1998 annual report of the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities for Georgia [1998]

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\998 Annua\Report of the Governor's council

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on Developmental Disabiliftes for Georgia

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Letter from Governor Roy Barnes
Dear Friends:
In my Inaugural Address, I talked about how Georgia is now a place where neither race, gender, nor geography will divide us: a New Georgia, with a diverse population; a place with opportunity for all, including those with develop-mental disabilities.
The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities offers invaluable services to those in our state who need greater assistance to live as independently as possible. The Council has provided opportunities for people with .developmental disabilities to achieve productivity, inclusion, independence and integration. In particular, the Council has supported pro;ects that promote school inclusion for our children with disabilities, assisted people in purchasing a home on their own, and improved supported employment. Most notably, the Council began the Unlock the Waiting Lists campaign focusing on better access to home and community based services.
I believe that Georgia can be a place where every individual is allowed to live to his or her fullest potential. Working together, we can continue to help those who need us the most.
Sincerely,
Roy E. Barnes Governor

Beat! beat! drums-blow! bugles, blow! Through the. windows-though the doors-burst like a
ruthless force, Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation, Into the school where the scholar is studying; Leave not the bridegroom quiet-no happiness must he have
now with his bride, Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field and
gathering his grain, So fierce you whirr and pound you drums-so shrill you
bugles blow.
Beat! beat! drums-blow! bugles! blow! over the traffic of the cities-over the rumble of wheels in the streets;
Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? no sleepers must sleep in those beds,
No bargainers' bargains by day-no brokers or speculatorswould they continue?
Would the talkers be talking? Would the singer attempt to sing?
Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge?
Then rattle quicker, heavier drums-you bugles wilder blow!
Beat! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow! Make no parley-stop for no expostulation, Mind not the timid-mind not the weeper or prayer, Mind not the old man beseeching the young man, Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mothers' entreaties, Make even the trestles to shake the dead. where they lie
awaiting the hearses, So strong you thump 0 terrible drums-so loud you bugles
blow.
-Walt Whitman, from Drum Taps, 1865.

In response to federal Developmental Disabilities SeIVices and Facilities Construction Amendments of 1970, (P.L. 91-517), the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities was established in 1971. The Council is a twenty-three member Board appointed by the Governor, dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities and their family members. The Council creates a unique opportunity to bring together the perspectives of people with disabilities, advocates, universities, and state agencies to help shape public policies regarding people with disabilities. The Council is comprised of six family members of people with disabilities, and six people with disabilities. oThe Council also includes representatives from seven state agencies seJVing people with developmental disabilities, a representative from the state's University Affiliated Program, a representative from the state's Protection and Advocacy System, and a representative from higher education training facilities.
The Mission of the Council is to collaborate with consumers, their families, advocacy organizations, and policy makers to enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, education, funding and project implementation, and research and analysis.
The Council is located at: 2 Peachtree Street, N. W Suite 3-210 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
You may call us at: 404-657-2126, 888-ASK-GCDD; or 404-6572 I33 TDD. Our fax number is: 404-657-2132. You may access our website at http://www.ga-ddcounciJ.org. We can provide alternative formats for our publications. This publication was made possible through grant number G9901-GABSI I from the Department of Health and Human SeIVices, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

Letter from the Chair and the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

It seems that during the last year, the Council's activities in conjunction with those of individuals with disabilities, their families, and advocates can best be described by the picture of an orchestra. An orchestra is multiphonic, with every section a different color and a different voice. As individual sections, we get only a glimpse of the entire song: the loud brashness of the horns section, the shy harmonies of the woodwinds, the delicacy of the strings and the beats of the percussion. But when each of these sections plays together, with a common goal and a common message, the result is a symphony of sounds imagined by the likes of Beethoven, Glenn Miller, John Lennon, Duke Ellington, or Garth Brooks.

The Council recognizes that its role in this orchestra we call advocacy is probably most often associated with the percussion section. The Council can use its resources to support the efforts of others in creating change around the state. During the last year, our support helped 35 individuals become graduates of Partners in Policymaking, 18 people purchase their first home, and I9 people get jobs. We provided resources for over 500 advocates to come together and learn through the Advocacy Alliance, Partnership Fund, and other advocacy training activities.

But it takes more than the percussion section to make an orchestra. Others had to be the horns, woodwinds and strings. In the past, advocacy in Georgia often resembled individual sections that were on different pages, producing different sounds, without a common vision. This year, we are beginning to see the results of what happens when all the instruments play from the same page of music and work as an orchestra to produce those symphonic sounds. The Council worked with individuals and family members statewide on all of our projects. Organizations such as the Statewide Independent Living Council, Albany ARC, Council on Aging, People First, Georgia ARC Network and others worked with us. Without the participation and leadership of these organizations, we would not have had over 300 people in Macon on a Saturday in September to hear what candidates for statewide office had to say about issues important to people with disabilities and their families.

