making a difference magazine || fall 2007

GEORGIA GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Real Homes. Real Careers. Real Learning. Real Influence. Real Supports.

FALL 2007

www.gcdd.orgwww.gcdd.org

FALL 2007

Features8Hiring People with Disabilities Employers share how workerswith disabilities positively affect their bottom line.

14Know About Darius Goes WestThe popular documentary film on Darius Weems is the basis of a new school program.

18GCDD Honors ThoseWho Make a DifferenceMedia, legislators and advocatesacross the state receive awards.

22Searching for theAmerican DreamAsset development is the first step toward independenceand inclusion.

4GCDD ViewpointAsset Alliance tiestogether Real Careers, Real Homes, RealLearning, Real Influence,and Real Support.

5Around GCDDDallas Joins Staff; New Advisory CouncilMembers Announced.

6NewsGCDD Hosts DiversitySummit; PerdueAnnounces New PolicyAdviser; Accessible TaxisNow in Atlanta; DisabilityWebzine Launched; ADAPTHosts Housing Forum inChicago

13Straight TalkStarting a business helped Anthony Fuller buy his own home.

16PerspectivesBuild assets through tax credits, individualdevelopment accounts.

28Mia’s SpaceMia is tested for sleep apnea.

DepartmentsIn Each Issue3 Letter from

Governor Sonny Perdue

29 Editorial Cartoon

29 Calendar

30 Resources

2 Making a Difference • Fall 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

pg. 8pg. 8

“ ”While you can remove architectural barriers, you can’t

legislate attitude. There is still a lot to be done to

shift people’s thinking. - TAMEEKA HUNTER, GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

www.gcdd.org 3

FROM THE GOVERNOR

Volume 8, Issue 3 Fall 2007

A quarterly magazine of theGovernor’s Council on

Developmental Disabilities

The Governor’s Council on DevelopmentalDisabilities collaborates with Georgia’scitizens, public and private advocacyorganizations and policymakers to

positively influence public policies thatenhance the quality of life for peoplewith disabilities and their families.

GCDD provides this through education and advocacy activities,

program implementation, funding andpublic policy analysis and research.

Tom SeegmuellerChairperson

[email protected]

Eric E. JacobsonExecutive Director

[email protected]

Valerie Meadows SuberEditor-in-Chief &

Public Information [email protected]

2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 26-246Atlanta, GA 30303-3142

Voice 404-657-2126Fax 404-657-2132

Toll free 1-888-275-4233TDD 404-657-2133

www.gcdd.org

Valerie Smith BuxtonManaging Editor

O’Neill Communications, [email protected]

O’Neill Communications, Inc.Design & Layout

To Georgia’s Disability Community,

T he shifting of seasons from summer to fall is a reminder that change is evereminent. My vision for Georgia is that of change and the drive for continuousimprovement. To this effort, I am proud to announce that many promising

strides have been made within Georgia’s disability community.

One of the most pressing issues facing the disability community is that of jobs and new job opportunities. We, as a community and as a state, recognize that having a meaningful, rewarding job is the very basis of America’s freeenterprise system. Jobs not only provide an individual with income, but equally, if not more importantly, with a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment. These same principles apply to an even greaterextent among the disability community, where a good job contributes to the individual’s self-determination, freedom of choice and inclusion in the community.

Georgia is committed to helping people with disabilities go to work. Thelegislature recently removed a barrier to employment by passing a planthat allows workers earning up to $699 per month to buy in to Medicaidby paying a premium, much as they would for private health insurance.This will enable individuals with disabilities to seek and maintaincompetitive employment and salaries without jeopardizing theirMedicaid-funded services, such as attendant care.

In addition, the Georgia Department of Human Resources and Department of Labor –Rehabilitation Services participated in the successful Project Search program that hasbeen carving out jobs for people with developmental disabilities for the past threeyears at some of our state’s most prestigious companies and institutions, such asEmory Crawford Long Hospital, SunTrust Banks, Inc., Children’s Healthcare of Atlantaand more. This program was recently honored with the 2007 Freedom to CompeteAward by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Moreover, at the recent Making a Difference Discovery Day, the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities highlighted further employment success stories to itsmore than 100 attendees. There, employers learned that employees with disabilitiescan contribute to the company’s bottom line. Attendees also discovered thatEmployment First Georgia offers resources to employers on hiring people withdisabilities and the Emerging Leaders internship program allows employers to givecollege students with disabilities valuable work experience.

With the many job initiatives and the new Medicaid buy-in program, we all continueto work together to build better job opportunities for Georgians with disabilities.

Sonny PerdueGovernor

G OV E R N O R ’ S COUNCIL ONDEVELOPMENTALDISABILITIES

Make It Real

For the past five or six years, we have described ourReal Areas model throughout Making a Differencemagazine. It has been heard from the steps of the

Capitol in chants of, “Make It Real.” The model proclaimsthat GCDD supports efforts in five Real Areas: RealCareers, Real Homes, Real Learning, Real Influence andReal Supports. However, we have never been able to findthat one project that began to tie all the Real Areastogether. That was until now.

This past summer, GCDD joined with Credit-Able andthe National Disability Institute to kick off the American

Dream Project, now known as the AssetAlliance of Georgia Coalition. The AssetAlliance of Georgia was formed to address thebarriers that currently keep Georgians withdisabilities, their families and caregivers fromaccessing and maintaining financial assets.We know that over 50% of people withsignificant disabilities and their families livein poverty and that their disability is one ofthe factors that keep them from getting a jobor purchasing a home. In fact, the povertyrate of individuals with disabilities is threetimes greater than those without disabilities.Basically, if you do not have money and away to save, then you cannot buy or rent ahome, purchase medical care and other goodsand services.

Despite the passage of the Americanswith Disabilities Act (ADA), current publicpolicy sends a disturbing message thatassistance will only be offered to those whoremain at the bottom of the economic ladder.The current government-run systems actuallykeep people with disabilities in povertythrough a reliance on income maintenanceprograms. If you go to work you can onlymake so much before you are no longereligible for Medicaid. We then have to createprograms like a Medicaid Buy In so that thosewho work can have access to those supportsprovided through Medicaid.

We hope that the Asset Alliance of Georgia willcreate a positive shift in this paradigm, leaning towardinclusion in the workforce and the community. This effortcould then be used by people with disabilities, familymembers and their advocates to continue strategies thatadvance self-determination and financial independence.It also means that we in the disability community canjoin forces with those community organizers who areworking for all people in poverty to support and developstrategies such as Individual Development Accounts,microenterprises and earned income tax credit. Thisshould allow all people who live in poverty greateropportunities for income preservation, assetaccumulation and financial education. Read more aboutthis effort through out this edition of Making a Differenceand then keep up with this effort in future editions.

You will also read about the more than 100 peoplewho attended Discovery Day, held at The Home Depot’sheadquarters and hosted by The Home Depot, SouthernCompany, Intercontinental Hotels and SunTrust. Thepurpose was for businesses and employers to understandthe many ways that employees with disabilities can helpbuild businesses. It was about creating a diverseemployee base, which in turn helps businesses be moreproductive and make greater profits. It was also aboutunderstanding that there are resources and supports tohelp businesses that are interested in hiring people withdisabilities.

We want to hear from you. Let us know what issuesare important in your lives. Contact our editor-in-chiefValerie Meadows Suber at 888-275-4233 or via e-mail [email protected].

GCDD VIEWPOINT


New Project Ties GCDD’s“Real” Areas Together

Eric E. JacobsonExecutive Director, GCDD

Tom SeegmuellerChairperson, GCDD

ERIC E. JACOBSONTOM

SEEGMU

ELLER

“Community organizing explicitlyseeks to build the power base of the poor so they can affect andchange the public policies andprivate market forces that create and sustain social and economicinequality.”

HENRY ALLEN, HYAMS FOUNDATION

al

AROUND GCDD

www.gcdd.org 5

Letters to the EditorLetters should include the writer’s full name, address, phone number, and may be edited for purpose ofclarity and space.

Contact Our Editor and Public Information Director:Valerie Meadows Suber,[email protected], 404-657-2122Fax 404-657-2132

or: 2 Peachtree Street, NWSuite 26-246Atlanta, GA 30303-3142

Audio or Large Print Versions:For an audio version of Making aDifference, please contact GCDD. A large font version is available fordownload at www.gcdd.org.

Sponsorship:For sponsorship opportunities contact:Valerie Buxton at 770-578-9765 [email protected]

Subscriptions/Back Issues:Visit us at our Web site: www.gcdd.org or call us: 404-657-2126.

It is our policy to publish readers’comments. Contents do not necessarilyreflect the opinions of GCDD, theeditors or state government.

HOW TO REACH US

G OV E R N O R ’ S COUNCIL ONDEVELOPMENTALDISABILITIES

New Program Associate Has Passion for Advocacy

John Edward Dallas has been a tireless advocate for human rights both professionally and personally,through his work with several nonprofit organizations,as well as in his role as caregiver for his mother foreight years before her death last fall.

“Taking care of my mother afforded me first-hand insightinto the private and socialchallenges that people withdisabilities face in our society,and I’ll be forever proud I wasalways there to help mymother, particularly as heradvocate. In this role, I madesure my mother received thebest possible medicaltreatment and supplies, and,what’s more, that her intrinsic dignity as a human being was always uppermostin the minds of the doctors, nurses, social workers, home attendants and others involved in her care,” Dallas said.

Dallas, who joins the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities as its new program associate, will provide support to the advocacy director, theindividual and family support director and the public policy director.

With his extensive background in multicultural community organizing, Dallaswill also be responsible for building bridges between GCDD and organizationsserving metro Atlanta's immigrant communities. His strong advocacy backgroundin affordable housing uniquely positions Dallas to implement Real Homes bycreating initiatives that promote visitable, accessible and affordable housing for people with disabilities and their loved ones.

Dallas will administer the Partnership Fund, Organizing Institute and othergrants, and handle the planning for Disability Day.

“I regard my work for GCDD as an evolution of the tireless advocacy Iperformed for my mother – and as a tribute to her. She’s no doubt proud that Ireturned to her hometown to fight for the rights of other people with disabilitiesas fervently as I did for her in New York City,” he said.

GCDD Names Advisory MembersThe Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to introduce its

new advisory members:JILL ALEXANDER of Fitzgerald is the mother of a 10-year-old who has cerebral

palsy. Alexander wants to be sure people with disabilities living in rural SouthGeorgia are well represented at the state level.

“With most services and programs that research and strive to meet the needs ofpeople with disabilities centrally located out of metro Atlanta, it leaves serious gapsof service to our regions. As a parent of a child with multiple disabilities, I see firsthand the struggles that living in a rural area present to individuals with disabilities.I have a passion to change the circumstances that face our family as well asthousands of other Georgia families affected by disability,” Alexander said.

