun pushing a legislative agenda takes to live a meaningful life. I I CHALLENGE YOU TO JOIN GCDD that includes allocating more challenge you to join GCDD money for waivers, addressing and your friends at one of our AND YOUR FRIENDS AT ONE OF OUR the direct support professional five Advocacy Days. You spent FIVE ADVOCACY DAYS. YOU SPENT shortage, getting all children out time and effort on voting; now TIME AND EFFORT ON VOTING; of institutions and expanding it’s time to spend a few hours in opportunities for students with the name of disability advocacy. NOW IT’S TIME TO SPEND A FEW developmental disabilities to attend Finally, the Employment First HOURS IN THE NAME OF college or university. Council met for the first time in DISABILITY ADVOCACY. In this edition of Making a early December. The Council was Difference, you will read about these created as part of House Bill 831, issues and more. The magazine also known as the Employment First includes our expectations of what Act, which Governor Nathan Check out GCDD’s website the legislature and governor need Deal signed into law in May and join our advocacy network to do to solve many of the growing 2018. The legislation established so that you can stay informed. needs for people with disabilities employment as the first and We hope you enjoy reading this and their families. preferred option for individuals magazine, and we want to hear However, we cannot do this with disabilities receiving public from you. Let us know your alone. We need each of you to get services who choose careers thoughts and comments about involved. Now is the time for you as a path to independence. the magazine by writing to to reach out to your representative, This is an opportunity to revamp Managing Editor Hillary Hibben senator and governor to demand our employment efforts so that at [email protected]. attention be given to these issues. individuals with disabilities who Tell the governor we support him want to go to work have that in standing up for communities, choice. Already the Council families and Georgia values. is gathering information on Eric E. Jacobson Once again, GCDD will host what Georgia does to promote Executive Director, GCDD Advocacy Days during the employment. This report will be submitted to the legislature Tell us your thoughts about the magazine or what topics you would like to see addressed by emailing us at [email protected], subject line: Letter to the Managing Editor WINTER 2019 3 AROUND THE STATE: IMPACT 2018 In 2018, GCDD continued its programmatic and financial impact across the state. Initiatives in which GCDD participated throughout the past year include everything from advocacy to community building to educational programs. This map Clarke reflects the counties that hosted these activities, supported by GCDD through targeted funding, strategic support and more. Bibb Evans 4 MAKING A DIFFERENCE MAGAZINE AROUND THE STATE: IMPACT 2018 Candidate Forum Site The 2018 Candidate Forum on Disability Issues featured candidates for Insurance Commissioner, School Superintendent and Secretary of State. Children’s Freedom Initiative (CFI) The CFI coalition hosted educational events to inform Georgians about resources available for children Real Communities Sites to remain at home or in their communities. GCDD’s Real Communities partnerships are local groups working to improve their communities using person-centered supports, community-centered connections and involving Conference Support Fund Locations GCDD funded various conferences, meetings and/or workshops people with and without developmental disabilities. (6 groups) for education, training, policymaking and advocacy in the developmental disability community. (9 conferences funded) School-to-Prison Pipeline Advocacy Training Locations Council Member Hometowns Gwinnett SToPP and the Interfaith Children’s Movement These include counties in which current, governor- hosted educational and training events related to the appointed GCDD council members reside. (27 school-to-prison pipeline crisis that disproportionately council member hometowns) impacts children with disabilities. (3 events) GHF Training Sites Social Justice Dialogue Meeting Sites Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) hosted trainings Periodic gatherings served to plan and develop to educate individuals with and without disabilities processes and strategies to create safe spaces for about the importance of Medicaid and becoming productive dialogue where marginalized individuals’ involved in Medicaid-related advocacy. (4 trainings) existence and gifts are valued. (3 gatherings) Inclusive Colleges & Universities Storytelling Participant Hometowns Nine inclusive post-secondary education programs GCDD’s Storytelling Project is an effort to collect stories for students with intellectual and developmental representing the experience of individuals living with disabilities are supported by GCDD and GAIPSEC (Georgia developmental disabilities across Georgia. (63 stories collected) Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium). SUN Self-Advocacy Training Sites Leadership Launchpad Training Sites GCDD-funded Sangha Unity Network (SUN) hosted Star Choices, Inc. hosted programs to provide training events to empower self-advocates with opportunities for leadership development for frontline