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About
About GCDD
Our mission is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for the wide spectrum of diverse Georgians with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, lead, work, play and worship in their communities.

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What Does GCDD Do?

Our Vision and Values

Annual Reports

Five Year Strategic Plan

The Council

GCDD Meetings

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FAQs About GCDD
Public Policy
Public Policy
Our public policy efforts encourage the integration between people with developmental disabilities, the people who support them, and the community as a whole. We foster change and public awareness that reflects the needs of people with developmental disabilities.

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Advocacy & Policy Alerts

GCDD Advocacy Days

Public Policy Priorities

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The GCDD Storytelling Project

Becoming a Grassroots Advocate
Current Projects
Current Projects
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) collaborates with, supports and funds many projects across Georgia that promote best practices demonstrating innovative programs and activities that create opportunities to enhance the quality of life for Georgians living with developmental disabilities (DD).

Learn more about our Current Projects
Targeted Disparity

Inclusive Post-Secondary Education

Self-Advocacy

Systems Change

Archived Projects
News & Media
News & Media
Stay up-to-date on the latest news, events, and announcements that impact people with developmental disabilities and their families in Georgia.

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Making a Difference Magazine

En Español

Archived Making a Difference Magazine

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Person First Language

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Calendar of Events

Embracing Possibility Exhibit
Funding
Funding Opportunities
We make funds available to increase the capacity and resources of public and private nonprofit entities and others to develop a comprehensive community system that responds to the choices, capabilities and needs of persons with developmental disabilities and their families.

Learn more about funding opportunities
Dottie Adams Scholarship Fund

Conference Support Funds

Notice of Funds Available
Resources
Other Resources
We provide access to resources to help you find developmental disabilities services, learn about the history of disability policy, and access papers written about disability issues.

Browse our resouces
Developmental Disabilities Services and Supports

History of Disabilities Policy

White Papers

Making a Difference Magazine

2026 Candidate Forum on Disability Issues

September 2026 Issue

Current Feature Stories

Election 2026: GCDD Hosts Annual Candidate Forum

Aug 24, 2026 | GCDD

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), along with partners the Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), Sangha Unity Network, and REV UP Georgia, will host the 2026 Candidate Forum on disabi…

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Emory University Program Supports Autistic Students on Their College Journey

Aug 24, 2026 | Jacob Segura

College is a big change for anyone. For autistic students, it can bring challenges that other students do not face. Challenges such as knowing how to study, when to ask for help, how to make friends…

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Current Topics

Letter from Leadership: The Chance to Make Life Better for Georgians with Developmental Disabilities

Aug 24, 2026 | Leslie Kate Thornton | Letter from Leadership

My name is Leslie Ann Thornton, and I am the Chair of the Grants Selection Committee for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. This work has taught me something important: a grant is nev…

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What the DOJ Memo Means for People with Disabilities

Aug 24, 2026 | Maria Pinkelton | Public Policy For The People

What is the DOJ memo? On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a letter about enforcing disability rights. The letter is called a memorandum, and it was written by t…

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