The project that most exemplifies the orchestra is the Unlock the Waiting List Campaign. Together, individuals, family members and advocates came together and created a common song or message-it is time for this state to eliminate the waiting list for home and community-based services. Advocates for people with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, and the frail elderly began meeting and crafting the composition. We had able conductors in Grace Fricks, Sarita Reddy, and Beth Tumlin who kept us on the same page because we often tried to act as individual sections instead of an orchestra. Each section of the orchestra contributed whether with people power, or funds, or by helping others attend events. The musical composition and the band that plays this song will remain a stalwart in Georgia. The individuals that comprise the ()fchestra may change, but until there are funds to support the 13,000 individuals who are on waiting lists, the band will play on.

This is the dawn of a new era, when with all the right instruments, we are playing from a common

score with a vision that in Georgia "all persons are included in all facets of community life and have choic-

es while exercising control over their lives." Together we can create music, which, as Plato wrote, "...gives a

soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination... and life to everything." The Council,

its members, and staff feel honored to be a part of this orchestra that is improving the lives of people with

disabilities and their families in Georgia.

~ 2. (Jh'~~S~

C. Anthony Cunningham Chairperson

Eric EJ a c ' --
Executive Director

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In Concert...A Call
to Action
Little did Walt Whitman imagine 134 years ago that his poem, which talks about the undeniable presence of the Civil War in the United States, would apply to the call to action that is being heard by advocates, people with disabilities and their family members all across Georgia. Just as Whitman's instruments indicate the inevitability of action, the bugles' blast and drums' insistence signal the advent of the disability civil rights movement. It is a clarion call that people are rising to pay attention to: the call that will mean a greater potential than ever before to achieve inclusion, independence, integration and productivity for all of Georgia's citizens. Constituents sense the tuba's deep chords getting to the heart of independence and family issues. They heed underlying drum beats-the rhythm of understanding that nothing progresses without education. They hearken to the flute, weaving harmony and consistency through community inclusion. And they hear the awakening sounds of the bugle, which bring information to people who need it most. The instruments tell the people of Georgia it is time to act; for this is the time for people with disabilities and their families to unite to make a difference. It is this movement that we will chronicle in our report.
Sensing the Tuba's Deep ChordsIndependent and Family Lifestyles
There is something about the currents stirred when a tuba is played. The notes are so low and omnipresent in the air, that one senses that they reach right into one's soul and reverberate. The

notes have the power to transform one's life. It is also so of the projects the Council supports around independent and family lifestyles.
Home of Your Own Project-The Georgia Home of Your Own Alliance (HOYO) is modeled after a national program. Since people with developmental disabilities typically are on fixed incomes and have no credit history and little savings, the project enables them to purchase their own homes through a network of local support and the availability of loan programs and down payment assistance. In Georgia, local support networks consist of eight Expertise Teams which assist individuals through the process of housing counseling, loan application, and other servi@es. In 1998, three new Expertise Teams were formed.
This year's HOYO activities included participation in the Fannie Mae Home Choice underwriting initiative training; advocating for the development
of home ownership programs and home modification programs for poor and very poor people with disabilities; increasing the number of expertise teams to offer mentoring to additional communities to increase the number of participating communities; providing expertise teams with extensive training on the development of detailed housing plans including financial aspects for at least six consumers; and monitoring and reporting on the pervasiveness of current home ownership programs and impact of the Georgia HOYO project. While Fannie Mae's Home Choice does not seem to be a desirable option for Georgia lenders at this time, the training was extremely beneficial because it provided a model for the Department of Community Affairs to develop their Own Home program. The Own Home loan program is the only one of its kind in the state. Results of the third year of the project show that eighteen people with disabilities own new homes; and 17 of those are borrowers below 30% of median income. The Department of Community Affairs made these loans through the Own Home program for a total amount of $364,628. In FY 98, 16 more loans were in process, most of which were expected to result in home ownership. The Own Home Loan Program is not pervasive at this time. Six banks or lenders have participated so far and

the Department of Community Affairs is working to expand that number. At the end of this year, the marketing division added another staff person which will double its capacity to market the pro~ gram. ($30,000)

Expanding Capacity of Business to

Employ People with Disabilities-The goal of

the employment capacity expansion project was to

substantially increase the base of employers across

the state that were proponents of and active partic~

ipants in supported employment, thus creating

greater job opportunities for people with develop~

mental disabilities. An increase of 18 businesses in

that base of employers was accomplished through

activities including: the creation of a think tank to

generate ideas about increasing employment

opportunities for people with developmental dis~

abilities; human resource training which allowed

business persons to hear from their peers, rather

than from "government workers," how well employ~

ing people with disabilities can

work; and the creation of a

resource guide for employers writ~

ten with businesses as the target

audience with the capacity to be customized for a local area. The guide is to be used for future train~ ing and distributed through the Department of Labor and the serv~ ice system. As a result of these