“Taking careof my mother afforded mefirst-hand insight into theprivate and social challengesthat people with disabilitiesface in our society...”

continued on page 27

John Dallas


NEWS

The Governor’s Council onDevelopmental Disabilities hosted aDiversity Summit September 18 tobuild connections with metro Atlanta-based organizations that serveimmigrant communities.

“The summit gave GCDD theopportunity to share its purpose withorganizations serving Asian andLatino immigrants, who may beunderserved due to languagebarriers,” explained GCDD ProgramAssociate John Edward Dallas.

The summit was the first step in anoutreach initiative to increase the ethnicdiversity of GCDD members, partnerships,coalitions, scholarship recipients andproject funding awardees.

Hosted by GCDD AdvocacyDirector Kate Gainer and Dallas, thesummit sought to lay the foundationfor fully inclusive, enduringcollaborations between GCDD andother advocacy organizations.

A variety of organizationsparticipated in the summit, including:

• Indonesian Heritage Foundation• Good Shepherd Services Atlanta• Hispanic Health Coalition

of Georgia, Inc.• Korean American Coalition –

Atlanta Chapter• Ministry With Persons With

Disabilities, Catholic Charities• Center for Pan Asian

Community Services• Raksha, Inc.• Wheat Mission of Atlanta

“We were very pleased with the response to the summit by thevarious organizations and hope tocontinue working with them to assure immigrants with disabilitiesare aware of the resources available,”Gainer said.

Several of the attendees foundthe summit useful, such as SisterChristine Truong My Hanh, executivedirector of Good Shepherd ServicesAtlanta, who said, “Many adults donot know where to get help. I needyour suggestions, to get someprograms to help many Vietnamesewith disabilities.”

Tonja Holder, director ofdevelopment for Raksha, Inc., saw the possibilities of working withGCDD. “I’ve already spoken with myexecutive director about doing somerecruiting within the South Asiancommunity on the disability issues,so hopefully I’ll be able to directsome engaged and energetic peopleyour way,” she said.

In addition to presentations from Gainer and Dallas, GCDDExecutive Director Eric Jacobson,Individual and Family SupportsDirector Dottie Adams and PublicInformation Director and Editor inChief of Making a Difference MagazineValerie Meadows Suber provided anoverview of the organization.

Ruby Moore, executive of theGeorgia Advocacy Office, alsopresented information to the group.

Perdue Promotes Heck to PolicyDirectorHannah Heck hasbeen promoted topolicy director,managingresearch anddevelopment ofpolicy initiatives.She replaces TreyChildress, whowas appointed tolead the Office ofPlanning and Budget.

“Our work has just beguntackling some of Georgia’s toughestchallenges,” said Gov. Sonny Perdue(R). “My leadership team’s experiencein consensus building will help us to strengthen our relationships withthe Georgia General Assembly, ourcongressional delegation, state andfederal agencies and the public weserve.”

Since 2004, Heck has served as apolicy adviser to Gov. Perdue. Herprimary subject matter expertise hasbeen public safety and generalgovernment, such as law enforcement,highway safety, corrections andtechnology. As policy director, Heckwill manage the governor’s team ofpolicy advisers, overseeing allresearch and development of new andexisting policy initiatives.

Heck has advanced the governor’slegislative and policy agenda andadvised him on operational, budgetand policy direction for the state ofGeorgia. Under the governor’sdirection, Heck developed “CSIGeorgia,” a child internet safety

GCDD Reaches Out to Immigrant Populations

“Our work has just beguntackling some of Georgia’s

toughest challenges.”

“We were very pleased with the response to thesummit by the various organizations and hope tocontinue working with them to assure immigrantswith disabilities are aware of the resources available.”

Hannah Heck

www.gcdd.org 7

NEWS

initiative. She also spearheaded thegovernor’s Wireless CommunitiesGeorgia program, providing funding to rural communities to establishwireless broadband networks. Heckgraduated magna cum laude fromHarvard University in Cambridge, MAwith a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Checker Cab AddsAccessible Vehicles

Atlantans with disabilities nowhave a new transportation option.Checker Cab has added threewheelchair accessible vehicles to itsfleet of taxis. The fare is the same asa regular taxi. For reservations, call404.351.1111.

Disability Webzine Launched

BeyondLimits.TV is a break-through concept in Internetpublishing that combines videostories, print, blogs and Web-basedresources that promote the fullparticipation of people withdisabilities in the world community.This new Web site incorporatesstreaming video podcasts andother interactive services to activate, inform andentertain the significant butunrecognized demographic of people with disabilities.

For more information, or to submit or read articles,visit www.beyondlimits.tv or [email protected].

ADAPT HousingForum ExposesIndividual Problemsand HUD Inaction

Officials from the U.S. Departmentof Housing and Urban Development(HUD) traveled to Chicago September9 to meet with 500 ADAPT activists,but incited the crowd to anger whenthey communicated a tired messagethat hasn't been supported with actionpromised in May by HUD SecretaryAlphonso Jackson. Their appearance atthe ADAPT National Housing Forumfollowed two hours of testimony aboutthe lack of affordable, accessibleintegrated housing articulated bydisability rights activists from acrossthe nation.

“We just heard the same oldrhetoric, lots of promises, but noaction,” said Cassie James, ADAPTorganizer from Philadelphia whomoderated the Housing Forum. “LastMay, Sec. Jackson made a number ofcommitments to us, and he hasn'thonored one of them.”

In a May meeting in Washington,D.C., ADAPT confronted Jackson aboutthe 58% loss in housing vouchers thatthe disability community suffered due

to a combination offederal budget cutsand misappropriationof the vouchers bylocal entities thatadminister thevoucher program.Jackson promised to report to ADAPTbefore the September action inChicago how many of those housingvouchers for people with disabilitieshe has recovered.

Jackson, who had also promised in May to meet with ADAPT three times a year, failed to show in Chicago,sending Kim Kendrick, assistantsecretary for Fair Housing and EqualOpportunity, and Paula Blunt, deputyassistant secretary for Public andIndian Housing in his place. NeitherKendrick nor Blunt provided thenumbers promised by their boss in May.

“The all-talk-and-no-action weheard today is the same thing weexperienced with HUD here in Chicagolast May,” said Darrell Price of ChicagoADAPT. “We had a housing conferencewhere Ms. Kendrick was also presentand heard Mike Grice talk about howlong he’d been waiting for his landlordto make his kitchen accessible. Ms.Kendrick talked to the landlord, butit’s four months later, and the landlordhasn’t done a thing. Mike testified atthe forum today that he still can’t usehis kitchen, and once again the HUDfolks said they’d look into it, but wearen’t holding out any hope on thefollow through.”

James added, “And we won’tlisten to any more ‘we feel your pain’speeches from HUD and other officialsin suits while our brothers and sistersare stuck in nursing homes and otherinstitutions because there is noaffordable, accessible housing in theircommunities. We’re done withpromises...we want action!” l

Eleanor Smith, ofAtlanta, testifies

during the forum.

©2007 Tim

Wheat


Business leaders were expecting to hear anencouraging message at the 2007 Making aDifference Discovery Day, but probably not thatone. Keynote speaker Al Blackwelder, ChiefOperating Officer, Emory Crawford Long Hospital(ECLH), cut right to the bottom line logic ofhiring persons with disabilities.

“This has been extremely successful for us;successful in a business sense. We are reducingcosts and we have high quality employees,”

Blackwelder said ofthe Project Searchprogram that wasimplemented at ECLHthree years ago.

Instead of hiring(for example) 10medical professionalswhose job descrip-tions also requirethem to perform

tasks such as stocking carts, Blackwelderexplained that ECLH might carve those tasks outof existing positions and assign them to a newjob position that can be filled by a person whohas a developmental disability. The hospital thenonly has to fund nine medical positions and oneentry-level job. But, he added, the cost savings isalmost a fringe benefit of the huge success storyof Project Search.

“What we have found is they becomebreadwinners, taxpayers, contributing members inthe community, as well as colleagues.”

The seventh annual Making a Difference

Discovery Day was held September 27 at TheHome Depot corporate headquarters in Atlanta.Presented by the Governor’s Council onDevelopmental Disabilities (GCDD), the half-dayseminar was moderated by former CNN AnchorBobbie Battista and was sponsored by The HomeDepot, Southern Company, SunTrust Banks, Inc.and InterContinental Hotels Group. The purpose ofthe annual event is to help corporate executivesand human resource managers discover the gifts,talents and skills that people with disabilities cancontribute to the workplace.

“We’ve learned first hand of the great rewardsand benefits of hiring people with disabilities,”offered Gloria Johnson-Goins, vice president ofInclusion and Diversity, The Home Depot. “Theirsuccess is part of our outreach to be inclusive aswe grow our family of 355,000 associates in theUnited States, Canada, Mexico and China.Associates with disabilities have been making adifference since the company was founded in1978. We’re proud of our associates and verypleased to recognize them.”

The 100+ Discovery Day attendees included a mix of corporate hiring managers, social serviceagency representatives, employment trainers andpersons with disabilities.

“Every year more and more people find outabout Discovery Day and want to attend. Ouroutreach to the business community is starting topay off,” revealed GCDD Public Information DirectorValerie Meadows Suber, who organized the event.

“Myth or fact?” queriedKatherine McCary, vice president,SunTrust Banks, Inc., as sheaddressed the group. “Hiringemployees with disabilitiesslightly increases workers compensation insurance rates.”

There was a moment of silence, followed by asmattering of responses from the audience.

Hiring People with Disabilities -

Right Business Decision - Right Overall Decision

by Carmel G. Hearn

Hiring People with Disabilities -

Right Business Decision - Right Overall Decision

“It’s not charity. It’s just good

business sense.”

“What we have found isthey become breadwinners,taxpayers, contributingmembers in the community,as well as colleagues.”

“Myth or fact?”

Katherine McCary

Al Blackwelder

www.gcdd.org 9

“Myth,” they said. “Employees with disabilities have the same

absentee rate as employees without disabilities.”“Fact,” more joined in. As McCary continued with the litany, the

audience became more emboldened, and by theirresponses, they continued to demonstrate theirknowledge that employees with disabilities: areable to meet or exceed job expectations; arecapable of getting their own transportation toand from work; usually require no specialaccommodations; and are no more accident-pronethan other employees.

McCary also pointed out that, from amarketing perspective, persons with disabilitiesshould not be overlooked.

“In 2006 the annual aggregate spending ofpeople with disabilities in the US was estimatedat $1 trillion; $3 trillion with friends and family.Persons with disabilities represent $220 billion indiscretionary spending. That’s larger than the teenmarket.”

Discovery Day attendees also learned howthey can dip into this virtually untapped job pool.Barbara Height, senior manager of CommunityRelations, Booz Allen Hamilton, encouraged hiringmanagers to consider the Emerging Leadersinternship and leadership development programfor college students with disabilities.

“For students, an internship is a critical firststep in career development,” outlined Height.

“They can explore various aspects of theiridentity, gain new skills and apply theirknowledge.”

