Spring Issue 2022
Moving Forward in Advocacy
Current Feature Stories
Public Policy for the People: Official Recap of Georgia’s 2022 Legislative Session
Georgia’s 2022 legislative session was defined by the effects of a lingering pandemic and looming elections. Most of our advocacy efforts and each of our three Advocacy Days were virtual. Although “the ropes” at the Capitol were not open to
GCDD’s COVID-19 Initiatives & Updates
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is still actively collaborating with community partners and funding initiatives to support the developmental disability community throughout the state. Through education, outreach, and opportunity, GCDD is working
Tips for Finding the Right Summer Camp for your Child with Developmental Disabilities
Summer is a time when children get a break from rigorous school schedules and academics. They usually have more time for self-directed, play-based activities that fit their strengths and interests. For parents of children with developmental disabilities, it can be
GCDD Viewpoint
Eric E. Jacobson
Executive Director, GCDD
Current Topics
Advocating Beyond Legislative Session: Building Avenues for Change
Featuring Shelley Spivey Being an active advocate isn’t just about protesting, working on legislation, or contacting your representative. It starts small in moments and opportunities that reveal themselves to you daily. It’s about having meaningful, connected conversations with the people
Students with Intellectual Disabilities Find Success Through Digital Expression in Art and Media Fields at Georgia State University
Inclusive college, called inclusive post secondary education (IPSE), is not new to Georgia, and there is a positive trend of more and more universities developing IPSE. There are 311 IPSE programs at universities across the country, with eight in Georgia
Holding Hands and Jumping
Columbus, Georgia (Senate District 29) It’s Friday afternoon at Chattahoochee Scuba in Columbus, Georgia. Kaylee and Micah Asante are getting suited up, not for scuba lessons, but rather for swimming instruction and therapy. Kaylee, 10, and Micah, 16, both have
Inclusive Summer Camps in Georgia
Camp Barney Medintz Overnight • School age Cleveland, GA 30528 706-865-2715 www.campbarney.org Camp Hollywood Day Camp • Ages 5-29 Lawrenceville, GA 30043 770-234-9111 www.veryspecialcamps.com/summer-camps Camp Southern Ground Overnight • Ages 7-17 Fayetteville, GA 30215 678-561-9600 www.campsouthernground.org Faces Camp Overnight •
Understanding How Data Can Empower Us to Move Forward in Advocacy
Every activity and initiative that the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) engages in starts with data. Understanding how it’s collected and used can be a powerful tool to help us move forward in advocating for people with developmental disabilities
Self-Advocate Gives Powerful Speech at State Capitol
On February 28, 2022, Michael Housel, a self- advocate from Tifton, Georgia, gave a powerful and passionate speech at the State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia, in support of Senate Bill 208. Mr. Housel is a founding member of Uniting for
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
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
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