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activities, 19 adults have jobs of

their choice, and 178 people in

generic occupations received train~

ing in employment. ($45,000)

Leadership Institute on Person~Centered Planning-The Leadership Institute was an inten~ sive training for service coordinators and direct care workebs on how to incorporate person~cen~ tered planning into the routine care of people with developmental disabilities. Teams representing 18 organizations were taught by a nationally~recog~ nized trainer for three day~long workshops over a period of nine months. Each team selected a focus person with whom to test what they learned. They followed the accomplishments of the focus person as well as their own over the course of the training. Following that, each team submitted a plan for a Renewal Project, the goal of which was to expand the knowledge and skills gained to either more focus persons or to target more staff for training within the organization they represented. The results of the Renewal Projects will not be known

until next year, but as a result of this year's activi~ ties, five focus participants reported an increased frequency of community participation and higher values placed on their roles in their community. Two reported improved living situations. Also, sig~ nificant statistical increases occurred for paired samples of focus participants in how many know their neighbors, how many have friends without disabilities come and visit, and how many have choices in the matter of clothing and in what they eat. Overall, there was statistically significant increase in the amount of choice that focus partici~ pants have in their lives. ($72,000)
Passage of HB 1131IReauthorization of HB 1OO~Mental HealthlMental Retardation! Substance Abuse Service Delivery ReformIn 1993, the Georgia General Assembly passed HB 100, which reformed the public mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse service system. The legislation contained a sunset provi~
sion limiting its life to June 30, 1999.
This year, advocates sought the Bill's reauthorization. Stakeholder meetings facilitated a consensus so reauthorization could be pursued. To guarantee the continuation of services for people with develop~ mental disabilities in the delivery system, the Council supported the reauthorization legislation. HB I 131 was introduced; it subsequently passed and was signed into law. The Bill removed the sunset clause and allowed for consumers and their families to have more responsive, accessible services; public managers to have the flexibility to move funds where services are most needed; private providers to be included in the public service network; and citizens to have better services for their tax dollars.
Welfare Reform Project-The Welfare Reform Project was aimed at ensuring that service agency staff have knowledge about disability~relat~ ed issues and resources, and that people with developmental disabilities and family members have accurate information about Welfare Reform and an opportunity regarding its impact on them. This year, four of six forums were held across the state, during which project administrators assessed the need for resources and information that still exists. An average of 60 people attended each of the four forums, with the greater percentage of par~

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ticipants being agency representatives. When all

pliance was not sellable. Another problem was the

the forums are completed, a report on policy rec-

scope of the Bill. There was a strong move to have

ommendations for incorporating the needs of peo-

eligibility for coverage be based on only 5-7 diag-

ple with developmental disabilities into TANF regu- noses. This would have been catastrophic for many

lations will be published. This document will

children with disabilities, none of whose diagnoses

enable the system to recognize that people with

would have been covered. After approximately 60

disabilities are the most difficult to place in jobs

hours of negotiation with the insurance industry

and that parents may, as long as current regula-

representatives, and with a strong coalition effort,

tions are in place, be better off continuing on the

the bill remained broad-based, and a final version

TANF rolls in order to take care of their children.

was even expanded to include substance abuse. A

($85,335 +$13,090 match)

new Bill, Senate Bill 620, was passed as a mini-

PeachCare for Kids-At the beginning of the 1998 legislative session, Governor Zell Miller announced his support for legislation that would' insure a large segment of uninsured Georgia children. This initiative was the result of the Federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which created a Children's Health Insurance Program. Governor Miller's legisla-

mum offer, not a mandate where insurance companies could offer, but were not mandated to offer this coverage. For the first time anywhere in America, a basic level of services were defined for small groups (2-50 employees). A more comprehensive level of services was defined for large
groups (50+). The Bill passed the House with only 1 dissenting vote,

