Accessible Audio for Making A Difference

For the past two and a half years, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) has had the privilege of working alongside leaders across Georgia’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community as part of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) I/DD Workgroup. Together, we set out to confront three of the most critical challenge...

Discover stories of courage, creativity, and leadership from people with disabilities in Georgia and beyond. Learn how disability justice connects to Harriet Tubman’s legacy of strength at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is launching a new feature column for Making A Difference magazine called “Ask GCDD Anything!” Through this column, GCDD will provide more education, information, and resources for Georgia’s developmental disabilities community on topics that are important to YOU!  The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Fiv...

Decisions made during Georgia’s legislative session affect the daily lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. These decisions shape whether someone can get help at home, whether a student can stay in an inclusive classroom, and whether people can access the healthcare they need. These choices are not just about policy—they affect real people every...

My name is Charlie Miller, and I work at the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). My job is to help people speak up for disability rights. I'm excited to share this January newsletter about what's happening in Georgia's government. The holidays are over, and it's almost time for one of my favorite events: the 2026 Georgia State Legislative Session. This is when...

Project SETA: Students Enhancing Their Advocacy is a one-year training program that helps young people build strong skills in speaking up for themselves and being leaders. It was first made for students in college programs that include everyone, but it has grown to help anyone ages 14 to 26. Students chosen for this program get training and support in advocacy, leadership, and being professional....

What if in 2026, we forget about resolutions? Instead, what if we embrace this year as one full of possibilities? Hear me out. A resolution sounds so ... limited. And likely to fail. Plus, why is there pressure to pick just one? I don’t know about you, but in my work and personal life, I want to accomplish more than one thing this year! So, what if instead of declaring a single resolution, we expl...

Whether she is acting, directing, or speaking up for people with disabilities, Jessica Cowell, who has cerebral palsy, knows how to use her voice. She loves being on stage and is dedicated to making sure everyone feels included and welcome. "Ever since I was in preschool, I was told it was important for me to use my voice as a person with a disability," says Cowell. "Everyone should...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is pleased to announce the addition of four new council members. These Georgians will bring new voices and ideas to the 28-member Council. These members will help make important decisions about services and support for people with disabilities in Georgia. The new members are: Brooke Baumgardner, advocate, Johns Creek, GA Mariana Ortiz-Padill...

In this issue, we’ll take a look at the latest developments in the federal government shutdown, where the Georgia Developmental Disabilities Network currently stands, and what’s happening at the U.S. Department of Education. We’ll also gear up for another Georgia state legislative session under the Gold Dome. So get ready as we travel from Washington, D.C. to the Georgia State Capitol on our conti...

Jacquelyn Daniel, founder of ConnectAbility in Dahlonega is the 2025 Spirit of Kim Unsung Hero Award Winner! This award celebrates individuals who demonstrate selfless service to Georgia's intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) community. The winner shows the same giving spirit as GCDD's late Office Manager Kim Person. Kim worked for the Council for 19 years and passed away sud...

In Georgia, a training program is helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities become leaders in their communities. My Voice. My Participation. My Board. is a program that started in 2014, and has trained 85 Georgians to serve on boards and advisory councils across the state. The program was created to solve a problem. State agencies and nonprofit organizations were making decis...

As we look back on the year, we know that you and others are making communities better every day for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities (I/DD). So, GCDD decided to find out what’s working across Georgia in your town.  We used a survey to ask two questions: What’s going well in your community? How has it made the town better for people with I/DD and the local community?   In thi...

UnlockGA is a group of people and organizations working together to make Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) easier to get for people with disabilities and their families. The group looks for problems in the system and pushes for changes that help people who need these services live better lives. HCBS, or Home and Community-Based Services, are personalized services provided in a person's...

Joy is powerful. It helps us stay strong, connected, and hopeful. As the holiday season approaches, we’re celebrating the moments that brought smiles and strength this year. We asked several self-advocates from Uniting for Change to share what has brought them joy in their lives in 2025. For each person we asked: What brings you joy? What is something you are grateful for or that has brought you j...

When the University of Georgia (UGA) launched Destination Dawgs in January 2017, the vision was clear: create a fully inclusive program where students with intellectual disabilities could learn, grow, and thrive alongside their peers. What began as an idea from a 2014 exploratory grant has since become a nationally recognized program that places students at the heart of campus life. Unlike some pr...

“Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.” Those are the famous words of Tevye, the main character in Fiddler on the Roof. Without giving any spoilers, I can tell you the story is about a loving family living in very uncertain times. Tevye and his family are trying to honor traditions, support their community and keep a sense of humor at a time of great change....

The National Business Association says that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create two out of every three new jobs in the country. They also make up almost half of all the money and goods that America produces each year. Many organizations support small businesses through funding, connections, and mentorship. But until 2016, none of these groups chose to include business own...

In September, the disability rights community mourned the loss of Shelly Simmons. Simmons was a pioneer for Georgia’s disability movement and served as the Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia. She passed away on August 29.  Simmons grew up in Englewood, California, and was diagnosed at 13 years old with Muscular Dystrophy. She was passionate about sports and e...

Every election presents an opportunity for people to shape the future of their communities. Voting allows people to lend their voices to improving their city, state, or country. Derek Heard, an Albany native with autism, is developing a voter education campaign. The campaign uplifts the voices of individuals with disabilities and encourages them to exercise their right to vote. Using his two passi...

During the summer, President Trump provided a plan on how the government should spend (appropriate) its money. Congress is reviewing the plan to decide if it agrees with it or wants to make changes. These changes are called markups.  There are 12 appropriations subcommittees and committees in Congress. They are debating and marking up appropriation (funding) bills for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 bud...

Happy Fall! The season of cool breezes, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes is here. I’m excited to introduce myself as the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (GCDD) new Chief Program Officer. In this role, I’ll be working closely with the GCDD staff and council members to guide the agency’s work and help shape our next five-year plan. The five-year plan is our roadmap. It lays out...

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities welcomes two new staff members. Rena Harris is the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (GCDD) new Chief Program Officer. M. Cathy Harmon-Christian, PhD is GCDD’s new Public Policy Director. Learn more about their background and how they will help further GCDD's mission to support people with intellectual and developmental disablitie...

Please join me in welcoming GCDD’s two newest employees: Cathy Harmon-Christian as our Public Policy Director and Rena Harris as our Chief Program Officer. By the time you read this, they will have been on the job for a couple of weeks, settling in, setting priorities and, I’m sure, already making a difference with their expertise.  I participated in the selection processes that brought Cathy and...

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and allies work hard every day to make life better for the disability community. Along the way, they face many challenges in society, politics, money, and systems. One of the biggest challenges is getting and keeping the funding needed for important services that support people with I/DD. The Georgia Council on Develop...