Diane Prindle, of Briggs and Associates,explained how Project Search, which providestraining and jobs for high school students andadults with developmental disabilities, got startedand has grown in the Atlanta area.

“Three years ago there was nobody in theprogram. Today there are 60 individuals in ProjectSearch. We are growing in a fabulous way.”

The Edge is another program that offersassistance to persons with disabilities by offeringthem resources to start their own businesses.

“Judy Lassiter came to us with a dream totake her homemade baby blankets and quilts tothe marketplace,” said Patricia Harris, The Edge’sexecutive director. “She was born with adevelopmental disability. We helped her get acoach, get to the marketplace, and she is able to earn a living.”

Employment First Georgia is another resource offering a guide through the maze of the employment market, for both prospective

employees and employers.“We’re not a service

providing entity, we are aconnecting entity. We’re here as a resource to you employers,

for people to work in your environment,”explained Rich O. Toscano.

Discovery Day participants also opened up adiscussion about the “hidden” disabilities that areassociated with mental illness and brain trauma.While federal law has come a long way to opendoors to persons with physical disabilities, there wasoverwhelming agreement that those with cognitivedisabilities are still misunderstood in general, andoverwhelmingly overlooked in the job market.

“If they can see it, it exists,” said GlenSmith, referring to his struggles with both health issues and societal misunderstanding since sustaining a brain injury 10 years ago.

Smith, who lost his home constructionbusiness after he was injured, was also abandoned by his family, and became homeless.He eventually found healing and motivation,inspired by his children, to get his life back. Withhelp from The Edge program, he was able to starta new business as a home inspector, and is nowwriting a book on the events of his life over thepast decade.

“In 2006 the annual aggregate spending of people with disabilities in the US was estimated at $1 trillion; $3 trillion with friends and family.” “

”

Three years agothere was nobodyin the program.

Today there are

sixty individualsin Project Search.We are growingin a fabulous way.

Diane Prindle

“We’ve learned first hand of the great rewards and benefits of hiring people with disabilities.”

“We’ve learned first hand of the great rewards and benefits of hiring people with disabilities.”


FEATURE

“When I was a businessman, I thought peoplewith brain injuries were retarded or on drugs,”Smith revealed. Then the unthinkable happenedto him. “I was going to take my life, but a friendcalled and said, ‘What about your kids?’ My lovefor my kids kept me going.”

“If you have a hidden disability, people wantyou to prove [you have a disability]. They thinkyou’re lazy. We have the same goals, aspirationsand dreams as everybody else. Please keep that in mind when you’re hiring,” saidTameeka Hunter,disability servicespecialist, GeorgiaInstitute ofTechnology, whoconsiders herself a“triple-minority,” asan African American woman with cerebral palsy.

One of the meeting attendees, CatherineCorbin, of Middle Georgia Consortium, Inc.,attended the event to get ideas for her WarnerRobins employment training agency.

“I came here to get the resources I know willhelp me help students get higher learning, and totake resources back to the community foremployers to hire persons with disabilities,” shesaid. “I must be more prepared to help persons inthe community who hire people with disabilities.I was especially impressed with the Project Searchprogram and with the Emerging Leaders initiative.I want to find out more information and take itback to my community.”

While Discovery Day provided a wealth ofresources to employment advisers like Corbin,organizers were also hopeful that mainstreamhiring managers heard the event’s main message.

“Over the years, I have done a lot of workrelative to accommodation with people withdisabilities who travel,” said Vicki Gordon, seniorvice president, Corporate Affairs America’s Region,InterContinental Hotels Group. “Discovery Dayseemed to be something that made sense for ourcompany to be involved with. There’s a realstruggle to find talent for our businesses. Peoplewith disabilities so often are unemployed orunderemployed. Many studies show people with

disabilities have a much longer term of employment,are highly dependable, and

are terrific employees.” Discovery Day revealed one success story

after another. COO Blackwelder told of Maurice, an anesthesia technician assistant, who hugs hisfellow Anesthesiology Operating Room employeeseach morning. Wade Stooksbury, QualityImprovement Manager, Star Choices, talked aboutRobert, who has become more independent sincegoing to work at the local car dealership in Macon.

“He’s a regular, said Stooksbury, describingRobert’s relationships with coworkers and fellowbus passengers. “Like on the television show,Cheers, everybody knows [Robert’s] name.”

“I would encourage any employer to take aserious look at hiring someone with disabilities,said Gordon. “It can have an amazing ripple effect.People who work directly with people withdisabilities – it expands their horizons. It helps usall understand more about inclusion and diversity.”

“Either you get it or you don’t,” GCDDExecutive Director Eric Jacobson challenged theDiscovery Day participants, quoting one of Dr. PhilMcGraw’s life laws. “I hope today you become oneof the people who get it. Don’t let this opportunitypass you up so you end up where you wereyesterday instead of where you need to betomorrow.”

Blackwelder perhaps provided the ultimatesummarization of the day’s message. “What westarted was good business, but it also hasbenefits, such as a positive esprit de corps. Thebottom line is it’s the right business thing to do;it is the overall right thing to do.” l

“Don’t let this opportunity passyou up so you end up where youwere yesterday instead of whereyou need to be tomorrow.”

“Many studies show people with disabilitieshave a much longer term of employment, arehighly dependable, and are terrific employees.”

Eric Jacobson

11

Project Search –Working with the Best of the Bestby Carmel G. Hearn

M atching the right person with the right job iswhat both employers and employees want. But

finding that perfect match isn’t always possible.Even in the best of situations, an employee may findsome aspects of the job unappealing. As a result, hemight give minimal attention to that part of hisposition or may avoid it altogether.

But what if someone took that part of the jobaway from the employee, and gave it to anotheremployee who would perform it with an excitingattitude, in an exemplary manner? That is exactlywhat is happening right here in Georgia, as a resultof Project Search.

Project Search is a program that provides jobmatching and training for adults and high schoolseniors with disabilities. These are not the simpletasks one might expect. They are challengingpositions in appealing industry sectors such ashealthcare and banking. While the employee mayhave certain physical or cognitive disabilities, theposition is matched to their abilities, and theyperform competently, and more often, exceptionally,in the job.

“Project Search breaks through stereotypes.These employees are in there working with the bestof the best. It totally levels the playing field,”explained Jennifer Briggs, president and CEO ofBriggs & Associates. “As you look at it, you get it.You truly see that when each person’s talent iscalled for, it works like music.”

Briggs & Associates, an Atlanta-based companythat develops “non-traditional” employmentopportunities for individuals with developmentaldisabilities, helped bring Project Search to Georgia(from Cincinnati, Ohio, where it originated) threeyears ago. Other collaborators included the FultonCounty School System, the Georgia Department ofHuman Resources and the Georgia Department of

Labor-Rehabilitation Services. The program waslaunched at Atlanta’s Emory Crawford Long Hospital(ECLH).

“What [Briggs & Associates] wanted wasclassroom space and access to departmentmanagers,” revealed Al Blackwelder, ECLH chiefoperating officer. “They wanted to carve new jobsout of existing job descriptions. The whole idea wasto have an arrangement with the school system forhigh school seniors to go to school at EmoryCrawford Long, where they would learn specific jobfunctions in the hospital.”

The key, according to Blackwelder, is to identifyjob functions, such as stocking carts, checkingsupplies and inventorying equipment that otheremployees often prioritize low on their list of thingsto do. The job tasks are then put in a new positionand Project Search students receive intensiveclassroom training. When the students completetraining, they are ready to enter the workforce, andare hired at a competitive salary.

“Project Search is not charity. It provided mewith a solution to a problem that was cost-neutralor cost less. This was financially advantageous,”

“Project Search breaks throughstereotypes. These employees are in there working with the best of the best.”

Maurice Goodwine has beenemployed as an AnesthesiaTechnician Assistant at EmoryCrawford Long Hospital inAtlanta for three years.


Blackwelder added. “These students are better atthese jobs than everybody else. They graduate fromhigh school and have a paying job with benefits.They can do [the job] better and cheaper and fasterthan the more highly trained people who used to dothese jobs.”

Project Search training is also available toadults. Maurice Goodwine has been employed at ECLH as an anesthesia technician assistant for thepast three years. A 1999 graduate of the Atlanta AreaSchool for the Deaf, Goodwine has profound hearingloss, and met the usual obstacles in the job market.He was led to the Project Search program by hiscareer specialist at Briggs & Associates. Now, heloves his job stocking operating room carts, and his family and friends are equally proud of hisaccomplishments. “They feel it is a great opportunityfor me to be gainfully employed and allows me tocontribute to the community,” said Goodwine.

The program at Emory Crawford Long Hospitalwas recently recognized by the Equal EmploymentOpportunity Commission (EEOC). On September 26,Blackwelder, along with members of Briggs &Associates and others associated with ProjectSearch, received the EEOC’s 2007 Freedom toCompete Award in Washington, DC. The Freedom toCompete initiative is a national outreach, educationand coalition-building campaign to emphasize theimportance of providing free and unfettered accessto employment opportunities for all individuals. Itscentral theme is that employees and applicantsdeserve the opportunity to compete on a levelplaying field and advance in the workplace as far astheir talents and abilities will take them, withoutregard to discriminatory barriers based on race,

color, gender, religion, national origin, age ordisability. Emory Crawford Long is one of fiveorganizations this year, and the only one in theSoutheast, to win a national award from the EEOCfor its program to train and hire high schoolgraduates and adults with developmental disabilitiesand integrate them into a busy hospital workplace.

“It is quite an honor to receive this nationalrecognition for our Project Search program,” saidBlackwelder. “This program and its employees havetruly enhanced so many departments in the hospital,not only from a productivity standpoint, but alsofrom a morale standpoint.”

Emory Crawford Long may have been the first,but is not the only metro-Atlanta area agency in theProject Search program. North Fulton RegionalHospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, GwinnettMedical, Piedmont Hospital, SunTrust Bank, AtlantaMedical, Emory University, Wesley Woods and severalschool systems are also participating in the program.Organizers are now looking to expand the programsinto new sectors, including law firms, the insuranceindustry and more college campuses.

Project Search is also expanding into otherparts of the state. The Governor’s Council onDevelopmental Disabilities (GCDD) has recentlylaunched a five-year plan to take Project Search intoat least 10 new areas.

“It’s a real win-win situation for everybody,”commented Dottie Adams, individual and familysupports director for GCDD. “Project Search looks forcomplex jobs for people. They’re somewhatrepetitive, but not easy tasks. These people aremaking $10-$17 per hour to do complicated work.”

Adams is spearheading GCDD’s Project SearchGeorgia expansion plan. She says the first programmay be in place in Hall County as early as 2008. Shehopes to start up as many as two programs per year,in both rural and urban areas. In addition to theexemplary job matching Project Search provides, shecredits the program with populating a workforce thatreflects community demographics.

