Around The State Archives - GCDD Making a Difference Magazine

Remembering Lois Curtis: Friends and Advocates Reflect on Life with Lois and the Doors She Opened

Olmstead v. L.C. is the Supreme Court case that provided what is now known as the Olmstead decision. In 1999, Lois Curtis—the L.C. in Olmstead v. L.C.—and Elaine Wilson, two women with disabilities living in Georgia institutions, successfully argued in

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities 2022 Candidate Forum on Disability Issues Recap

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) hosted its second candidate forum on disability issues this past September, which gave candidates running for public office an opportunity to speak to the public about their disability platforms and issues of importance

Photos of Sharia Stripling and Elana Taylor

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

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

Light blue banner with a photo on the right with graduation caps in the background and the shape of the State of Georgia on top. The words "Around the State" are in the corner.

Congratulations, Graduates!

It’s graduation season! Across the state, young people graduated from high school and college throughout Georgia earlier this spring and last fall. Making a Difference magazine wanted to celebrate this milestone of the graduates across the nine inclusive post-secondary education

Green banner with the accessible icon on the left, and a voter box on the right. Both are also in a darker green color.

The Accessibility of the New Voting Machines

From the initial fact-finding process to the end result, leaders in the disability community are giving a big thumbs-down to the new Georgia voting booths as election season is here. While the Georgia primary election has been rescheduled to June

Around the State text is written around the shape of the State of Georgia. Photo is on the right side of the blue banner.

Heumann Speaks with Disability Activists, Researchers & Students in Georgia

Judy Heumann is no stranger to the disability community. A rockstar in her own right, the disability advocate has led some of the nation’s biggest conversations and movements for disability rights. During a four-day visit to Georgia, Heumann shared her