Press Releases

Emergency Preparedness Listening Sessions Head to Northeast Georgia to Help Disability Community

June 12, 2023 (Atlanta, GA)-Exceptional Living 101, a grantee of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is hosting two in-person emergency preparedness listening sessions Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Northeast Georgia to inform Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and the community about public safety.

Exceptional Living 101 in partnership with Avita Community Partners will host two June events. One event will be held in Gainesville, Georgia and the other event will be held in Demorest, Georgia on June 29, 2023. Avita Community Partners is a resource for individuals and families in northeast Georgia experiencing the disabling effects of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases.

Since December 2022, Exceptional Living 101 has planned statewide events to help the disability community regarding emergency preparedness. During these emergency preparedness meetings, attendees are educated and informed about emergency preparedness and mental health emergencies that are specific to individuals with disabilities. Participants who attend also have the opportunity to participate in no-cost raffles to win emergency preparedness prizes, including a phone power bank, a carbon monoxide monitor, a weather radio, first aid kits, flashlights, and more.

“We are pleased to partner with Avita Community Partners, who will host our North Georgia emergency preparedness listening sessions and want to hear from people within the disability community, as well as their family and friends that provide support, regarding their lived experiences in dealing with and managing emergency situations and accessing services,” said Naomi Williams, Founder and Owner of Exceptional Living 101. “It’s important for us to hear from the disability community about the emergencies they encounter or affect them. Whether the emergency is personal or a natural disaster, we want to be able to prepare the disability community for them. We look forward to meeting as many self-advocates, family members, support persons, and providers on June 29th.” 

The dates, times, and locations of the June events are listed below:

In-Person Sessions Scheduled for June: 

Thursday, June 29, 2023

9:30am - 10:30am

Avita Community Partners

3509 Mabry Road

Gainesville, GA 30504

Thursday, June 29, 2023 

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Avita Community Partners 

196 Scoggins Drive

Demorest, GA 30535

All events are free and open to the public. An ASL interpreter will also be present at both listening sessions. For more information, contact 706-426-1963 or email .

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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