tion, SB 110, would create a private insurance program for all children under 200% of the federal poverty level and be administered by the Georgia Merit System.
~~~~~l~~~~o~~~=~i~~~~~t~~O~~~~::~t~;o~s::n~ec~~:~~t1~e::~~~~f~'.-~.~/...'..-- ~ :.;~ ---- At first, children's advocacy and

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and was signed by Governor Miller in April. Activities of this campaign included extensive grassroots education through printed materials; buttons; a toll-free call-in legislative update hotline; community presentations in Augusta, Columbus, Athens, Gainesville, Thomasville, and Atlanta; extensive networking with Coalition partners; negotia-

along with several statewide advocacy organizations, family members, and self-advocates, educated members of the General Assembly and the public, and worked to guarantee that children with developmental disabilities would receive appropriate coverage. Children's advocates and the disability community

tions with insurance industry representatives; the Mental Health Day at the Capitol rally; media activity; specific outreach to families of people with developmental disabilities; and weekly coalition meetings. In all, 750 people were trained in systems advocacy about this issue. ($9,000)

initially proposed that the program should be a

Unlock the Waiting Lists!-In March of

Medicaid expansion. The result was that children

1998, advocates began to mount a statewide cam-

under age 6 are included in the Medicaid program

paign. The goal of the campaign is to ensure that

and children over age six are in PeachCare for Kids, the 13,000 Georgians with disabilities and those

a Medicaid look-alike program administered by the who are frail and older, who are eligible under

Department of Medical Assistance. This initiative

Medicaid, would receive home and community-

allowed an additional 228,000 children in the state

based services. These advocates enlisted the sup-

to receive health care.

port of the Council and other agencies and com-

Mental Health Parity-During the 1998 leg-
islative session, a mental health coalition aggressively pursued passage of parity legislation. During the previous session, Senate Bill 245 had passed the Senate with ease, and it was held over the summer for consideration by the House in 1998. When it stalled in the House Insurance Committee, it became clear that the provision mandating com-

munity groups to form a strong partnership to look towards obtaining funding in the 1999 legislative session and beyond. The Council supported the Campaign both fiscally and with personnel devoted to creating public awareness of the waiting lists issues.
Towards the end of 1998, the Council became intricately involved with the public relations piece for the Unlock the Waiting Lists Campaign.

Executive Director Eric Jacobson was scheduled to speak, along with Representative Georganna Sinkfield of District 57, and advocate Leonard Roscoe on 11 Alive News in Depth in Atlanta the day before the General Assembly started. The Council had responded to an article on the campaign in Creative Loafing, and an editorial in the Atlanta Journal~Constitution. Statewide media efforts will continue on this campaign into 1999 and beyond. (850,000)

Financial and Legal Considerations for

Children and Adults with Developmental

Disabilities-This activity was a workshop for

attorneys, health and social service providers and

individuals with disabilities and their families

about community trusts for persons with disabili~

ties. Twenty~three attorneys and approximately 38

other individuals attended, repre~ senting a variety of geographic loca~ tions. During the course of the training, it became clear that fami~

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lies need a great deal of informa~

tion concerning their options in

financial planning for loved ones

with a disability. The event provided

opportunities for networking, and

improved communication and

understanding between legal repre~

sentatives and consumers and fami~

lies. Secondary data concerning dis~

ability issues which reinforce cur~

rently held views concerning chal~

lenges and strategies around service provision were

also gathered. (87,685)

Heeding the DrumbeatsEducation
Rhythm is as integral to our lives as the beating of our own hearts, and the breath we take in to live. So, too, is the rhythm of education: present, essen~ tial to survival, ever~important to thriving in a com~ plex society. The investments made in inclusive education across the state have established the Council as a leader.
Better All Together-For seven years, the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

has invested in educational inclusion activities for students with developmental disabilities. The investment has taken several forms including: (1) establishing a Steering Committee on Inclusive Education~a vehicle for collaborative discussions and learning for parents, school teachers, adminis~ trators, and other interested participants; (2) com~ pleting four highly successful conferences (Better All Together HV) that have attracted over 500 peo~ pie each year and resulted in positive changes in a number of school systems; (3) funding (over two different funding cycles) mini~grants to 23 school systems across the state to improve their efforts to be inclusive; (4) sponsoring a series of training ses~ sions on school~wide accommodations to assist schools and parents find better ways of including children in classrooms in FFY 1999; and (5) estab~ lishing Project WINS!, an effort to provide technical
assistance at various levels to schools that are working toward including children in all aspects of school activities.
The purpose of the Conference was to provide information to teachers, parents, and administra~ tors about best practices for includ~ ing children with disabilities in the classroom. Participants were expected to use this information in their own schools. Over 500 teach~ ers, administrators, and parents attended the third Better All Together Conference held during FFY 1998. One hundred parents were trained about their children's educational rights as a result of the Conference. (871,256+820,805 match)
