Accessible Audio for Making A Difference

This October marks the 81st anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual celebration of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. The theme for NDEAM 2026 is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” In Georgia, Advancing Employment is leading NDEAM celebration events.   Advancing Employment is Georgia’s training and technical assistance c...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) hosted a virtual Candidate Forum on September 17, 2026 to help voters understand where candidates stand on disability issues.  GCDD organized the event with the Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), Sangha Unity Network, Uniting for Change, Crimminz and Associates, and REV UP Georgia.  During the Forum, candidates running for Governor, Lieutenant G...

Georgia State University (GSU), in partnership with the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, is conducting an in-depth analysis of the return on investment (ROI) of the NOW /COMP Medicaid waivers.  As part of this research study, GSU is hosting listening sessions to gather insights from: People and families who currently receive waivers People and families who are on the waitlist for a w...

Georgia’s general election is November 3, 2026. Voters can cast their ballot in three ways: voting early in-person, by absentee ballot, or at their polling place on Election Day.  “With each of these options, there’s planning that has to happen,” said Stacey Ramirez of REV UP Georgia. “Make sure you understand the process and the steps so that your voice is heard and your ballot is counted.”  The...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities is beginning a new five-year plan. This plan will guide our work for the next five years. I serve as chair of GCDD’s State Plan Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. I am also an assistant director and the training director at the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University. I have served with GCDD for about eigh...

Monday, October 5 — Last Day to Register to Vote Today is the last day to register to vote or update your address for the November 3 General Election. Georgia does not have same-day voter registration. Register or check your status at the Georgia My Voter Page: mvp.sos.ga.gov Tuesday, October 6 — Our Voice, Our Vote 2026 10 a.m., online (Zoom) Hosted by Uniting for Change Learn more: uniting4chang...

What’s going well in your community?   Accessibility is more than a ramp.   When I take my daughter Aysia into our community, I do not just think about whether a place has an accessible entrance. I think about the entire experience.   Aysia is 24, uses a wheelchair, needs significant assistance with her daily care, and communicates without words. She has a voice. We have simply learned how to list...

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 the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel.  The memo is about a 1999 Supreme Court case called Olmstead v. L.C. & E.W. L.C. (Lois Curtis) and E.W. (Elaine Wilson) won the case, which said that people with disabi...

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, or how to manage daily life. Emory University’s Emory Oaks program meets those challenges head-on, with one-on-one support, practical tools, and a community where autistic students belong. “Autistic s...

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 never just a grant. On paper, a grant can look like numbers, forms, deadlines, and money. But behind every dollar is a real chance to make life better for people with developmental disabilities across Georgia. That is why this work means so...

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 disability issues at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2026 virtually via Zoom. The purpose of the 2026 GCDD Candidate Forum is to invite individuals who are running for public office to speak on issues of i...

For ten years, I lived in a nursing home. When people hear that, they often assume it was because I was old or because I needed medical care that could only be provided in an institution. That wasn't the case. I lived there because I didn't have access to the community supports I needed to live in my own home. Like thousands of people with disabilities across Georgia, I wasn't waiti...

Imagine a Georgia where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are not just present in their communities but truly belong. Where people have friends, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to contribute. Where families feel connected and supported. Where young people leaving high school can see a future filled with possibilities. Where people with I/DD have a real voic...

Find out what's happening in Georgia! Here are some events that may be of interest to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.  Do you know of an upcoming event that others may be interested in? Send the information to media@gcdd.org. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports...

“What Makes My Week Work” is a new series in GCDD’s Making a Difference magazine. The goal is to share advocacy and success stories from self-advocates across Georgia. They talk about what helps their week go well and what needs to improve so people with disabilities can live and participate fully in their communities, as promised by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Olmstead Decis...

Welcome to August in Georgia. That time of year when it feels like sticky soup outside and yet the kids are back in the classrooms. It’s always felt to me like a time of transition. Which is extra fitting this year, because we are living through a time of major transitions.  In less than three months, we Georgians will be heading to the polls to elect our next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secret...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) invites you to ask our team questions about legislation, supports, services, or other topics that are related to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The following is this month's question and answer. The Question: GCDD community member from Alpharetta asked: Please provide information about programs where...

When people hear the words “public policy,” they often think about legislation, committee meetings, or debates under the Gold Dome. They think about bills and resolutions. I understand why. But for me, public policy has never been about paperwork. It's always been about people. I joined the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities in 2024, and now I serve as chair of the Public Policy Co...

The ADA’s Promise: Progress Made, Challenges Remain The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law 36 years ago on July 26, 1990. It protects the civil rights of people with disabilities and helps make sure they have the same opportunities as everyone else. The ADA says that people with disabilities should be able to participate fully in their communities. This includes having access to publ...

On June 16th, the Embracing Possibility – Georgia’s Disability Justice Journey exhibit at the Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia, ended its run. After a year of engaging conversations, collaborations, and community gatherings, this exhibit, which focused on what is possible for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), concluded.  Many groups worked together to make the exhib...

This summer, I want to encourage every Georgian with a developmental disability — and every family member, caregiver, and advocate — to engage with your elected officials. Significant decisions are being made right now in our state legislature, in state agencies, and in Washington. These decisions involve funding levels, program structures, and policies that will directly affect the lives of peopl...

Last month, parents, family members, educators, and friends celebrated the newest college graduates of the Class of 2026.  Across the 10 inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) programs in Georgia, graduates wore their cap and gown to mark an important life milestone - graduating from college. This year, the IPSE program at Berry College also marked an important milestone. Their first cohort was...

Did you vote in Georgia's May primary election? If so, your work isn't done yet. If you did not vote in the primary election, you can still vote in June’s primary runoff election.  The primary runoff election is coming on June 16, 2026 and your voice needs to be heard. In Georgia, if no candidate wins more than 50% of the votes in a primary, the top two candidates move on to a runoff. Th...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is reminding community members that there is still time to review and comment on the proposed 2027–2031 Five-Year Strategic Plan. The public comment period closes on June 19, 2026. Earlier this year, GCDD gathered feedback from across the state through focus groups, town hall meetings, and surveys. Families, self-advocates, providers, and co...

On May 12, 2026, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the state budget for fiscal year 2027. This is the final state budget he will sign as governor since his term as Georgia’s governor ends January 27, 2027. After the General Assembly approved the budget in House Bill 974, Governor Brian Kemp made 157 changes (also called “disregards”) to the budget. These changes cut more than $344 million from the budget, in...