Press Releases

Albany Residents Invited to Speak Out On Disabilities Georgia Council Seeks Crucial Community Input for Five-year Strategy

ATLANTA (September 1, 2015) – The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) will host a series of public forums in order to collect public input on its next strategic plan in nine Georgia cities, including in Albany on Wednesday, September 9, 6;00 pm to 8:00 pm, at the Albany ARC, 3005 Old Dawson Road. All eleven forums are free and open to the public, plus a Spanish language forum will be held in Atlanta on September 18. Feedback from local communities will assist in creating a foundation and direction for the Council’s activities, programs and services over the next five years, 2016 – 2021.

Georgia’s disability community is encouraged to attend and participate by offering public comment concerning topics such as employment, education, housing, services, supports and community access. “These meetings are excellent opportunities for individuals with disabilities, their family members, caregivers, friends and others to have meaningful input into how the Council can actively improve on what we are already doing as an organization,” GCDD Executive Director Eric E. Jacobson said. “We want to ensure that we are recognizing and remaining current with the emerging needs of a growing community with rapidly changing dynamics. In order to do that, we need to hear from our constituents, stakeholders and those with an interest in making the future better for people with disabilities.”

Although advance registration is preferred, attendees are welcome to show up with family, friends or neighbors and encouraged to spread the word to others.

Registration for all GCDD Strategic Plan Public Forums can be accessed through the GCDD website at www.gcdd.org/public-input.

The remaining GCDD Strategic Plan Public Forums are being held in the following cities through September:

• Macon - Sep. 8, Hilton Garden Inn, 1220 Stadium Dr., Macon, GA 31204
• Columbus - Sep. 10, Columbus State University Continuing Education Center, 4225 University Ave., Columbus, GA 31907
• Atlanta - Sep. 18, Parent to Parent, 3805 Presidential Parkway, #207, Atlanta, GA 30340 (Spanish language)
• Athens - Sep. 24, UGA Continuing Education Center, 1197 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 3060
• Savannah - Sep. 28, Savannah Civic Center, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah, GA 31401
• Augusta - Sep. 29, Augusta Richmond County Library, 823 Telfair St., Augusta, GA 30901
• Atlanta - Sep. 30, Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland St., Atlanta, GA 30303

Each forum will be held during evening hours from 6:00 - 8:00 PM except Augusta, which will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 PM.

About the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities:
GCDD, a federally funded independent state agency, works to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play and worship in Georgia communities. A developmental disability is a chronic mental and/or physical disability that occurs before age 22 and is expected to last a lifetime.

CONTACT:
Valerie Meadows Suber
Public Information Director
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
Office / 404.657.2122
Mobile / 404.801.7873

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