Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities 2006 annual report [2006]

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GCDD CREATES REAL CHANGE

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat which road she should take
to find the rabbit. The cat replies, "It depends on where you are trying to go." The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities has just completed a two-year strategic planning process that will help us decide which roads we should take over the next five years. GCDD members reviewed programs we supported in the past, and received and listened to hundreds of individuals with disabilities, family members and advocates who provided input into the process.

As we completed our strategic plan, we completed many projects from previous years. GCDD is proud of its efforts to create Real Careers, Real Homes, Real Learning Experiences, Real Supports and Real Influence for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. GCDD has helped move Georgia in a positive direction by supporting efforts to change public policy (Unlock the Waiting Lists!), creating advocacy (Partners in Policymaking and Georgia Voices that Count), providing information (Making a Difference and Moving Forward) and by offering funds to support promising practices and create capacity in the State (DSP Curriculum and Courses, EasyLiving Homes, Discovery Tour and Partnerships for Success).

TOM SEEGMUELLER chairperson

We will continue to support efforts to create inclusive environments for children to develop, learn and succeed. We will support efforts to improve the transition of children from one level to another, especially those who graduate from high school and prepare to meet the challenges of adult life.

GCDD will continue to promote an Employment First policy emphasizing work as the primary option for people with disabilities. We will work with a collaboration of organizations to create an institute where people can find job opportunities, employers can learn how to employ people with disabilities and providers who want to change their work model can find the resources to make the change.

ERIC JACOBSON executive director

We will continue to monitor implementation of the Children's Freedom Initiative that is working to ensure no child lives in an institution and instead has a loving, stable family. We will work to make sure the requirements of the Olmstead decision are implemented. Those living in the community and those living in institutions will receive the quality supports they deserve to be contributing members of their neighborhoods. This means making sure additional Medicaid waivers are in place and that direct support professionals receive the training and salary that results in quality services.
GCDD's new plan builds off the strong foundation built through a partnership between Council members, staff,
"advocacy organizations, policymakers and others.
GCDD's new plan builds off the strong foundation built through a partnership between
" Council members, staff, advocacy organizations, policymakers and others. We continue
to strive toward improvement and better outcomes for our efforts. We are uniquely positioned through our staff and members to support improving people's lives, providing leadership to the advocacy community, being a resource to policymakers and the media, and operating as an effective, efficient organization. This is the vision GCDD will continue to promote into the future.

GCDD UNVEILS
FIVE-YEAR PLAN After two years of gathering input from advo-
cates across the state, the Governor's Council
on Developmental Disabilities presented its
comprehensive, five-year plan in 2006.

During the process, GCDD realized forming coalitions would be key to achieving its goals and is hoping to build relationships with groups who advocate for aging, low income, children, education and others.

In addition to completing its five-year strategic plan, GCDD developed a corresponding public relations strategy to stimulate change, remove attitudinal barriers and impact external audiences and the general public through the media. Objectives: To enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families by positively influencing public awareness and public perception; reach new audiences; broaden perspectives; and increase public information outreach.

With support from its coalitions, GCDD hopes to help people with disabilities lead real lives by accomplishing goals in five major focus areas: real careers, real homes, real learning, real influence and real supports.

"Coalitions are necessary for the future. We should work together toward expanding resources or finding ways to

" make resources fit everyone's needs. GCDD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ERIC JACOBSON

real careers

real homes

real learning

REAL CAREERS: Promote a vision that people with significant developmental disabilities can work by replicating best practices, such as customized employment. Enhance employment opportunities by building relationships with business leaders and employers, and advance policies and practices that value people with developmental disabilities in the workforce.
REAL HOMES: Promote policies that recognize housing is linked to income. Ensure resources are in place to help Georgians with disabilities acquire accessible and affordable housing, especially for people transitioning from institutions and nursing homes.
REAL LEARNING: Ensure high school students with disabilities have better post-school outcomes through access to effective transition planning, including self-determination training, alternative diploma routes, professional collaboration and positive parental support.
REAL INFLUENCE: Increase awareness of GCDD activities and promote initiatives supporting its goal and mission. Support coalitions and advocates in promoting public policies that allow integrated life in the community.
REAL SUPPORTS: Continue efforts to increase funding for home and community-based services, as well as the quality of those supports. Prevent children from entering institutions or bring them home safely by offering appropriate support to families.

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Standing, left to right: Susanna Mitchell Program Associate
Dee Spearman Public Information
Associate
Dottie Adams Individual and Family
Support Director
Valerie Meadows Suber Public Information Director
Editor-In-Chief, "Making A Difference"
Patricia D. Nobbie, PhD Deputy Director
Sitting, left to right: Drelda Mackey Administrative
Associate
Kate Gainer Advocacy Director
Eric E. Jacobson Executive Director
Kim Alexis Person Executive Secretary
Not shown: Gary Childers
Fiscal Officer
Eric Foss Receptionist

GCDD'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN

"WE VOTE!
Unlock the
Waiting Lists!
"WE VOTE!

