Georgia Advocacy Office

Join us for the P&A/CAP 2021 Virtual Annual Conference the premier event for anyone and everyone who supports meaningful choice, empowerment, and independence for all people with disabilities! National Disability Rights Network is opening sessions to anyone with an interest in learning more about disability rights. With more than 45 topics ranging from employment to housing to transportation and voting, there is something for everyone. More conference and registration details are available at https://bit.ly/3eupEut

This could be the single largest mass disabling event in our lifetime, Sherman said. The disease has only been around for so long, we’re unsure how long it lasts. So we’re unsure how disability benefits will change to fit a different time frame.

Like captions, sign language is also an essential accessibility accommodation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. Here’s why they are important. . . Image ID #1: Graphic with text: Why Sign Language Is An Important Accessibility Accommodation. Image #2 ID: Graphic with text: What is sign language? Sign Language is an expressive language that uses gestures with the hands, arms, head, face and body to communicate. There are roughly 300 different types of sign language ...used around the globe. Below is a graphic of a dark brown, medium brown and white hand speaking in sign language gestures. Image #3 ID: Graphic with text: What are sign language interpreters? A sign language interpreter is a person that translates a language into signs and expressive gestures for a person who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Image #4 ID: Graphic with text: When should you use ASL Interpreters? ASL interpreters can be used on-site and for remote meetings, conferences, training sessions, special events, one-on-one or group conversations, and more. Any time information is shared verbally, a sign language interpreter should be available. See more

"I don't know who needs to hear this but the 'I never let my disability/pain/illness stop me' is an ableist and harmful narrative. Sometimes chronic issues are debilitating and they do stop you. And you shouldn't be made to feel guilty about it. Period."

On May 20, GAO Program Managers Dana D. Lloyd and Julie Kegley will serve as panel members in an interactive course providing guidance on Supported Decision Making (SDM) strategies and tools to avoid a filing for or defending against a proposed guardianship petition. CLE credits are available.

GAO mourns the loss of TASH cofounder Lou Brown. Lou called for the termination of institutions, segregated education, group homes, sheltered workshops, and other manifestations of segregation when such ideas were considered radical or extreme. In 1975, Lou Brown, Norris Haring, and Wayne Sailor came together to create an entity that embodies equity, opportunity, and inclusion for ALL people with disabilities. Along with our friends at TASH, we are grateful for Lou’s vision and we honor his legacy by continuing to fight for equity, opportunity, and inclusion.

Proposed changes to the Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP) and the New Options Waiver (NOW) would reduce services to recipients and create a 16 hour maximum cap for skilled nursing services. For more info email [email protected] and please share this post.

Words matter! A helpful filter before speaking, posting, texting: 1. Is it true? 2. Is it kind? 3. Is it necessary?

Whatever makes you weird is probably your greatest asset.

The partnership is part of a pledge Uber made in December to offer 10 million free or discounted rides to make sure transportation doesn’t prevent people from getting the Covid vaccine.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank has seen a 300% increase in inquiries from people seeking food assistance since the beginning of the pandemic.#PracticeKindness ID: Starting to see a lot of posts about people panhandling or using SNAP cards while dressed in decent/nice clothes. You have zero idea where the stranger at the grocery store got their name brand clothes, and they don't owe it to you to be dressed in rags so you know their worthy of getting some help to eat.

Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities is looking for two new Council members! The Council would like to include one person who experiences ID/DD as well as a family member of a person who experiences ID/DD. They are especially interested in potential members who live in areas outside the Metro-Atlanta area.