Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
by Jennifer Bosk
As far as gender reveals go, this was a simple one. No cupcakes with pink or blue centers, no boxes of helium-filled balloons. Erin and David Nobles had agreed to a genetic test, suggested because of her late-age pregnancy, but mostly because she knew it would be an easy way to...
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
by Clay Voytek
After a pattern of behavioral misconduct, students in the Gwinnett County Public Schools system are often sent to the Gwinnett Intervention Education (GIVE) Center East. Located on Hi Hope Road just off State Route 316, the alternative school sits directly across from the...
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
Starting on Monday, January 13, 2020, the Georgia General Assembly will begin its race towards the finish line. The Georgia Constitution only grants the assembly 40 days to complete all its work. While the days do not have to be continuous, the assembly’s traditional deadline of late March or...
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
My name is Kayla Rodriguez and I’m a 23-year-old autistic self-advocate. I am Vice President and Chief Ambassador of Autistic Self-Advocacy Atlanta, an affiliate group of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. I have trained under the Bobby Dodd Institute Ambassador Program, the GaLEND (Georgia...
We have been hearing so much about Georgia’s new health plans recently released by Governor Kemp. As advocates, it is important to always make sure our voices are heard, whether we are in favor of or against a particular policy. We also know that Medicaid can be a confusing topic because there...
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is seeking Team Leads for its 2020 Advocacy Days. Geared at preparing advocates to take a leadership role at GCDD’s Advocacy Days, Team Lead Volunteers will learn how to navigate the Georgia State Capitol and support attendees in speaking...
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
Picturing Justice, an annual photography exhibition hosted by Atlanta Legal Aid (ALA), opened this month and aims to use photography to illuminate and create empathy for stories of lives improved by the work of social justice advocates.
Every year, the exhibition features four to five...
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
by Shannon Turner, Photographer Lynsey WeatherspoonMichael Griggs is a 34-year-old man living in Jonesboro, Georgia. When Michael was three months old, he came down with a very bad cold. It led to meningitis. After three months in the hospital, Michael came home, seemingly healthy again....
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
by Shannon Turner, Photographer Lynsey WeatherspoonCallie Moore, a 22-year-old woman with seizure disorder and cerebral palsy is on a new journey toward independent living. She’s learning how to be independent of her mother, Pam, and is looking at getting an apartment in nearby Athens. It’s...
Written on . Posted in Making a Difference Magazine
by H. M. CauleyWhile the issues facing people with developmental disabilities are many, a few key areas have the most impact on the quality of life. Five of those specific areas – education, employment, formal and informal supports, real communities and self-advocacy – comprise the cornerstone...