Project WINS!-In July, 1998, the Council began a three~year initiative to promote inclusion in schools across the state. Project WINS! will result in a comprehensive approach to support local schools which demonstrate a willingness and desire to work toward becoming inclusive settings for all children to learn. The project will offer a vari~ ety of assistance based on a growing understand~ ing of what works to help schools improve their capacity to include children with disabilities. The project will coordinate a network of schools that are working toward successfully including children with disabilities. Thirteen schools were accepted to become part of a network that will receive technical assistance, representing various geographic loca~ tions and different levels of inclusion from first

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stages of implementation to having several years of successful inclusion efforts.
The project will also provide technical assis~ tance through a network of consultants who can provide direct local support to schools and to teachers and others in classrooms. Support might include direct assistance to teachers and adminis~ trators; peer counseling and support for teachers, administrators and other school workers; and work~ shops and conferences for teachers, administrators, school personnel. and parents. In addition, the project will allow schools both in and out of the network to share information about best practices for including children with disabilities in schools, including general inclusive practices and other techniques to disseminate information such as conferences, workshops, and newsletters. ($200,000)
Youth Achiever, Essay and Art Contests-In 1998, the Council sponsored the 12th Annual Youth Achiever, Essay, and Art Contests, which are statewide con~ tests held in schools for grades I~ 12. The intent of the contests is to build awareness and foster under~ standing and sensitivity of disabili~ ty issues among students and chal~ lenge their beliefs by having them respond to the theme, "More the Same than Different." The other goal of the contest was to identify an exceptional student with a disability who had both excelled academically and in extracurricular activities. ($40,000)
Hearl<ening to the
Flute: Community
Inclusion
In contrast with the omnipresence of the tuba, the flute's lilting strains bind a melody together and create a discernible harmony. In its consisten~ cy to bring harmony to a piece, it is like inclusion bringing harmony to a community. The Council made strides in making sure that people with dis~ abilities and their family members were included in their communities through various advocacy proj~ ects.

Basic Access in New Home Construction-HB 1277- During the 1998 General Assembly, advocates continued to address the issue of accessibility in new home construc~ tion. HB 1277 was introduced to promote visitable housing throughout the state. This Bill would have enabled people with disabilities and those who are older to live in the community more independently in their own homes and would permit visits by friends and relatives.
The Bill proposed that newly constructed homes contain basic accessibility features: wider clearances for bathroom doors and reinforced bath~ room walls for grab bars. During the legislative ses~ sion, 236 members of the legislature, th<;~Governor, and Lt. Governor were educated on this issue by the coalition of advocates including more than 70
self~advocates, 40 family members and 25 others. The Home Builders Association of Georgia (HBAG) opposed the legislation. Attempts to create a compromise that would be acceptable to the home builders and the advocates failed. The legis~ lation was voted down in a House Committee.
After a disability advocate sub~ mitted a letter of consideration to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). the agency decided to form the Task Force to Study Handicapped Accessibility in One and Two Family Dwellings. Despite efforts to reach consensus or compro~ mise, the final recommendation of the task force was that the Home Builders Association improve its voluntary compliance program encouraging builders to include accessibility features in homes. ($10,000)
The Partnership Fund Program-The funds available through the Partnership Fund are intended to support the participation of people with developmental disabilities and their families in educational and advocacy training activities. The program makes money available for groups plan~ ning conferences and to public and private non~ profit organizations wishing to have members attend conferences. A match is required from spon~ soring organizations. This past year, because of the Partnership Fund Program: 236 state legislators were educated about community inclusion; a total of 649 individuals were trained in systems advocacy

and community inclusion, and of that number, 569 were self~advocates and 80 were parents or family members of people with developmental disabilities. ($67,000+$ II ,485 match)
Voter Registration- The goal of the Voter
Registration project was to provide people with developmental disabilities and their families with the information, the skills and the access to carry out their right to vote, and to register 200 new voters. The project put together a step~by~step registration and voter packet that could easily be used to register voters and get them to the polls. The initiative identified and registered over 100 voters; in FFY 99, the project aims to register the rest before August, when the contract expires. In addi~ tion, the contract had a component of training trainers who could come together in 4 geographic areas of the state to learn about the registration process, help identify and break down barriers to registration and voting, learn to use and teach the educational packet developed, coordinate voter registration and voting, provide feedback on their successes, and celebrate the vote. These trainers linked people with disabilities and their families with transportation to the polls, and helped them access election night parties, where they could net~ work with the candidates and their supporters. ($45,000+$5,000 match)
Candidates Forum-In the spring of 1998,
