Six years ago, inclusive college was in the news thanks to a viral video of Jordan Huffman’s acceptance into the first University of Georgia (UGA) Destination Dawgs cohort in 2016. The video depicts Huffman in his room playing drums when
Category: Topics
2021 GCDD Project Impact Map
GCDD’s mission is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for diverse people/persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play, and worship in their communities. Learn how GCDD impacted communities across Georgia in
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Welcomes Two New Council Members This Summer: National Black Deaf Advocate Sharia Stripling and Five-Time Olympic Medalist Elana Taylor
Sharia Denise Stripling was born and raised in Fort Valley, Georgia. At age four, she suddenly and unexpectedly lost hearing with no cause of illness. As she grew older, she developed a passion for dance and pageantry after reading a
Back-to-School Tips from a Parent Mentor
Cheryl Grant has been working with parents of students with developmental disabilities since 2008 when she became a Parent Mentor in Decatur City Schools. Primarily connecting parents with resources in the school and the community, Cheryl also provides parent training
Telling Our Stories: How The GCDD Storytelling Project is Lifting Voices in the Developmental Disability Community
The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) Storytelling Project lifts and shares the stories of people with developmental disabilities throughout the state of Georgia. Using several mediums, The GCDD Storytelling project has produced a collection of written and photographed stories,
The Value of Being Valued in Inclusive Post Secondary Education
By John McCarty, Self-Advocate in the Leadership Collective of Uniting for Change Many people believe that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can’t learn and don’t belong in post secondary educational settings. As part of Uniting for Change and
Update
Dear Readers, GCDD anticipates announcing its new executive director soon. While we are in transition of new leadership, the staff is working hard, diligently, and succeeding in making sure GCDD’s mission is fulfilled by continuing to advance the lives of
Farewell
Dear Readers, For the past 30 years, I have written this column introducing Making a Difference. This is my final column as I retire from GCDD on May 31, 2022. It has been difficult writing this column as I end
Peers Reflect on Executive Director Eric Jacobson’s Leadership Over the Years
Eric Jacobson, Executive Director for the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), announced his retirement last October, saying he wants a new person to lead the DD Council work. Jacobson began working for what was then called the Governor’s Council
GCDD’s Chairman Nick Perry Has Been Appointed by President Biden to Serve on the President’s Committee for People with Developmental Disabilities
President Biden announced in March his intent to appoint 21 individuals to serve as members on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID). Nick Perry, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) Chairman, has been selected to serve on