“When a parent brings a child with a disabilityto a hospital for treatment, they can see peoplewith disabilities working and it gives them hope fortheir child’s future.” Adams explained. “They [ProjectSearch employees] are good ambassadors.”

Project Search has enriched the lives of theindividuals in the program, yet has had a muchbroader effect that cannot be ignored. “What ProjectSearch has done is deliver our mission, that anyonewho has the desire has the ability to be successfulin the workplace,” said Briggs. “The community isnot whole until all members are valued.” l

FEATURE

“... it is a greatopportunity for

me to be gainfullyemployed andallows me tocontribute to

the community.”

www.gcdd.org 13

Four years ago this April, I bought my veryfirst house, where I still live. Before that I had lived in an apartment or a grouphome. Seven years ago, on September 5,

2000, I started my job as a shredder technician.This decision led me to a path that enabled me to purchase my home. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I was born with a hearing impairment and with very little sight. Legally, I am blind. I do not like to be labeled, though. I feel I am veryindependent. Still, I know the challenges all toowell of living in a “hearing” and “seeing” world. The system has not always treated me well. Back in the ‘60s when I was growing up, no one knewwhat to do with me. I’ve had to work very hard to get to where I am today.

With the guidance of my job coach, LizPrioleau, Cobb-Douglas Community Services Board(Cobb CSB) and also a People First advocate, we,together, customized a job just for me. Liz hasworked with me for the past seven years and workshard to always advocate for me. The harder I workand the more I can prove that I can do manythings, the harder she seems to advocate for me.

Through Cobb CSB, I was able to receive agrant through Project Exceed to purchase ashredder. A Department of Labor grant, ProjectExceed helps people with disabilities or substanceabuse problems take advantage of customizedemployment services. They work very closely withCobbWorks, a center that provides job search,development and training services.

I started shredding documents for Cobb CSB andgenerally worked 20 hours a week, but occasionallyworked 40. I have since contracted my services toother businesses such as Bank of America andCobbWorks and am always looking for more business.I also perform shredding services for the church andfor my sister, who is a real estate agent. I find itvery rewarding being self-employed. Before that Iworked at various places such as Kmart, TJ Maxx and as a janitor at South Cobb High School.

After three years of working, saving money andthe guidance of many other individuals, I decided topurchase my first home. Through a local program inMarietta, I received first time homebuyer’s education

so that I could understand the benefits of havingand maintaining good credit. This program walkedme through the process of purchasing a home.

Owning a home and being self-employed hasgiven me more confidence to do other things, suchas setting up my own support systems within thecommunity. I take all my bills to Bank of America,where they write out each and every bill for me. Iwork closely with my doctors to keep track of mymedications. These are all things I have set up formyself in order to be more independent. Also, in thenext six months, I hope to establish a businessplan. I am ready to move forward in my career.

Cobb CSB has not only allowed me to become aproductive citizen – on my own terms – but hasallowed me to grow as a person. The only otherthing that would make me complete is to have acompanion to share it all with.

For more information on Anthony’s shredding services, please contact Liz Prioleau at 770.337.8317. l

A JOURNEY TO:

Homeownershipand Independence

StraightTalk

By Anthony Fuller

“Owning a home and being self-employed has given me more

confidence to do other things, such as setting up my own supportsystems within the community.”

Fuller’s work helped him save enoughmoney to buy his own home.

THE STORY Stemming from friendship, a desireto promote change and awareness and an enthusiasmfor life came the film, Darius Goes West (DGW).

The project started as an ordinary day consistingof a couple of friends discussing how they should goon a road trip to Los Angeles and visit the popularMTV show, Pimp My Ride. The two friends, LoganSmalley and Darius Weems, first met at Camp Reachwhen Smalley was a volunteer and Weems was justfive years old. Weems, like some of the othercampers, had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a terminal genetic disorder in which an individual isunable to produce dystrophin, a protein necessary for muscle strength and function. Boys are moresusceptible to the disease. Despite living with DMD,eventually being confined to a wheelchair and losinghis older brother to the same disease, Weems ispositive and always full of life.

“Darius, an Athens native, never venturing out of his hometown, had talked about how cool it wouldbe to have his wheelchair ‘pimped’ like all the cars on the show, Pimp My Ride”, said Smalley.

Smalley, then an education major at theUniversity of Georgia, and videography buff hadrecently attended the Cannes Film Festival in Franceand had seen an independent film made for under$200, got excited and decided, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we’ve got to bring video cameras tocapture this.” And so the trip began.

THE DOCUMENTARY In the summer of2005, Weems, Smalley and 10 other college-agefriends headed west in a rented, wheelchair-accessible RV, armed with a video camera.

“For Darius, this truly was a trip of a lifetime,never having seen the mountains, the ocean or evencrossed a state line,” said Smalley, who wouldbecome the director of the film.

“The trip inspired me. It inspired me to see andexperience more things,” said Weems.

The 7,000-mile adventure to get Weems’ wheel-chair pimped would take three weeks, with plenty ofopportunities to test wheelchair accessibility acrossthe country, celebrate the 15th anniversary of theAmericans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and raiseawareness for DMD.

Wheelchair accessibility was surprisingly good insome areas of the country; however, in some areaswhere full accessibility was expected, it was not found. “Carlsbad Cavern National Park in New Mexico was

100% accessible for Darius. The St. Louis Arch,however, was not. It had too many steps,” saidSmalley. “What’s ironic is that Carlsbad is thousandsof years old and was accessible and the Arch is lessthan 50 years old.”

“On a scale from one to ten, I found accessibilityat areas around the country to be a four. When wewent to see the Grand Canyon, my friends had to pickme up in my wheelchair some of the way,” said Weems.

THE PROGRAM The DGW school program,“Know About It” started to take form after teachers,principals and school officials approached Smalley at numerous film festivals where the film was beingshown, inquiring how they could show the film intheir schools.

In Cleveland, at the third or fourth festival, highschool students from the greater Cleveland area cameto view the film and were so inquisitive of Weems’story and how theycould help that theQ&A lasted for threehours and had to beshut down. Members ofthe DGW crew receivedmore than 150 emailsafter that viewing. InSanta Barbara, after viewing the film, students fromSanta Barbara Middle School chose Darius Goes Westas their theme for their 60-mile bike ride fundraiser.

“I started thinking, this film could be appealing

By Nicole Galletta

and Brings “Know About It” Program

to Schools Across the Country

DARIUS

Darius Goes West:The Roll of His Life.You may or may nothave heard about

this filmbut you should certainly

“know about it”. “I startedthinking, this filmcould be appealing

to schools.”


to schools. It would not only allow students to learnsomething from a variety of subjects, but alsopromote awareness for DMD,” said Smalley. “And withmost of the DGW crew being education majors, itwouldn’t be too tough of a challenge establishing acurriculum.”

Barbara Smalley, Logan Smalley’s mom and a bigsupporter of DGW throughout both the trip and thefilm festival tour, soon found herself taking a leadrole in the “Know About It” program. An educationmajor, but a writer by trade, she now directs theprogram full time, serving as the point person forschools to ensure teachers and students get the mostout of the experience.

“This program is going to be extremelyinteractive,” she said. “There will be an interactiveQ&A section where students can go to the Web siteand click on the most frequently asked questions andbe able to view video of crew members answering thequestion. We will also have a T-shirt contest wherestudents can send in pictures of themselves ininteresting places doing great things wearing a DGWshirt. Any student can become a ‘13th crew member’.”

“Everyone knows about cancer, they should knowabout DMD. My friends did something to help me bytaking me on this trip. I hope this whole experienceteaches kids to be more idealistic,” said Weems.

The “Know About It” program, set to launchacross the country and in Canada in mid to lateOctober 2007, will be open to public and privateschools, big and small. Middle or high school teacherswill be able to rent a special edition of the film for$25 and gain access to an entire curriculum online.Teachers will have a special login to access lessonplans and discussion questions. Students will haveaccess to their own section allowing them toparticipate in forums with other students to tradereviews, discuss the lessons and learn how they cansupport Charley’s Fund, a foundation that directsmoney to the researchers who show the most promise

of curing DMD. All DGW profits aredonated to Charley’s Fund.

“The school section is an empowering tool we canuse to gather behind the cause of Charley’s Fund. This section offers adviceon how to have the best car wash and otherfundraising tips, and how to screen the film as an open invitation like a film festival,” explainedLogan Smalley.

The curriculum applies topics from the film toalmost every school subject.

“The middle and high school students have tolearn about genetics anyway … the film uses Darius asa live example; it’s not something borrowed,” he said.“The doctor featured in the film even created thelesson plans for that subject.”

For English class, students will learn aboutsymbolism, plot and theme and will be able todiscuss how the director and editor use these tomove the movie forward. In social studies, studentswill learn about the disability rights movement andexplore tolerance and diversity topics.

Thus far, through word-of-mouth only, 85 publicand private schools around the country have signedup for the DGW “Know About It” program. TheSmalleys even plan to expand the program in thefuture to offer it to churches and youth groups.

“My main hopes for ‘Know About It’ is thatstudents can take valuable lessons from the programand can help raise money for Charley’s Fund,” saidBarbara Smalley. “We will find a cure within a decade,if not sooner. The research is ready to go, there justisn’t enough funding yet. All of this is Darius’ dream.”

Darius Goes West has won over 20 awards fromthe 25 film festivals and has fulfilled therequirements to be nominated for an Oscar! Whenasked what the most surprising thing about theproject was, Logan Smalley replied, “How amazing theresponse has been. You’re holed up in the editingroom hoping it makes a difference, but you neverreally know. The response was enormous; we neverthought it was going to be this big. The trip hasn’treally stopped.” l

Teachers interested in the DGW

“Know About It”program may contactBarbara Smalley at

[email protected] call 706-613-7237.

For more information onDarius Goes West, visitdariusgoeswest.com.

contact

“”

This program is going to be extremely

interactive.

This program is going to be extremely

interactive.

“Everyone knows about cancer, they should know about DMD.”

www.gcdd.org 15

Tax Credit May Benefit Working Individualswith Disabilities & Their FamiliesBy Richard Keeling, Senior Tax Analyst - Internal Revenue Service Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC)

Richard Keeling is a SeniorTax Analyst in the Volunteer & Community Partnershiparea of the Wage &Investment Division of the IRS. His primaryresponsibility is workingwith the “Taxpayers withDisabilities” program. Thisprogram strives to providemore widespread access totax information, free taxpreparation and financialliteracy and asset building to taxpayers with disabilities.

Many Americans with disabilities may not beaware of the valuable Federal Earned IncomeTax Credit (EITC) that can help lift them out

of poverty. Approximately 20 percent of Americans livewith some level of disability, and many of these peoplehave first-hand experience with financial hardships. Infact, more than one-third of all adults with disabilitieslive in households with a total income of $15,000 orless, while only 12 percent of adults withoutdisabilities are in the same situation, according to a2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Poll. Tohelp combat this crisis, the Internal Revenue Servicepartnered with the National Disability Institute tocreate the Real Economic Impact Tour. This initiativeprovides support to people with disabilities and theirfamilies through financial literacy programs. Theseprograms educate taxpayers with disabilities aboutfederal tax benefits like the EITC.