several advocates in the disability community began to discuss the concept of a pre-election forum to educate and hear from various candidates on issues of concern. These advocates included persons with an interest in mental health as well as developmental disabilities. Advocates for Georgia's seniors soon became interested and a steering committee evolved. The ensuing event was named the Quality of Life Forum. Since this was the first such undertaking by the disability community, the Forum was held in conjunction with the Georgia Arc Network Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Macon, Georgia, on September 12, 1998. Over 300 persons heard candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Labor Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner and School Superintendent speak on their views about disability and aging issues. Over 100 organizations around the state were asked to provide support

through a financial contribution, publicity and attendance by their members, and in framing ques~ tions to be asked of each candidate. In three months, 78 organizations signed on to sponsor the event, and 47 made monetary contributions.
Moreover, to assist with the publicity efforts of the Candidates' Forum, the Council produced two public service spots that were aired on the Georgia News Network affiliates statewide. The announcements were heard on over 110 radio stations. The Council also provided media and publication tech~ nical assistance to the Quality of Life Forum. ($19,300+$5156 match)
Advocacy Alliance-Three years ago, the
Council began a project to create advocacy efforts in communities statewide. In FY 98, the Advocacy Alliance reported dozens of results directly related
to the activities of Unity Teams, vol~ unteers who work on a variety of advocacy issues affecting people with disabilities on behalf of their local communities. Most notably, Unity Teams across the state achieved the following outcomes: (I) the Atlanta Housing Authority has become more open and is put~ ting more emphasis on accessibility and inclusion of residents with dis~ abilities including installing higher commodes in all units, and has promised full accessibility in 20% of remodeled and 100% of ground floor apartments; (2) a Senator was successful in obtaining more waivers for Region 4; (3) a new Special Education Advisory Committee was created in Forsyth County; (4) two advocates received appointments to their school boards; (5) one elementary school was made more accessible; (6) six new restaurants in Gainesville were made accessible; (7) there are 2 new inclusive recreational programs (Forsyth and Bibb Counties); (8) 39 children's Individual Education Plans improved; and, (9) 21 local, 35 school, 19 state, and I federal policy makers were educated about employment. ($82,000)
Self~Advocacy Training for People with Learning DisabilitieS-This project has identi-
fied seventy consumers with learning disabilities and will train them on self~advocacy skills and assemble self-advocacy action groups which will develop and implement action plans. Generating an impressive amount of interest from across the state, the project has had to turn down requests to

bring the training to additional areas simply due to lack of funds. Adult response to this opportunity has been overwhelming, which suggests that adults with learning disabilities is another seriously underserved disability group in Georgia. By the project's completion, it is anticipated that partici~ pants will realize a greater level of inclusion in their communities through increased advocacy skills, involvement, and the success of action plans. ($37,556)
Advocacy Trainin~ (Introductory Training, Training To Diverse Populations, and Advanced Training)
Introductory Training-This training was
developed for individuals and their family mem~ bers who were unfamiliar with the legislative
process and wished to learn effective strategies for
informing policy makers regarding disability issues. Particular atten~ tion was given to the autistic com~
munities. The project included: (1) five
training sessions across the state located in north and middle Georgia, and throughout the rural southern region of the state; (2) a curriculum including written mate~ rials, presentations from advo~ cates, and role~playingseminars to foster interactive learning; (3) an effort designed to maximize the participation of a cross~cultural population consisting of various disabilities; and (4) an evaluation which tracked the progress of par~ ticipants regarding their increase in knowledge, advocacy skills, and/or their active involvement in the legislative process. The project reached more than 130 individuals through the various training sessions. ($36,000+$4,000 match)
Training To Diverse Populations-Current
demographic data suggests that Caucasian/non~ Hispanic children comprise 70% of all Georgia chil~ dren with disabilities. By the year 2050, demo~ graphic trends indicate that Hispanic and African~ American children will comprise nearly 2/3 of all children in the state with disabilities. To serve the needs of this burgeoning population, the Advocacy Training Program For a Diverse Society was devel~ oped for individuals and their family members from cultures that are traditionally unserved/under~ served: the Hispanic, African~American, and Asian

communities. A particular effort was made to reach unserved/underserved people who live in poverty, people of minority ethnic backgrounds, people residing in rural areas, and older adults with dis~ abilities. Once again, the target audience was those who were unfamiliar with the legislative process. Locations for the workshops included Columbus and Savannah. This project educated 82 people with disabilities, families and professionals about the state legislative process and working together in collaboration with people of diverse backgrounds. People of different ethnic back~ grounds comprised a large percentage of atten~ dance: 39% African~American; 5% Hispanic; and 41 % Caucasian. A person of Native American descent and two people from Asian cultures repre~ sented in the Columbus workshop. ($30,000)
Advanced Training-The target audience for
Advanced Training included individ~ uals who had received some degree of basic advocacy training either through the Council's Partners in Policymaking Program or the Introductory Advocacy Training Program. The training sessions were designed to reach a cross sec~ tion of the population by occurring throughout the state (Statesboro, Albany, Morrow, Augusta).
