As the legislative advocacy director, Charlie Miller leads the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) in its community engagement and advocacy efforts in the state legislature. He also works alongside Georgians with disabilities and other stakeholders to build coalitions around issues important to the disability community.
Charlie brings over 10 years of advocacy experience to the team. He joins GCDD from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, where he most recently served as the legislative liaison. Charlie began honing his skills in advocacy as a student at the Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth at Kennesaw State University (KSU). While attending KSU, he served as an intern in the public relations and community engagement departments. In this role, Charlie collaborated with nervous students and their parents on navigating campus life, managing program expectations and more.
After completing his program at KSU, Charlie continued developing his expertise in leadership through community engagement. For example, he has enjoyed sitting on the boards for such organizations as the Statewide Independent Living Council and the Cobb County Transit System Advisory Board. Charlie is also a member of ADAPT, a national grassroots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action; the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families and communities; and TASH, an international leader in disability advocacy whose membership is comprised of a community committed to positive and lasting change in the lives of people with significant disabilities.
To further engage with his community, Charlie is currently enrolled in a graduate-level program at Georgia State University (GSU). As part of GSU’s Leadership Education in Neuro developmental Disabilities (GaLEND) program, he helps shape the futures of emerging leaders in the disability community.
“I’m thrilled to continue my work in advocacy at GCDD,” said Charlie. “Being able to advocate for the many issues that affect the disability community – whether it’s access to reliable transportation, inclusion in education or access to healthcare – is something I’m very passionate about.”
Charlie lives in Decatur with his fiancé and two cats, Harper and Hugo. A Georgia native, he is the proud son of Butch and Teresa Miller and brother to Cole and Carey. When he’s not in the office or at the Capitol, Charlie enjoys staying active by participating in marathons and obstacle-course races.