Making GCDD’s Guide to the 2018 Difference Midterm Elections THE DISABILITY COUNTS! Fall gcdd.org 2018 Transforming Employment for People with DisabilitiesSUMMER 2018 1 Making VOLUME 19, ISSUE 2 FALL 2018 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 DEPARTMENTS PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE PEOPLE VIEWPOINT The Disability Vote Counts! You Can’t Complain if You Don’t Vote A Guide to Voting by Eric E. Jacobson ........... 3 by Hanna Rosenfeld Voting is one of our most important rights and AROUND THE STATE civic duties as citizens living in a democracy. Disability Employment Check out our guide on voting for people with Initiative Gets People 6 disabilities and find out everything you need to into Workforce ............ 4 know about the elections on November 6, 2018. REAL COMMUNITIES Real Communities Include College Campaign Retreat Focuses Brings Focus to Programs on Shifts in for Students with Disabilities Community ..................... 5 by Devika Rao WHAT’S HAPPENING IN Find out more about the nine inclusive college WASHINGTON? programs across Georgia and learn about the by Alison Barkoff ...............16 possibilities now available for students with 10 intellectual and developmental disabilities. GCDD IMPACT The Fam Squad ............ 18 Transforming Employment EXPERT UPDATE for People with Disabilities Voting – A by Jennifer Bosk Fundamental Right There’s a sea change coming in the lives by Ilias N. Savakis ........... 20 of people with disabilities and its focus is COMMUNITY CALENDAR employment training, work inclusion and October – January ...... 22 financial stability. Learn about customized 12 integrated employment and how to save On the Cover: GCDD’s focus is on for the future with STABLE accounts. the importance of people with disabilities exercising their right to vote in the midterm elections. The Eric E. Jacobson, Executive Director, [email protected] Disability Vote Counts! 2 Peachtree Street NW , Suite 26-246, Atlanta, GA 30303-3142 Voice 404.657.2126, Fax 404.657.2132, Toll Free 1.888.275.4233 FALL TDD 404.657.2133, [email protected], www.gcdd.org 2018 O’Neill Communications, Design & Layout 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 Eric E. Jacobson Eric E. YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN IF YOU DON’T VOTE! I remember when I turned 18 and voted for the very first time; it was the 1980 presidential election. Prior to 1980, my mother had already instilled in me the pride and civic responsibility that came with living in this great country. She reminded me that part of that One of the issues we need to be from high school signals the responsibility was to participate discussing with those running for beginning of life as an adult, and in the electoral process. And that office is employment. While we employment is a key part of that. meant voting. “You can’t complain have made some progress, there Bottom line: We can make a if you don’t vote!” was her mantra. are still too many Georgians difference by engaging in our By the time you read this, with disabilities who want to civic responsibility to participate the Georgia Council on go to work but don’t have the in the electoral process and Developmental Disabilities supports. Just like with voting, by making sure people have a (GCDD) will have hosted our employment gives an individual job. GCDD will continue to Candidate Forum on Disability the opportunity to participate in work on both of these issues. Issues, where key candidates for American civic life by becoming Insurance Commissioner, School a taxpayer. But how will Georgia Superintendent and Secretary of use its resources to help people State shared where they stand on with disabilities participate in this FOR YEARS, WE HAVE SPOKEN issues important to people with part of society? We hear how the ABOUT THE DISABILITY economy is growing and doing disabilities. A recap will be coming COMMUNITY COMPRISING THE shortly on our website and in our well, but this growth has not quarterly newsletter. But, it’s up to yet reached everyone, especially LARGEST MINORITY VOTING you to go to the voting booth on people with disabilities. BLOC IN THE COUNTRY. Tuesday, November 6. In this edition of Making a For years, we have spoken Difference, we will talk about about the disability community what’s happening to increase Check out GCDD’s website and comprising the largest minority employment for people with join our advocacy network so that voting bloc in the country. disabilities in Georgia and the you can stay informed. We hope This means that we can have resources they can access. In fact, you enjoy reading this magazine an influence on elections if in a recent hearing of the Joint and we want