Enacted in 1975, the EITC is a credit for peoplewho work, but do not earn high incomes. It has liftedmillions of individuals and families above the povertyline. In 2006 alone, approximately 22 million taxpayersreceived more than $43 billion as a result of the EITC.The IRS estimates that 20-25 percent of Americantaxpayers who qualify for the credit do not claim it.Many people may be unaware of the EITC or may notclaim it simply because they don’t know how to do so.Additionally, some individuals and families, such asthose raising children with disabilities, don’t realizethere are special rules that may help them qualify for

the EITC. Forexample, aqualifying child ofany age who has apermanent disabilitycan be claimed forthe EITC, providedall other eligibility

requirements are met. This is the case even if thequalifying child also receives disability benefits.

There is also free assistance available for peoplewith disabilities who cannot prepare their own taxreturns. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)program offers free tax help for low-to-moderate-

income taxpayers, which generally includes people who earn less than $40,000 annually. Communityorganizations sponsor and train volunteers to preparebasic tax returns in cities across the country. TheseVITA sites are generally located in convenient locationssuch as community centers, libraries, schools andshopping malls. VITA volunteers provide taxpayers withthe valuable tools and resources needed to learn moreabout the EITC and eligibility requirements.

The EITC is a refundable credit, which means itnot only reduces the amount of taxes someone owes,but also results in a refund for many eligible taxpayers;a refund that can be as high as $4,000. As a result –for taxpayers who qualify – the EITC can be anotherstep toward financial security and asset developmentbecause it puts more money directly in the hands ofthe people who need it most.

To qualify for the EITC in 2007, workers with nochildren must have earned income of less than$12,590. Taxpayers with one child must have earnedincome of less than $33,241 to qualify. Finally, thosetaxpayers with two or more children must have lessthan $37,783 in earned income to qualify for the EITC.Each of these limits is $2,000 higher for marriedtaxpayers filing a joint return.

The EITC does not count as income fordetermining eligibility for such benefits as Medicaid,Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, federallyassisted housing or Temporary Assistance for NeedyFamilies. The amount of EITC does not count as aresource in the month received or the next month forMedicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,Child Care Subsidies, Head Start or Low Income HomeEnergy Assistance Program. Nor does it count as aresource for nine months after the month of receipt forSSI and 12 months after the month of receipt for foodstamps. Additionally, immigrants who are legallyauthorized to work may also claim the EITC.

Visit the IRS Web site, IRS.gov, to learn moreabout the EITC, eligibility, what constitutes earnedincome and how claiming this valuable credit can helptaxpayers with disabilities. For more information onthe REI Tour, visit reitour.org. l

“The IRS estimates that 20-25 percent of Americantaxpayers who qualify forthe credit do not claim it.”


Preserving Income and Accumulating

Assets Key to Achieving Independence

Build Assets with IDAsBy Janet M. Jordan, Home Buyer Education Coordinator for the GeorgiaHousing and Finance Authority’s Housing Counseling Program

I ndividual Development Accounts (IDAs) arematched savings accounts that reward theconsistent monthly savings of low to moderate

income families and individuals who are workingtoward a high return asset such as a first home, post-secondary education or the development or growth of a small business. The purchase of other assets, such ascars, computers and assistive technology, are alsooptions for some IDA programs. The savings incentivesare provided through matching funds from public andprivate sources.

All IDA account holders receive financialmanagement and asset-specific training. Assets andappropriate training provide benefits that income alonecannot provide. IDAs address the wealth gap and bringpeople who are willing to work and save into thefinancial mainstream.

More than 10,000 Americans are currently savingin an IDA in at least 250 communities. The United Wayof Metropolitan Atlanta is a long time supporter of IDA

programs andhas providedfinancial andadministrativesupport for morethan 500participantssince 1997,including youthand Latino IDAprograms. Of themore than 200

successful home buyers who participated in theHomeownership IDA programs, none has experiencedforeclosure. Georgia also has IDA programs in Augusta,Brunswick and Savannah.

IDAs work! In a multi-state demonstration, morethan $800,000 was saved in more than 2000 IDAaccounts and the poorest of the poor saved the most.Those at 50% of poverty or below saved 8% of theirincome, whereas those at 150% of poverty level saved

2%. IDAs have answered the question: “Can poor people save?” with a resounding YES!

IDA programs can be designed for special needs, such as assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, as long as the matched savings and financial literacy components are included. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs offerstechnical assistance for planning and implementationto collaborations wishing to start and manage an IDAprogram. The program design, as well as the savingsgoal, match ratio and permissible assets, can betailored to the participants’ needs. Purchased assetsand the savings match must be planned for so thatthey can be excluded in the calculation of benefitlimits for these special populations. Georgia hasintroduced legislation to address this problem for state benefit programs, and federal IDA savingsmatches are not counted as an asset for any federalbenefit programs.

World Institute on Disability (WID) is a nonprofitpublic policy center dedicated to the promotion ofindependence and full inclusion in society of peoplewith disabilities.

WID’s Access to Assets (ATA) program providestraining and technical assistance to asset building and disability organizations seeking to improve theinclusion of people with disabilities in povertyreduction programs. In addition, ATA providesinformation and referral services to individuals with disabilities and conducts federal and state policy analysis on related issues. For more informationon ATA’s work with IDA programs, visit their Web site at www.wid.org. Other resources include theCorporation for Enterprise Development: www.cfed.org, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta:www.unitedwayatlanta.org and Assets forIndependence: www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding. l

IDAs have answeredthe question: “Canpoor people save?”with a resounding

YES!

Janet M. Jordan is the HomeBuyer Education Coordinatorfor the Georgia Housing andFinance Authority’s HousingCounseling Program,administered by theDepartment of CommunityAffairs (DCA). She is aNational Foundation forCredit Counseling (NFCC)certified credit counselor, acertified housing counselorand has completed theUnited Way of America/Corporation For EnterpriseDevelopment (CFED) trainingin Individual DevelopmentAccount design andimplementation. In additionto managing training andfinancial support for astatewide network of non-profit agencies to providehome buyer education,Jordan provides training forhousing counselingcertification and offerstechnical assistance forcollaborations seeking todesign IDA programs.

www.gcdd.org 17

Learn more about IDAs and the EITC in “Searching for the American Dream” on page 22.

Positive contributions to thedisability community werecelebrated July 26 during the

annual Making a Difference AwardsCeremony of the Governor’s Councilon Developmental Disabilities.

The festive occasion, hosted by GCDD ExecutiveDirector Eric Jacobson, honored advocates, legislators,media professionals and council members whose workhelped improve the lives of Georgians with disabilitiesand featured a live performance by pianist DavidTrivett (see sidebar, page 24), as well as a short videothat highlighted the activities at this year’s DisabilityDay at the Capitol.

“The Council could not be so successful withoutsome of the individuals we will be recognizing heretonight,” Jacobson said. “GCDD finds it important andnecessary to acknowledge their commitment andcontributions, and we are happy to do so eachsummer during this event.”

GCDD Chair Tom Seegmueller agreed. “As wecelebrate and give honor tonight to people andorganizations, let us be reminded there is no end towhat can be accomplished if individuals, family mem-bers, providers, advocates and state agencies worktogether as equal partners to create change,” he said.

LEGISLATIVE AWARDSGCDD honored both a Georgia state senator and

state representative during the ceremony. “SenatorRenee Unterman (R-Loganville) has supported theUnlock the Waiting List! campaign and has carried theinterests of the community of people with develop-mental disabilities in her role as vice-chairperson ofthe Health and Human Services Committee, and onSenate Appropriations. With this legislative advocacyaward, we gratefully acknowledge Senator Unterman’ssupport of the Unlock the Waiting List! campaign,”explained GCDD Deputy Director Pat Nobbie.

Though Unterman was unable to attend theceremony, she was touched by the award. “It’s very

humbling. I know what it’s like to be a mother with achild with special needs.

“Disability issues have always been important.I’ve been a nurse and social worker through my career,and I know what a difficult time people withdisabilities have. Unfortunately, in the legislature, allthe money is in one pot, so it puts special needsagainst roads. It’s a balancing act,” she said.

Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Carrollton) was alsorecognized for supporting another important disabilityissue – service animals. H.B. 366 was introduced toprovide service animal trainers the same access topublic spaces as people with disabilities whoemployed the dogs, so the animals could be trainedproperly. GCDD Advisory Council Member Dawn Alfordpresented the award.

“HB 366 started out as a very simple piece oflegislation. Before the final bell on Day 40 of thesession, HB 366 had 19 actions taken upon it – itended up with the Senate and House both insisting ontheir positions, after which a conference committeewas appointed. The bill finally emerged unscathed,approved in the House at 11:43 PM on Day 40, as thepiece of legislation it started out to be – equal accessfor persons training dogs to assist people withdisabilities. Rep. Tim Bearden was the primary sponsorof this piece of legislation, and for his patience, faithand tenacity, the Governor’s Council on Developmental

“

”

...let us beremindedthere is noend to whatcan beaccomplishedif individuals,familymembers,providers,advocates andstate agencieswork togetheras equalpartners tocreate change.

Dawn Alford, left, praised Rep. Tim Bearden

for his work on HB366.

GCDD HonorsTHOSE WHO Make a Difference

GCDD HonorsTHOSE WHO Make a Difference


Disabilities recognizes and thanks himfor seeing the bill through in itsintended form,” Alford explained.

Bearden, who was unable to attendthe ceremony, was honored to receivethe award. “I can’t take the credit.People really spoke up and did a lot ofhard work to get this bill through.There were a lot of people behind thescenes pushing the envelope in this, like the folks atSoutheast Dog Breeders,” he said. “It was a very goodcause, and something we needed to do in Georgia.”

OUTSTANDING MEDIAPROFESSIONALISM AWARDS

This year, the stories of people with disabilitieswere so well covered that GCDD bestowed threeawards for outstanding media professionalism.

GCDD Public Information Director and Editor inChief of Making a Difference magazine Valerie MeadowsSuber described the excellence of the journalisticoutlets that were recognized. “I had the opportunityto talk with the individuals who will accept tonight’smedia honors. It struck me that without exception,each had very similar reactions upon hearing news ofthe award. It was surprise. Surprise because they con-sidered their response to GCDD’s media outreach to bea simple matter of good, solid journalism. For them,an award was not the least bit expected. Although, weinsist it is well deserved,” she explained.

The first award was bestowed on Alyssa Abkowitz,for her work with Creative Loafing. “I came in contactwith Alyssa when she called me one day to get someinformation on the Katie Beckett Waiver issue. I foundher to be smart, interested in asking the right ques-tions, and responsible when reporting the informationshe collected,” said Nobbie, who presented the award.