8TH DISABILITY DAY DRAWS RECORD CROWD
1,600 disability advocates gathered at the Georgia Capitol February 23, 2006 to let their legislators know, "We Vote! Unlock the Waiting Lists! We Vote!"
The record-setting group encouraged their legislators to add more waiver slots to the Mental Retardation (MRWP) and the Independent Care Waiver Programs (ICWP), while also asking for support for the Children's Freedom Initiative, HR 633.
Finally, the very first Natalie Tumlin Self-Advocate of the Year award was bestowed on Mark Johnson, director of advocacy for the Shepherd Center.
LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES
Increased number of MRWP slots from 750 1,500 Added 152 ICWP slots to budget Included funding for Katie Beckett Waiver for families who no longer
meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and don't qualify for other government services Passed amendments to the election code that: Voters with disabilities no longer have to sign an oath specifying
the nature of their disability People with visual impairments do not have to sign a separate oath Personal assistants can deliver an absentee ballot

GCDD celebrated the many successes of the disability community July 20, 2006 by recognizing individuals who made significant contributions to those successes:
LEGISLATIVE LEADER OF THE YEAR
Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) supported funding for the Independent Care Waiver Program.

Sen. Regina Thomas (D-Savannah) sponsored an amendment to the supplemental budget to add $3.6 million in funding for families who had been denied access to Medicaid through the Katie Beckett Waiver.
Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Evans) invested extraordinary time and interest in meeting with Unlock the Waiting Lists!, ICWP and Katie Beckett Waiver advocates.

REAL INFLUENCE REAL SUPPORTS REAL HOMES

GCDD DEVELOPS DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The key to successful community living is solid support. To help Georgians with disabilities have real supports, GCDD funded the development of a certification program for direct support professionals, in conjunction with the Department of Technical and Adult Education.

The result has been better-trained direct support professionals who help people with disabilities live fuller lives.

"The people we serve don't always have choices. We have to be these people's voices...or we need to teach them to speak for themselves," said program graduate Crystal Brown, of Unlimited Services in Monroe, Ga.
PLANS TO RELEASE CHILDREN UNVEILED
The Children's Freedom Initiative Oversight Committee approved and submitted a plan to Georgia legislators in July that outlined a schedule for releasing 44 children from state-run institutions by June of 2007.
Person-centered planning, lifestyle planning and Supports Intensity Scale documents are being used to identify each child's needs, and each family will have an "ambassador" to help guide them through the process of moving back into the community.

GCDD ENSURES ALL VOICES ARE HEARD
When the largest oral history project in the country, StoryCorps, came to Atlanta, GCDD was determined to ensure people with disabilities were included in the project.
Five Georgians with disabilities were selected to audio record their stories for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress project. Kate Gainer, Alan Duvall, Gail Bottoms, Anil Lewis and Mia Nobbie all shared their personal insights while being interviewed by a loved one, like other StoryCorps participants.
"I am glad I was here to record them. They opened up another view of life for me," said StoryCorps' facilitator Jonah Engle.

MEDIA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Gracie Bonds Staples, Atlanta Journal Constitution, spent an entire day on the road with GCDD, delving into the issues of unemployment for people with disabilities.
Lisa Crane, WAGA Fox 5 News, covered families who were denied access to Medicaid when they lost their Katie Beckett Waiver.

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Al Duvall delivered personal testimony on HR 633, the Children's Freedom Initiative.
Linda Wilson worked on the Unlock the Waiting Lists! campaign and as a parent advocate in the Coweta County School System.

C. ANTHONY CUNNINGHAM COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Cheryl Laurendeau worked tirelessly on the executive committee and program implementation and funding committee.

DISCOVERY DAY APPEALS TO HEARTS, BOTTOM LINE

Georgia's business community discovered how companies both large and small are making employing people with disabilities a priority during Discovery Day September 21, 2006 at The Home Depot Headquarters.
Participants heard how supported employment and creating customized job descriptions have helped Georgians with disabilities go to work.
GCDD Chairperson Tom Seegmueller reminded the crowd, "People with disabilities are part of our community, and if given the chance, they can share with you the many gifts and talents they have."
Discovery Day was made possible by more than $65,000 of in-kind donations from The Home Depot, Southern Company and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
"People with disabilities are part of our community, and if given the chance, they can share with you the many gifts and

EMPLOYMENT FIRST GEORGIA EXPANDS JOBS PROGRAM
The Cobb-Douglas Community Services Board demonstrated how customized employment helps people with developmental disabilities obtain jobs they enjoy and become more integrated into their communities. Employment First Georgia is working to replicate the program across the state. The initiative is a collaborative effort of GCDD, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Institute on Human Development and Disability, the Georgia Advocacy Office and the Statewide Independent Living Council.
The ambitious program brings together state agencies and others to assure the best employment outcomes possible for Georgians with significant disabilities. The institute's goal is to show communities how to create Customized Strategic Action Plans that identify potential jobs, specific employers and how to pay for needed supports and/or equipment.

talents they have.

