Viewpoint: Let's Continue The Fight

Written by Support Team on 20 April 2015.

On a cold and wet March 5th morning, hundreds of people with developmental disabilities, family members and advocates gathered at the Liberty Plaza for the 17th annual Disability Day at the Capitol. While we were cold and wet, our enthusiasm was not dampened. Those in the crowd cheered, sang, clapped and marched as speakers presented news about what is happening in Georgia and what the future might look like.

I would be remiss if I did not thank GCDD members, staff and volunteers for their hard work in putting this effort together. They spent many hours preparing for the rally and organizing exhibits, t-shirt pick up, lunch and other activities at the Freight Depot. Their hard work was appreciated by most. However, several staff members from provider organizations were rude, used inappropriate language and made our jobs difficult.

Disability Day is about showing strength in numbers in the spirit of community. For those who understand this message, we thank you. For those who do not, we hope you reflect on the true meaning of Disability Day before you attend next year.

The theme this year was “Fulfilling the Promise of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)” and celebrating the 25th anniversary of this civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. Much progress has been made and yet we still come up short when it comes to equal rights for people with disabilities. Many are still warehoused in institutions and nursing homes. Many still do not have jobs and many are still isolated in communities with only paid staff as friends. Yet as Governor Nathan Deal commented, we are making progress in getting more students on college campuses. We are working to get children out of nursing homes and the possibilities seem endless.

But we must continue to fight. As US Rep. John Lewis said in his video message to the crowd, “We must continue to get in the way and cause good trouble.” That is our role and must be central to the strategies that we use to continue creating a better place for everyone. We must continue to fight for more funds and Medicaid waivers. GCDD fought successfully with others for passage of medical marijuana legislation to help children and others live normal lives. We must make sure that staff is paid a living wage so that the threat of poverty is removed not only from people with disabilities but all Georgians. This is the kind of trouble we must make and we must get in the way of those who keep us from achieving this effort.

Over the next few months, Atlanta will host several national and international conferences related to disability in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ADA and the opening of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Let’s show the world once more why Atlanta is such a great and welcoming city.

Remember that GCDD is here to assist you. Check out our website and join our social media and advocacy networks so that you can stay informed. We hope you enjoy reading this magazine. Let us know your thoughts and comments about the magazine by writing to Valerie Suber at .

Eric E. Jacobson
Executive Director, GCDD

Viewpoint: The New Year of Change and Celebration

Written by Support Team on 19 January 2015.

From the GCDD family to yours, we wish you a very happy new year! We hope that 2015 will be a great year for all of us in the disability community. This year could be the time when Georgia finally takes its place as a leader in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. I know what you are thinking. We already have had enough change and still things have not gotten better. It seems like every year we are bombarded with changes in waivers, staff and direction. Will the services we currently have be here next year or will we have to search for what we need?

This edition of Making a Difference will examine several of those changes coming. We start with the inauguration of Governor Nathan Deal's second term and the 2015 legislative session. We hope to share with you legislative support around the waiting list; ensuring that employment becomes a first option, especially for children leaving high school; the ability of students who are enrolling in inclusive post-secondary education programs to access the HOPE scholarship; and discussions about ensuring that when those students graduate, they receive a diploma allowing them to access their next step in life. We also hope to see in the next year the closure of state institutions and ending the practice of sending children to live in nursing homes.

Much of the change happening is driven by policies and rules established in Washington, DC through the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Many of you attended town hall meetings convened by the Georgia Department of Community Health to discuss changes in all Medicaid Waivers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have established new rules that define home and community-based services. For some, this has been happily anticipated for many years, but for others there is concern about whether services such as day supports will be considered a home and community-based service. Much of the preliminary work on changes to the NOW, COMP, ICWP and CCSP will happen this year, but implementation will probably not happen until next year.

Finally, this is the 25th anniversary of passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will be reporting on this right up until the national celebration in July. It will be part of the theme for the 17th annual Disability Day at the Capitol, which will be held on March 5 at the new Liberty Plaza across the street from the Gold Dome. I hope that all of you attend.

Remember that GCDD is here to assist you. Check out our website and join our advocacy network so that you can stay informed. We hope you enjoy reading this magazine and we want to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts and comments about the magazine by writing to Valerie Suber at .

Eric E. Jacobson
Executive Director, GCDD