“I thank the council for this wonderful honor,”Abkowitz said. I’ve always liked to look for the unique

and different stories outthere that aren’t covered. I look at the stories I writeas just doing my job, so it was nice to be honored fordoing my job.”

The second media outlet to be honored was theWaycross Journal Herald. Deirdre O’Brien, president of the ARC of Georgia, explained why the newspaper wasreceiving the award. “I know enough about the mediabusiness to know when breaking news occurs, allother news coverage takes a back seat. But somethingdifferent happened in Waycross when a devastatingbrush fire erupted this spring. It would not have beena shift in industry standard to commit all resources tothat huge fire,” she said.

Despite the fire, the Waycross Journal Herald stillcovered GCDD’s media roundtable and public briefing,which helps GCDD connect with families and commun-ities across the state. “We honor the Waycross JournalHerald for setting a new standard,” O’Brien said.

Myra Thrift, city editor and family page editor forthe Waycross newspaper accepted the award. “We werefloored. It was a major event, and we have a lot ofpeople here with disabilities. We want to do what’sbest for the community. That’s just part of our job,”she explained.

The final media professionalism award wasgranted to Georgia Trend magazine for two articles it published recently.

Jane Grillo, one of the members of GCDD’s firstOrganizing Institute, presented the award. “Since ourson Joey was born and diagnosed with cerebral palsy,I have learned how to advocate for important issuesthrough the media. I have witnessed firsthand howimportant media coverage of the disability communitycan be.

“I look at the stories I write as just doing my job, so it was nice to

be honored for doing my job.”

Top Photo: Bruce Lindemannaccepts the Cunningham award

from Eric Jacobson. Bottom Photo: Nicole Acevedo

Georgia Trend, theWaycross Journal Heraldand Creative Loafing allincluded articles ondisability this year.

www.gcdd.org 19

FEATURE

“Without a doubt two articles published by Georgia Trend this pastyear have accomplished a great deal. “True Believers,” published in theFebruary issue, by my husband, Jerry Grillo, relates the story of threegrassroots advocates. The other story, “Breaking Down the LastBarriers,” published in June, written by Michelle Cohen Marill, is acomprehensive look at employment,” she said.

Georgia Trend Editor Susan Percy accepted on behalf of themagazine. “We’re absolutely delighted, and frankly it’s a very specialaward. That people thought we hit the mark with the story was verygratifying. One of our top editors, Jerry Grillo, has a child with specialneeds. He helped open our eyes to the fact there are some areas thatdon’t get enough attention. We’re in a good position to cover thoseareas,” she said.

ADVOCATE OF THE YEARSelf-advocates often make the most impact on legislators, and this

year’s Advocate of the Year recipient spent a lot of time at the Capitolon behalf of herself and others with disabilities.

GCDD Governance Committee Chairperson Tameeka Hunter bestowedthe award. “Paulette Acevedo represents the next generation of advo-cates for people with developmental disabilities. She initially becameinvolved in supporting the Unlock the Waiting List! campaign duringthe 2006 session and proved to be a valuable asset in getting volunteerinvolvement. She was able to engage fellow GSU students to come tothe Capitol to complete surveys with legislators. Paulette recruited 35volunteers who worked over 265 hours for the Unlock campaign.

“Paulette has an attitude of hard work and enthusiasm, and shehas a love for learning. Paulette’s dedication to statewide advocacyefforts makes her a very deserving recipient of this award,” Hunter said.

Acevedo, who is interning in Washington, D.C., was unable toattend the ceremony, but her sisters, Nicole and Hane Acevedo,accepted the award on her behalf.

CARL ANTHONY CUNNINGHAM AWARD

“Three years ago, GCDD added an award that recognizes one of itsown for outstanding contributions during the year. The award is namedafter Carl Cunningham, who exhibited all the traits of leadership,”explained GCDD Executive Director Jacobson.

“Tonight we present the C. Anthony Cunningham Leadership Awardto Bruce Lindemann, chair of the Council’s finance committee,” revealedChairperson Seegmueller.

Lindemann worked hard this year, devising a way for people tobetter understand GCDD’s financial data; helping the staff developfinancial policies; and, supporting the staff and council during therecent audit.

Lindemann, whose daughter has developmental disabilities, wassurprised to receive the award. “I did what I was asked to do. That’ssomething I try to do every day – I try to relate to audiences andeffectively communicate my message,” he said. l

Living and Working Together: A Profile of PianistDavid Trivett

By Valerie Meadows Suber

“Will you please join me in welcoming David Trivett!”

The Governor’s Council On DevelopmentalDisabilities’ (GCDD) Individual and FamilySupport Director Dottie Adams introduced the evening’s musical interlude to a gatheringof about 100 guests at the annual Making ADifference Awards ceremony held at theAtlanta Downtown Renaissance Hotel in July. Warm applause ushered in Atlanta-bornpianist David Trivett’s masterful performance.His flowing renditions of Georgia On My Mindand Midnight Train To Georgia aptly punctuatedthe program’s “State of Georgia” theme.

Trivett’s repertoire is such that he canchange to new musical compositions asquickly as song titles are called out, as wellas play whatever he hears. He is all tooobliging when asked to provide a sampling ofhis music, “What would you like me to play?”Do you want to hear Clowns or People WhoNeed People or church music like AmazingGrace?” he asks.

Trivett, now 51, was a child prodigy. At the age of six, he began to play the pianonaturally by ear, which prompted his mom Betty Trivett, a music teacher, to start hisformal lessons. In the sixth grade at Dunaire

GCDD Awards continued from page 19

Betty and David Trivett


Elementary School in Dekalb County, heprovided musical accompaniment duringschool events. At Lithonia High School, hewas the choir’s pianist, and the first at theschool to win regional competitions in piano.

Struck by his undeniable talent, Trivett’smother coached him on technique, “David was so interested in playing that I encouragedhim to do it right. I wanted him to be highlytrained and skilled,” she explained. It worked.After years of study under a series of devotedpianists, he is a virtuoso with a penchant forperformance.

In 1978 Trivett moved to southernMississippi where he lived for 23 years as he traveled throughout the United States,playing piano for The Miracles, a choir madeup of individuals with disabilities. The groupperformed for audiences at The Hour of Power,the 700 Club and the Kennedy Center forPerforming Arts in Washington, DC. Hefrequently soloed. Eventually Trivett made his home in New Orleans until he returned toAtlanta two years ago when Hurricane Katrinadisplaced him. He performs locally atchurches and special events.

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) was notcommonly understood when Trivett wasgrowing up, so his AS diagnosis came late inlife. AS is considered to be a neurobiological“autism-like” disorder marked by significantdeficiencies encompassing impairment insocial, occupational and communicationbehaviors often resulting in stereotypes andgross misdiagnosis. A person with AS can befound to also have exceptional skills ortalents in a particular area. “David has donewell with his music, and it is his one realtalent, but had we known earlier about theAsperger’s, we could have understood how to teach him to function better in other areas where he still needs supports,” BettyTrivett said. In spite of the deft manipulationof his fingers across piano keys, David Trivetthas difficulty negotiating a door key into its keyhole. Although quite conversant, long-term friendships with peers remainelusive, and he requires help with activitiessuch as cooking.

What David and Betty Trivett want mostis for him to continue to perform and developand to study under an experienced pianoinstructor who will work with his considerablemusic abilities while understanding his

disabilities. He currently waits for a Medicaidwaiver, which will allow him to once againlive independently while pursuing his goals.

The night in July was GCDD’s opportunity to honor the contributions of legislators, media professionals and disability advocates. It was the time for awards, recognition andappreciation. Perhaps inclusion of Trivett’sinterpretation of the official state song wouldhave particularly pleased another pianist witha disability, the singer who popularizedGeorgia On My Mind, the late Ray Charles. Ever the enthusiast, Trivett’s encore was amedley of old standards, theme songs fromBroadway hits and other popular favorites,following the ceremony.

The richness of David Trivett’s music set the right tone for the occasion; touched a chord in the audience and offered a finalethat brought the crowd to its feet in lovingapproval, eliciting customary yelps, whistlesand the added gratitude of a sustainedovation. “Bravo, David!” l

“”

David was sointerested inplaying that I encouragedhim to do itright. I wantedhim to behighly trainedand skilled.

Trivett played for a crowd of about 100.

www.gcdd.org 21


By Valerie Smith Buxton

12

3

Like other Americans, peoplewith disabilities dream ofliving in a home of their

choice, having a fulfilling careerand socializing with friends.

Now achieving the American dream can be areality for Georgians with disabilities thanks to anew initiative being undertaken by the NationalDisability Institute, a nonprofit organization thatfocuses on the advancement of the employmentand economic status of Americans withdisabilities; and Credit-Able, Georgia’s alternativefinancing program for assistive technology. Theprogram is funded through the Governor’s Councilon Developmental Disabilities.

“From GCDD’s perspective, this is THE projectwe’ve been searching for that ties all our ‘real’areas (real homes, real careers, real learning, realsupports and real influence) together. People with disabilities predominantly live in a state ofpoverty. If we address poverty from differentpoints, we can really increase opportunities forpeople with disabilities to be contributingmembers of their communities,” explained GCDDExecutive Director Eric Jacobson.

“Asset building helps people with their self-concept and status in the community,improves choices in where they live and the social opportunities they may have. These are allopportunities that make up the American Dream.

You have more control over your life than you would being dependent on the government as your source of major income,” explainedNational Disability Institute Executive DirectorMichael Morris.

The project, called, “the Asset Alliance ofGeorgia,” has three goals:

1.Develop an agenda focusing on three keypublic policy areas: income preservation,asset accumulation and financial education.

2.Build the capacity of organizations that arecurrently helping low income workers advancetheir economic status to become moreinclusive of individuals with disabilities.

3.Provide continuing education for individualswith disabilities around issues related tosavings and asset development, whileeducating financial institutions and IndividualDevelopment Account (IDA) providers aboutthe most effective strategies to reach andserve people with disabilities.

The brain child of Morris and Jackie Wilks-Weathers (pictured above), director of Credit-Able,the Asset Alliance of Georgia brings nonprofit,private and governmental agencies together tohelp people with disabilities develop assets and

By Valerie Smith Buxton

“If we ADDRESS POVERTY from different points,we can really INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES forpeople with disabilities to be CONTRIBUTINGMEMBERS of their communities.”

Searching forTHEAmerican Dream

Searching forTHEAmerican Dream

www.gcdd.org 23

rise out of poverty, allowing them to save money to purchase a home, acquire assistivetechnology, further their education or start their own business.

“There are all these generic organizationsthat have the ability to help people advancewhere they are economically, but they’re notworking together. We want to build the capacityof these organizations to be more inclusive topeople with disabilities,” Wilks-Weathers said.“How can we collectively support people?”

Morris, who helped Florida set up a similarprogram two years ago, suggested Georgia startwith a statewide asset development summit. Thefirst planning committee meeting to arrange theGeorgia summit drew more than 35 people fromover 20 nonprofit, governmental and privateorganizations.