REAL CAREERS REAL LEARNING GCDD FUNDED & SUPPORTED PROGRAMS & PARTNERSHIPS

" " Planning is such a small part.
Making it happen is what's important.
LIFE IS BETTER ALL TOGETHER
GCDD hosted more than 700 people at the seventh

annual Better All Together: Inclusion Works! conference

left to right standing:

March 1 4, 2006, in Athens, Ga.

Patricia Williams

Caitlin Childs

Attendees learned about a wide variety of topics such as

Patricia Underwood

employment options, community living and person-centered

Chase Teate

planning, from professionals as well as people with disabilities and their families.

Susanna Mitchell Jamar Raheem S.

National experts Dr. Beth Mount, Michael Smull, Lynda

Stephanie Guilloud

Kahn, Jack Pearpoint and John O'Brien reminded attendees person-centered planning is a great way to determine services and supports, but the plan is not the outcome.

left to right seated: Barbaraanne Bongiovanni

"Planning is such a small part. Making it happen is what's

Jane Grillo

important," Mount said.

Kate Gainer

front seated: Emery Wright

not shown: Denise Noseworthy

GCDD NURTURES GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES
In 2006, GCDD created the Organizing Institute to support disability advocates who are already working hard to change the hearts and minds of friends, families and neighbors in their communities across the state.

The institute trains grassroots organizers and helps them complete projects at the local level, while also developing relationships with other social movements.

"We are asking the participants

"We are asking the participants to organize their communities in such a way that disability will no longer be a foreign language," revealed GCDD Advocacy Director Kate Gainer.

to organize their communities in

such a way that disability

will no longer be a foreign language."

GCDD GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

DD GRANT
FFY 2006 BUDGET - EXPENDITURES
Period Covered October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

EXPENDITURES ADMINISTRATION Council Administrative Total Administration
PRIORITY Individual/Family Public Policy Advocacy Public Information Total Priority
Total EXPENDITURES Total Funds Budget

EXPENDED
$ 70,821 $ 465,034 $ 535,855
$ 733,445 $ 385,162 $ 906,244 $ 205,989 $ 2,230,840
$ 2,766,695 $ 2,766,695

12%

BREAKDOWN OF

31%

2%

BUDGET

16%

COUNCIL

ADMINISTRATIVE

INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY

PUBLIC POLICY

ADVOCACY 13%
PUBLIC INFORMATION 26%

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) works with others to improve the
quality of life for Georgians with disabilities. Here are projects GCDD
funded last year leveraging state, federal and local dollars.
Partnership Funds: Scholarships for Training Events Family Support: Parent Leadership Coalition
and Navigator Teams Childcare Advisory Committee Children's Freedom Initiative Making a Difference Magazine
Partners in Policymaking Grassroots Advocacy Grants
Workforce Development Direct Support Alliance Early Childhood Systems Change Grant
Self-Determination Unlock the Waiting Lists! Campaign
Peer Support Aging and Disability Coalition
Federal Issues Coalition Individual and Family Technical
Assistance and Outreach Partnerships For Success: Creating Inclusive Communities Georgia Voices that Count Special Education Finance Committee
Innovative Proposals EasyLiving Homesm Housing Partner Coalition Transition Steering Committee Jobs for All: Customized Employment Grant from USDOL Making A Difference Discovery Day Tour Foster Care Taskforce

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2 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 26-246 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3142 404.657.2126 www.gcdd.org

BACK ROW, L TO R: Chris Hunnicutt, Denny Spear, Vallorie Butler, Tom Seegmueller, Janet Hill, Karen Boyer, Scott Crain, David Cowan
FRONT ROW, L TO R: Gillian Grable, Millie Powell, Tom Connelly, Lynnette Bragg, Licheng Tian, Geneice McCoy

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Tom Seegmueller,
Chairperson
Vallorie Butler,
Vice Chairperson
Michelle Aulthouse Julia Bowen
Lynnette Bragg Marlene Bryar Tom Connelly

Scott Crain Marilyn Ellis David Cowan Jan Cribbs Gillian Grable Stephen Hall Tameeka Hunter Cheryl Laurendeau
Julie Lee

Bruce Lindemann Lenora Maynard Rhonda Medows
Ruby Moore Nancy O'Hara Gwen Skinner Denny Spear Zolinda Stoneman Michael Thurmond

Licheng Tian BJ Walker Don Watt EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dawn Alford Kathy Crowder Vicki Gordon Sabrina Jordan Debra Noonan-Elber