Over 550 disability advocates registered to virtually attend the 2021 GCDD Advocacy Days – the first time the DD council has hosted the days exclusively online since the initiative’s inception.
Hosted by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) in January, February and March, advocates attended three full-day sessions to learn more about policies impacting the disability community and how to advocate for their needs in a virtual world.
Three different Advocacy Days focused on policies affecting people with disabilities and brought together advocates from across the state to hear about the issues and work together to brainstorm actions they could take to advocate from home. Topics included home and community-based services (HCBS), inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) and competitive, integrated employment.
Additionally, GCDD is slated to host its inaugural Virtual Advocacy Awards Ceremony on April 15. The ceremony allows the council to celebrate all the hard work of the advocacy community during the 2021 legislative session. Stay tuned for a recap of the event and a list of honorees!
![Read what advocates had to say about our Virtual Advocacy Days: I can be involved in this program while taking care of my daughter who has [multiple disabilities] and a medically fragile nature. – Family Member – I really appreciate that you created this kind of platform we can join at home. It was extremely informative and encouraging. While I am sorry it had to be a virtual event, for me, it was a blessing because it allowed me to attend. – Family Member – I felt there was so much [valuable] information provided. I have always been an advocate for individuals with disabilities. This gave me some suggestions on how to further address these legislators. – Professional – Honestly, the fact that this is virtual has actually made it a lot easier for us to participate. It has been a great program so far. I learned so much about how to advocate for ourselves and others. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to learn to advocate and also how the Americans with Disabilities Act changed the world. – IPSE Student –](http://magazine.gcdd.org/wp-content/uploads/spring-2021/advocacy-days-graphic1-640x411.png)