He explained the need for a statewide summit on the issue. “People focused on assetbuilding, like financial institutions, governmentsand community organizations know little abouthow to reach people with disabilities and helpthem get out of poverty. People with disabilities,providers and agencies don’t know how to create partnerships to help advance their self-sufficiency,” Morris said.

A summit would bring together thesedifferent groups so they could learn about each other and determine how they could worktogether to better serve the needs of people with disabilities who live in poverty. The grouphopes to host the summit next spring or summer.

INCOME PRESERVATION Someassistance efforts are already in the works. John Stubbs, the Atlanta territory manager for Stakeholder Partnerships Education andCommunications for the Wage and Investment

Division of the Internal Revenue Service oversees the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance(VITA) program in Georgia. This program offersfree tax assistance forpeople with low tomoderate incomes.

VITA sites through-out Georgia are open from January throughApril, and all of them willhelp people withdisabilities prepare theirtaxes. However, this yearStubbs hopes to add twosites that specificallyserve the disabilitycommunity. “People with disabilities have veryunique tax needs. One of their concerns is theimpact their income could have on theirbenefits. This is an underserved population myorganization is trying to reach,” Stubbs said.

Carter Elliott, manager of the ProsperityCampaign, which is a part of the Atlanta FoodBank, is working with Stubbs to create the twodisability sites. “Our first step at the VITA sites is to determine that everyone is receiving theeconomic supports they’re eligible for. The twobiggest supports are the Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) and food stamps. We have software to helpscreen people for various benefits,” he explained.

Stubbs describes the EITC as the largestpoverty-fighting tool in the U.S., but not every-one knows about the credit or takes advantage ofit. The VITA sites would help change that.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) has launched aninquiry into why more Americans are not takingadvantage of the EITC. He estimates in his districtalone, more than 20,000 residents are eligible forthe credit, but don’t apply for it.

“People withdisabilities have veryunique tax needs. Oneof their concerns isthe impact theirincome could have on their benefits.”

FEATURE

“Poor and moderate income families need allthe help they can get today. That is why we mustmake sure that we place every possible tool in thehands of mothers and fathers who are strugglingto support their families. I want to do what I canto make a difference in their lives,” Lewis said.

In tax year 2007, low income families couldqualify for between $428 and $4716 in EITC,depending on income and number of children,lowering their federal tax liability, which couldpossibly result in a tax refund.

Another way to help preserve income forworking Georgians with disabilities is throughbenefits navigation, which helps people withdisabilities understand the impact working canpotentially have on their government benefits.

Curtis Rogers is the co-director of theBenefits Navigator program in Georgia. “When aperson gets SSI (Supplemental Security Income),Medicaid or assistance through waiver programs,they can only have $2000 in their checking orsavings account. To meet that financialrequirement for assistance makes it hard to savefor a home, car or anything an average personwithout a disability would save for,” he explained.

“I help people with disabilities understandthe rules and give them accurate informationabout what they can and can’t have in terms ofresources so they can make informed decisions

SteeringCommitteeParticipants:Atlanta Micro Fund • Bobby Dodd Institute •Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust FundCommission • Credit-Able • CU of Georgia •FDIC • Georgia Department of CommunityAffairs • Georgia Department of Labor/Tools forLife • Georgia Consortium for Personal FinancialLiteracy • Georgia Office of DevelopmentalDisabilities • Georgia Microenterprise Network •Goodwill of North Georgia • Governor’s Councilon Developmental Disabilities • IRS • IRS/SPEC• National Disability Institute • Partnerships forSuccess • Prosperity Campaign – AtlantaCommunity Food Bank • ReynoldstownRevitalization Corp. • Shepherd Center •Statewide Independent Living Council • SocialSecurity • SunTrust Bank • Tommy Nobis Center

“...we must make sure that weplace every possible tool in thehands of mothers and fathers who are struggling to support their families.”


AMERICAN DREAM

how to proceed with work,” he said.One improvement in this area is the Medicaid

Buy In program that was passed by the Georgialegislature this year, according to Rogers. Thisprogram would allow working people withdisabilities who make more than the allowed capof $2000 to pay a small premium to Medicaid andbe able to keep their Medicaid services.

Rogers sees his organization fitting well withthe Asset Alliance of Georgia. “There are a lot ofrules that can keep a person stuck in one placefor a long time, if you don’t know how to use therules. I would like to see people with disabilitiesuse the system to move forward, instead of thesystem holding them in one spot,” he said.

ASSET ACCUMULATION IndividualDevelopment Account (IDA) providers are alreadyestablished throughout the country to help peoplerise out of poverty. IDAs allow people to save forthree purposes: to buy a home, start a business orcontinue their education. Every dollar a personsaves is matched by federal and private dollars.Georgia has nine organizations throughout thestate that administer IDA accounts, which matchup to a ratio of 5:1, depending on what thepeople are saving for and where they live.

During his work in Florida, Morris negotiatedwith IDA providers to set aside some funds forpeople with disabilities who are working andwould qualify, and he hopes to continue that workin Georgia. “It’s another incentive for people towork but also to save and build assets,” he said.

Elliott suggested linking the VITA sites withthe IDA providers, so taxpayers with disabilitieswho are receiving a tax refund could put itimmediately into an IDA account.

People with disabilities who are interested instarting their own business immediately can turnto Georgia’s Microenterprise Network for businessloans and information. Grace Fricks is thepresident and CEO of Appalachian Community

Enterprises, a loan program for microenterprisesin north Georgia.

“A microenterprise is defined as a businesswith five or fewer employees that can generallystart up for $35,000 or less,” Fricks said.

Fricks has loaned money to a number ofpeople with disabilities to help them launch theirbusinesses. Some just want a little extra money,while others have defined business plans andwant to build wealth.

“We’ve got a gentleman on SSDI (SocialSecurity Disability Income) who wants to keep hisincome at a certain level. He borrows from us tobuy items wholesale, then sells the items at a fleamarket. He pays us back the loan; the rest isincome to him. Then he’ll reborrow from us. He’sbeen our customer for three years,” she said.While this customer has an informal business,Appalachian Community Enterprises also fundsmore formal new businesses, such as a cleaningbusiness a woman in Toccoa started with the helpof her service provider and a souvenir shop twowomen opened in Helen.

Fricks’ organization offers business planningcourses through North Georgia College and StateUniversity twice a year and can refer theircustomers to other small business developmentcenters for support.

She also suggests people with disabilities whowish to start their own business start with theirstate Department of Labor Vocational Rehabilitation(VR) counselor. “If people want towork for themselves, they can applyfor what’s called a self-employmentplan. They then work with a VRcounselor who helps themdetermine whether self-employment is appropriate forthem and hook them up with a provider tohelp them create a

“It’s another incentive for peopleto work but also to save andbuild assets.”

business plan,” she said. In some cases, VR mayeven help fund the business start up.

People with disabilities can also build assetsthrough loan guarantees from Credit-Able. Fundedthrough the Georgia Department of Labor’s Tools forLife program, Credit-Able helps negotiate andguarantee loans for people with disabilities toacquire assistive technology devices, as well as topay for home and vehicle modifications.

Joy Kniskern, assistive technology servicedirector at the Department of Labor, said, “Assistivetechnology helps people become more included intheir communities, education, jobs and leisureactivities.”

Kniskern’s department is tasked with helpingGeorgians acquire assistive devices through alter-native financing programs, such as Credit-Able. Thedepartment funds Credit-Able through a federal grantand matching funds from public and private sources.

FINANCIAL EDUCATION People whocurrently participate in IDA programs often mustcomplete financial education courses as part of theprocess. The Georgia Microenterprise Network alsooffers financial classes.

One of the goals of the Asset Alliance ofGeorgia is to connect people with disabilities toadditional financial education opportunities.

A potential way to do that would be to offerinformation and registration for financial classes atthe VITA sites.

Pat Puckett, executive director of the StatewideIndependent Living Council of Georgia attended thefirst planning meeting.

“There are eight centers for independent livingacross the state. They could get involved with the

financial literacy training for sure. We certainly can help

with access to folks

who need assistance and who are interested indeveloping their assets and self-employment, she said.

“So much of why people with disabilities havebeen unable to get market rate loans is their historyof not having ANY credit,” she said. Financialliteracy programs would let people know how toestablish credit in order to qualify for loans, as wellas learn how to budget and save money.

Wilks-Weathers said the project is consideringrolling out the FDIC’s Money Smart programs. “Wewant to provide free financial literacy courses.Everyone benefits from ongoing financial education,”she said.

LOOKING AHEAD Morris and Wilks-Weathers have identified a number of organizationswithin Georgia that help people with low incomesbuild assets, but noted the organizations are notcurrently working in conjunction with each other.They hope to educate these organizations on howthey can better reach people with disabilities, whoare three times more likely to live in poverty thanpeople without disabilities.

Additionally, the project hopes to produce an“Asset Development Tool Kit” that communitygroups, state agencies and nonprofits can use tohelp people with disabilities and their families riseout of poverty.

Ultimately, project organizers want to improvethe economic status of people with disabilitiesthrough increased use of work incentives and assetbuilding strategies and improved knowledge aboutbudget and credit management.

The organizations involved in the steeringcommittee are hopeful that their efforts will have apositive impact on the quality of life for individualswith disabilities. This is the first time many of theorganizations have worked together.

GCDD’s Eric Jacobson said, “There’s an incredible excitement and energy surrounding thisproject. Bringing in new players and folks wehaven’t worked with in the past is very exciting to us.” For more information about the project,contact Jackie Wilks-Weathers of Credit-Able at770.922.6790. l

FEATURE

“

”

So muchof why people

with disabilities

have beenunableto get marketrate loansis their historyof not having

ANY credit.

26

www.gcdd.org 27

AROUND GCDD

RILEY BUCKMASTER of Thomaston does notreceive services in the community at this time. “I’m 32 years old and I’m living in a nursing homebecause I didn’t know about and have access toservices. I’m concerned about how people aretreated in institutions and how hard it is to getservices in the community. I want out and want tohelp others get out,” Buckmaster, who has cerebralpalsy, said.

Buckmaster hopes his participation on GCDD will make accessing services easier for people withdisabilities, and he has some definite ideas on howto do that. “I think applications should be shorterand easier to understand,” he said.

Vice President of People First of Georgia GLEN FRIEDMAN of Stone Mountain hopes hisparticipation on GCDD will bring the two organ-izations closer together. “I think that GCDD andPeople First could both learn from one another,” he said.

Friedman lived in a West Georgia institutionfrom the 1950s to the 1970s and wants to helpothers with developmental disabilities avoid thatexperience. “I want people with disabilities to beable to live independently in the community, withthe supports and services they need, and I do notwant people with disabilities to live in institutionsor nursing homes. I think it is important to helppeople with disabilities by supporting self-advocacy,” he said.