to hear from you. Let we participate. I have heard Appropriations Committee for us know your thoughts and Health and Human Services, we many pundits call this the most comments by writing to Managing emphasized that employment important election ever. Just Editor, Hillary Hibben, at remember that we are electing state is the outcome people with [email protected]. and local people who will make disabilities most often desire. policies that will impact your lives. This is why programs like And as my mother insisted, YOU inclusive post-secondary CAN’T COMPLAIN IF YOU education or Project SEARCH Eric E. Jacobson DON’T VOTE. are essential. Transition Executive Director, GCDD 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 FALL 2018 3 AROUND THE STATE ATHENS ATLANTA Disability Employment Initiative AUGUSTA Gets People into Workforce The US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) recognized Georgia’s Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) nationally for demonstrating best practices towards providing services and opportunities for Georgians with disabilities. Launched in 2015, DEI is funded “Through this model, all these (SSI) or Social Security Disability by a US Department of Labor agencies are working together to Income (SSDI), many of whom (DOL) grant designed to “promote employ people with disabilities are people with disabilities. physical and programmatic access in jobs that provide gainful Currently, 14 individuals have to job seekers with disabilities into wages and are in integrated already utilized Ticket to Work, Georgia’s Workforce System.” settings,” said Rosanny Rios, and approximately 100 people are Georgia’s DEI is under the Disability Employment Initiative participating in the DEI program. Technical College System of Lead, Technical College Georgia’s Office of Workforce System of Georgia’s Office of Development office. It is the Workforce Development. administrator of WorkSource The grant utilizes six strategies Agencies are working together to Georgia, the state’s federally- to promote this access: Integrated employ people with disabilities funded employment and training Resource Teams, Social Security in jobs that provide gainful wages system, working to connect talent Administration Ticket to Work and are in integrated settings. with opportunity. At a local Program (EN), Customized level, the Office of Workforce Employment, Customized Development provides Workforce Training, Career Pathways and “This is a win-win for providers Innovation of Opportunity Act Partnership & Collaboration. and people with disabilities,” (WIOA) funds and technical Georgia’s DEI works with added Rios. “Many people do not assistance to the 19 Local WorkSource Northeast Georgia know that this program exists, Workforce Development Areas and WorkSource Central and through DEI, we want to across the State. WIOA funds Savannah River Area to bolster bring more attention to it so are allotted to dislocated workers, employment opportunities for people can utilize these resources low-income adults and youth Georgians with disabilities and get into the workforce.” and administered specifically that reside in those regions. through services geared toward Currently, Rios is working to Specifically, DEI is working in expand the program and make it helping disadvantaged citizens Augusta, Athens and Atlanta. obtain meaningful employment. more sustainable across the State. Those areas were strategically Her main goal is to develop a It was nationally recognized for chosen to expand the impact of structure to increase these services funding a full-time Certified this program across the State, to maximize positive outcomes for Rehabilitation Counselor whose with plans to continue growing both job seekers with disabilities entire caseload consists of shared to new counties and areas. and workforce programs. co-enrolled WIOA title I and WIOA title IV customers to Additionally, DEI is focusing Learn more about the DEI maximize positive outcomes for on Ticket to Work, a resource program at the Technical College both job seekers with disabilities provided to all individuals who System of Georgia. and workforce programs. receive Social Security Income 4 MAKING A DIFFERENCE MAGAZINE REAL COMMUNITIES Real Communities Retreat Focuses on Shifts in Community Approximately 25 people gathered at Amicalola State Falls Park from Sept. 26-28 to learn, gather and share about their work in the communities at the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Real Communities Retreat. Participants of The retreat brought together More so, Michelle saw a common resources and things still cannot Connectability’s Real Communities partners theme emerge from the participants change.