Goals included training advo~ cates to: (1) learn about a specific public policy issue for which they could advocate; (2) monitor and track legislation during the legislative session; (3) understand the state budget process; (4) understand the methods of fostering relationships with legislators when to advocate with them; (5) learn about the "commit~ tee process," and (6) become skilled in coalition building, mediation, and media communications. Participants learned about the issues of Unlock the Waiting Lists Campaign, Basic Bathroom Access, and Supported Employment. The program also included a Mentor/Team Project assignment that participants implemented to exercise their newly acquired skills. The project was anticipated to reach a minimum of 80 people by the end of its contract. ($30,000+$3,000 match)
Partners in Policymaking-The sixth
Georgia class of Partners in Policymaking was com~ pleted with 34 graduates, including 16 self~advo~ cates and 18 family members. In the post~gradua~ tion evaluation, the following outcomes were

achieved: 55% of participants reported having increased their contact with policy makers; 87% rated their advocacy skills as good or excellent; 62.5% considered themselves better able to advo~ cate for and receive appropriate services; 70% responded that they have learned information that could be used to institute systemic improvements for individuals with developmental disabilities; and 62% have used the information and skills learned through Partners in Policymaking to institute those changes. The Program continues to be valued and respected both by the Council and the state advo~ cacy community. The Council has seen graduates coming together to work cooperatively on state issues. Program graduates are also being sought out by organizations and lead advocates who are looking to improve and increase their outreach and impact. As a result of this program, 6 people attained membership on public and private bodies and boards. The Council believes this trend will continue; thus, we will continue our investment in the Partners program to ensure an ever~ growing, able, and skilled base of statewide advocates. ($135,000+$15,000 match)
Demanding Equal Access For All (DEAF): As the community of advocates representing a variety of deaf~related groups began to strongly coalesce, the Council supported the devel~ opment of the groups' strategic planning efforts to advocate for policy about accessibility and services. This effort, facilitated by D.E.A.F., included bringing together over 200 advocates to a statewide forum on January 10, 1998, and culminated in the creation of a Work Plan: Increasing Access and Improving the Quality of Ufe of Georgians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing which identified over 200 issues or problem areas and suggested recommendations or potential solutions. The Work Plan was distributed to the Governor's Office, state agencies and legisla~ tors. ($9,700)
Georgia Council for the Hearing Impaired-The purpose of this grant was to gath~ er information to better understand the experi~ ences of adult Georgians who are deaf or hard of hearing. There had been no documentation that provided detailed information about people who are deaf or hard of hearing at the state or local level. Information gathered through focus groups

and surveys included: 1) describing people in Georgia who are deaf or hard of hearing (where they live and their educational and work experi~ ences) and 2) identifying available services (are services being accessed? are they satisfactory? do they meet the identified needs?). This information was assembled with recommendations for improve~ ment in a report entitled, The Adult Georgian Who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing-A Closer Look. The report rec~ ommended that included suggestions be added to those identified in the D.E.A.F. Work Plan and the next step be for policy makers, educators, service providers, and members of the deaf and hard of hearing community to come together to prioritize suggestions, and then establish and implement an action plan. ($9,700)
Lunch 'n Learn-Of six grants awarded for lunchtime programs, one was implemented during this fiscal year by the Tri~State Disability Resource Center. It was to kickoff the Disability Rights of the Roundtable Coalition, an initial group of 35 advocates who will coalesce around disability issues in northwest Georgia. ($3,000)
Leadership PIus-Leadership Plus is a unique leadership develop~ ment training program which brings together 10 people with develop~ mental disabilities and 10 people without disabilities in a given community. The pro~ gram is modeled after popular county leadership development programs for professionals. The intent of Leadership Plus is to create networking opportu~ nities for adults with disabilities so ultimately they will be better positioned to rise to leadership and decision~makingroles on community boards. The Council has supported Leadership Plus by funding the development of a training curriculum and par~ ticipant workbook. During this year, Council sup~ ported further enhancements to the curriculum and community train~the~trainerworkshops. ($9,000)
International Parent to Parent Conference-The Council supported the Ninth International Parent to Parent Conference hosted by Georgia and held in Atlanta on May 29~June 1, 1998. Support took the form of providing scholar~ ships for family members of individuals with dis~ abilities and the production of a compendium of presenter handouts. The conference provided an opportunity for Georgia families to come together

with other families, caregivers, and professionals from all over the world to share experiences and the new knowledge that presenters provided. ($15,000)
Awal<ening to the Sounds of the Bugle-Reveille to Information
To awaken soldiers each day to prepare to fight or to train to fight, a bugle is blown. The soldiers in the disability advocacy movement awoke to information that sped them on their quest: information they could use to battle stigma and reduce blockades that stand in the way of independence, integration, productivity and inclusion.