Partners in Policymaking graduate DAVIDGLASS of Atlanta has a young daughter who hasDown syndrome, and he wants to assure her future isbright. “Old attitudes and authority are the greatestbarriers facing individuals with disabilities. People

with disabilitiesneed to feelthey have acompellingfuture and theability to

capitalize on opportunities for enhancing their ownpersonal and professional growth, as well as theopportunity for residential, employment andrecreational experiences in life,” he said.

“To change perceptions and conventionalthinking, I think a new message should be focusedon and delivered to a cross-section of non-disabilitygroups and interests in the community and couchedin a way that does not empower the view ofindividuals with disabilities as deficient, unable,needy, a drain on resources, etc.”

As a father of a son with Down syndrome, NICK HARRIS of Fayette has been active in thedisability community, developing programs to helpparents better understand the special educationsystem and recreational opportunities for childrenwith disabilities.

Harris wanted to join GCDD for a specificreason. “I want to be part of Georgia’s team tofacilitate the achievement of people withdisabilities’ maximum, individual potential forindependence, productivity and integration with the community in which they live,” he said.

Emergency physician MADELEINE PONDER ofTyrone received a crash course on disability whenher child was diagnosed with significantdevelopmental delays. “Through training programs...I have learned an enormous amount of informationon the issues that affect the disability community. Ihave identified several issues that I wish to focus on

more, including early identification and intervention,developing a more user-friendly system to aidfamilies with disabilities, providing a framework forfamilies to network within a community, assistingpeople with disabilities with inclusion issues andcommunity outreach,” she said.

“I am very interested in helping advance theconcerns and issues of the disability community toimprove not only the life of my daughter, but thelives of all Georgians with disabilities.” l

“Old attitudes andauthority are the greatestbarriers facing individuals

with disabilities.”

Around GCDD continued from page 5

Glen Friedman

David Glass and his daughter

“I am very interestedin helping advance the concerns andissues of the disabilitycommunity...”

Madeleine Ponder

“”

I think it isimportantTO helppeople withdisabilities bysupportingself-advocacy.

I n the last column, I related how I believed Mia had sleep apnea, andwe needed to do something about

it to interrupt the sleeping-on-the-job-gaining-more-weight-having-more-trouble-sleeping-at-night-cycle. Iasked for suggestions at the end ofthe article, and I got so many phonecalls, e-mails and even snail mail,lending emotional support,suggestions on how to get Mia to thegym, Weight Watchers, nutrition classetc…it was so heartwarming to know that thegreater community not only reads the magazine,but takes such an interest in our quest for betterhealth. Thank you everyone!

So, we did in fact have the sleep study, which Mia reluctantly participated in. She had to be talked out of the car by the sleep studytechnician, who was wonderful and patient. We got her all wired up, (took a Polaroid of her with all the sensors on, which she’ll show you if you ask her), lights off at 11 PM, and wewere off. Between midnight and 5 AM, we werewoken up 4 times by the sleep study staff becauseMia’s oxygen levels had dropped so low. Withouteven reading the data, which they knew wouldconfirm it, Mia was given a diagnosis of severesleep apnea.

About a month later, we went back to getfitted for a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(CPAP) machine mask. And then we scheduledanother night at the sleep center, this time withthe breathing machine. She doesn’t like the maskmuch either, but the technician was kind andsupportive, and we were put to bed for the night.She slept all night. She even had REM sleep

according to the data. We were woken up at 6 AM,

sent home, and we went back to bed. I got up to get

someone to work, and all of a sudden, at 7:30AM, Mia showed up in the kitchen, showered,

dressed, ready to go, asking me, “What are wegoing to do now?”

I just looked at her thinking, “I have no ideawhat we are going to do now, I haven’t seen youbefore noon in a year!” But there she was readyto go, so we went and did something. She didn’tnap the entire day until just before dinner. Sleepreally works!

So now we have a machine, and it is astruggle at home with me to get her to use it, but we’re getting there. The other night she tookit off during the night, which I discovered at 4:30AM when I got up to check on her. She woke up,asking me if I was mad at her. I told her yes, Iwas mad, but I just went back to bed. It hadbeen my second night in a row of waking up every couple hours to make sure she still had the mask on, and I was tired. But when I got up at 6 AM to get ready for work, I heard themachine from down the hall. When I looked in,there she was sound asleep in the mask, machinegoing. She had put it back on herself! Amazing tome since I hadn’t yet shown her how to activatethe CPAP! So I am hoping that when she starts tofeel better on a regular basis, she will really takeownership of the machine, and it will be her bestfriend, like so many of the people who contactedme said.

She joined the gym. And she has a jobinterview on Thursday! Wish her luck! Things are looking up! l

MIA’S SPACE

Mia Gets Some SleepBy Patricia Nobbie, Ph.D., Mia’s Mom

ZZ Z

Z“I have no idea what we

are going to do now, I

haven’t seen you beforenoon in a year!”

After anuncomfortablenight, Mia wasdiagnosed withsevere sleep apnea.


2008

2007OCTOBERNational Disability Employ-ment Awareness Month

October 24-26Employment for All -TogetherGAPSE: The Network on EmploymentRamada Plaza HotelMacon, GA

October 24-27National Association for the Dually DiagnosedAnnual ConferenceAtlanta Renaissance HotelAtlanta, Georgiawww.thenadd.org

October 25-26Georgia Independent LivingNetwork MeetingVoice: 770-270-6860Toll Free: 888-288-9780TTY: Use GA Relay, 711www.silcga.org

October 27Fun Run and Roll Fall FestivalSponsored by Atlanta ADAPTDecatur Recreation Center12 PM • Decatur, GA 678-479-0687 [email protected]

October 27FOCUS Day at ZooAtlanta www.focus-ga.org

October 29Town Hall Meeting: School Transition to Adult SupportsDecatur, GAwww.unlockthewaitinglists.com/dekalb.pdf

NOVEMBERNovember 5Town Hall Meeting: School Transition to Adult SupportsSavannah, GA912-272-2774

November 29Town Hall Meeting: School Transition to Adult SupportsLawrenceville, GA770-736-1783

DECEMBERDecember 3Town Hall Meeting: School Transition to Adult SupportsMacon GA478-765-8716

December 7-8World of Possibilities Expo:disABILITIES, Healthy Agingand Independent Living Richmond, VA410-549-5707mona@caringcommunities.orgexpo.caringcommunities.org

December 12Department of HumanResources Board Meetingwww.dhr.georgia.gov

December 13Department of CommunityHealth Board Meetingwww.dch.georgia.gov

JANUARYJanuary 7Town Hall Meeting: School Transition to Adult SupportsAthens, GA706-788-3428

January 8Town Hall Meeting: School Transition to Adult SupportsNorth Fulton, GA770-998-1703

January 14-15Georgia Independent Living Network MeetingAtlanta, GAVoice: 770-270-6860Toll Free: 888-288-9780TTY: Use GA Relay, 711www.silcga.org

www.gcdd.org 29

CALENDAR


RESOURCES

pg. 8 pg.18 pg. 22pg. 14

Below, please find furtherresources of informationrelated to the articles inthis edition of Making aDifference magazine.

Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)www.gcdd.org 404-657-2126 or 888-275-4233 (ASK-GCDD)

State GovernmentDepartment of Community AffairsGeorgia Housing Searchwww.georgiahousingsearch.org877-428-8844

Department of Laborwww.dol.state.ga.us

General Informationwww.georgia.gov

Georgia General Assemblywww.legis.state.ga.us/

Georgia House ofRepresentativeswww.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/house/index.htm

Georgia Senatewww.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/senate/index.htm

Georgia Governor’s Officewww.gov.state.ga.us/404-656-1776

Georgia Lieutenant Governor’s Officewww.ltgov.georgia.gov/02/ltgov/home/0,2214,2199618,00.html404-656-5030

American DreamProjectCredit-Ablewww.credit-able.org770-922-6790

National Disability Institutewww.ndi-inc.org202-296-2040

IRS Tax Assistancewww.irs.gov

Benefits NavigationAssistance404-350-7598

Statewide IndependentLiving Councilwww.silcga.org

Making A DifferenceDiscovery DayProject SearchIn metro-Atlanta -Briggs & Associateswww.briggs&associates.org770-993-4559

In Georgia – Dottie Adams at [email protected]

The Edge Connectionwww.theedgeconnection.com

Employment First Georgiawww.EmploymentFirstGeorgia.org

Job AccommodationNetworkwww.jan.wvu.edu

Emerging Leaders Programwww.emerging-leaders.com

National Business andDisability CouncilLana Smart, EmergingLeaders Program Directorwww.nbdc.com

Darius Goes WestLogan SmalleyDirector of DGWCell: 706-255-0034

Darius WeemsCell: 706-254-7572

Barbara SmalleyLogan’s mom and the point personfor “Learn About it” school programHome: 706-613-7237Cell: [email protected]

Mark JohnsonDirector of AdvocacyShepherd [email protected] is interviewed in the film.

Jenny MandersDisability StudiesCoordinatorInstitute on HumanDevelopment and Disability (UGA)706-542-2418Straight Talk

Liz [email protected]

Anthony Fuller678-945-77352099 Mulkey Road SWMarietta, GA 30008

pg. 14 pg. 22pg. 8 pg.18

www.gcdd.org 31

SUPPORTING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY

If you are interested in being a sponsor for

Making a Difference magazine, please call Valerie Buxton

@ 770-578-9765

Thanks toOUR SPONSORSfor their Support.

ATL-DHR-SpecialNeeds-1/2 3/14/03 4:57 PM Page 1

Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities2 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 26-246Atlanta, GA 30303-3142404-657-2126, www.gcdd.org

Address Service Requested

The quarterly magazine of the GeorgiaGovernor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities

Volume 8, Issue 3 • Fall 2007

GEORGIA GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Real Homes. Real Careers. Real Learning. Real Influence. Real Supports.

2007Discovery DayDiscovery Day

“Interesting and

insightful agenda.”

- MATTHEW BOBAR, SOUTHERN COMPANY

“All speakers were informativeand useful. My first time atthe meeting and everything

was powerful.”

- DOUGLAS BLAKNEY, COMPLAINT SYSTEMCOORDINATOR - GA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

“The information shared today –

specifically toolsavailable to employers – was very helpful.”

- SLOANE EVANS, SOUTHERN COMPANY

“I really enjoyed theDiscovery Day, learned a lotand made good contacts.”- TERESA EGGLESTON, PROGRAM MANAGER -DOL/BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM

“”

My dream for my son Tyler is that once he graduatesfrom high school, he will have a “Real Career,” an

opportunity to be a productive, tax paying member of his

community. Part of that dream is that there will be businesses

that recognize his talents and do not close the

door on that employment opportunity just because he

has a disability. - TOM SEEGMUELLER, GCDD CHAIR

making a difference magazine || fall 2007

Documents

real influence

real supports

real learning

georgia governors council

new school program

new job opportunities

peoplewith disabilities

workerswith disabilities