The Expansion of Council - - . :""- _ ~ --:.
Publications and Contacts-The ",
Council continued to publish its Community Calendar, which was received by close to 4,500 people in Georgia, the United States, and other countries. The Council broadened the circulation of its bimonthly publication which addresses a broad variety of topics, the Council Updater, to a list of over 550 interested readers. In addition, the Council attended health fairs to distribute information to people and to gain participation on its mailing list.
Moving Forward newsletter-In 1996, in an
effort to provide people with cutting-edge information about the Council's advocacy issues on a weekly basis during the legislative session, the Council developed the Moving Forward newsletter. Moving Forward has been sent to an expanding list of people across the state since its inception, both in print and on the Council's web site. The newsletter not only reports information pertinent to people with disabilities and their families, but also reports on the legislative activity of bills and resolutions sponsored by the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly (CO-AGE), as there are many crossover issues of concern to both the aging and disability advocates. Nearly 4,500 people across the

state received 12 weekly issues during the session.

The Web Site-The Council's web site has
become a focal point for people across the state to access information. The site highlights the Council's mission, values and goals. It also provides a forum for seeking feedback on such matters as the legislative agenda and provides the monthly Community Calendar in an alternative format, as well as Council and constituent publications such as the Resource Directory. Through the web site, the Council conveys the latest activities on disability issues during the legislative session through alerts and the Moving Forward newsletter which is uploaded every week during this time. The web site provides advocates with easier, quicker a6:cess to timely information. They are better informed, and the people they share the information with are also
better informed. ($7,000)

DD Jnsite-To respond to the

need for more information and

referral resources to be available via

the internet, the Council supported

a technology enhancement project

_

to convert information from data-

- bases and libraries. The project was

awarded to the Center for

Rehabilitation Technology at the

Georgia Institute of Technology.

While the project is not yet com-

plete, the web site reflects the com-

pletion of the initial construction

phase and is linked to other major disability infor-

mation sites. The Center is committed to long-term

maintenance and updating of the site. ($45,000)

Expansion of Public Relations Activity-
To better promote its activities, the Council started to utilize the media in a more concerted manner in 1998. From April until the October Council meeting, staff, Council members and advocates appeared on television in Albany to discuss the Youth Achiever Project; made an appearance on the Atlanta program People 2 People to talk about voters registration and people with disabilities, and made two appearances on Columbus television to discuss voters registration issues for people with developmental disabilities.
In addition, as part of its desire to reach constituents who are unserved and underserved, the Council brought together leaders from the Institute on Human Development and Disability, the Multicultural Coalition, and the Georgia Advocacy Office to decide upon a media strategy. An Atlanta

radio station (V- I03) was targeted for 2 shows about the agencies and what they do in October, and 2 leaders went to Augusta in November to discuss advocacy tips for people with disabilities who are unserved and underserved on the radio. The Council obtained a spot on nationally-syndicated On A Rol1 Radio for January 1999 for the leaders to discuss diversity and disability with host Greg Smith, and two shows about advocacy and issues in Atlanta.
What About the
Future?
As the Council leaps into the next millennium, we bring with us a new dynamic framed with our mission to promote public policies that enhance the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities, guided by a renewed sense of collaboration, and powered by our commitment to serve our constituents, partners, and advocates in the most meaningful and beneficial ways.
It was during this year that the Council's roles as convener, facilitator, and pacesetter for disability advocacy unified and operated in harmony with greater success than ever before. Advocates looked to the Council to lead the charge on many programs.
The Council does not take these roles lightly and is committed to supporting such continued collaborations to the fullest extent possible and always witH a dose of humility and the understanding that we are public servants to our constituency.
As the drumbeats heighten, the flute insists, the tuba underscores and the bugle announces, we hear the clarion call to action, along with our constituents and groups representing and comprised of people with disabilities and their family members. We will heed that call in concert-and work together-as it envelopes us in its urgency to enrich the lives of Georgia's citizens now and in the future.

Governor's Council on Developmental D.isabilities
1997-98

Council Members
Gina A. Wooten, Chairperson* C. Anthony Cunningham, Vice~Chair* Lynnette Bragg* Paulette Bragg Rosenita Brown Judith Hagebak Pearlann Horowitz .Tom Lamar* Rudy Magnone Sonny Morgan Helen Parker Thom A. Peters * Joyce Ringer, ph.D. Peggy Rosser Rob Saxon Zolinda Stoneman, Ph.D. Kathleen Toomey, M.D. William E. Turnipseed, Esq. * Richard Uhlir, Ed.D. *
Staff
Eric Jacobson, Executive Director Paulette Boyd Gary Childers Marcey Dolgoff Jennifer Fennell Joey Gomez Iris. McIlvaine Joshua Schactman Jerry Stedman

New Members -
October 1998
Dr. William Taylor Roy Brown Vallorie Biltler David Cowan Alan Essig William Kissel Ruth Langevin Cheryl Laurendeau Julia Lee, ph.D. Pamela Manley, ph.D. Lenora Maynard Patricia Staros
Ex-Officio Members
Darlene Brooks Lori Von Schmeling Chris Hunnicutt Janice Hutto Millie Powell
Jim Nobles

Interns
Michelle Daniel Sonya Williams

*Executive Board Members