Accessible Audio for Making A Difference

When the University of Georgia (UGA) launched Destination Dawgs in January 2017, the vision was clear: create a fully inclusive program where students with intellectual disabilities could learn, grow, and thrive alongside their peers. What began as an idea from a 2014 exploratory grant has since become a nationally recognized program that places students at the heart of campus life.

Unlike some programs that offer separate classes, Destination Dawgs was built to be fully integrated. Staff explained that this was a very intentional choice: “Destination Dawgs is unique in that we do not offer any segregated or specialized classes that are just for IPSE [Inclusive Post Secondary-Education] students. We were intentional about not reinforcing beliefs that students with intellectual disabilities should be in separate classes.” Instead, students enroll in regular UGA courses, join clubs, cheer on the Bulldogs at game days in Athens, and take part in internships that help them prepare for meaningful careers. From the start, UGA students themselves supported this vision, even passing a Student Government resolution in 2015 to welcome peers with intellectual disabilities into the Bulldawg Nation.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

Joy is powerful. It helps us stay strong, connected, and hopeful. As the holiday season approaches, we’re celebrating the moments that brought smiles and strength this year. We asked several self-advocates from Uniting for Change to share what has brought them joy in their lives in 2025. For each person we asked:

• What brings you joy?
• What is something you are grateful for or that has brought you joy this year?
• What are some good surprises that happened to you this year? 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

UnlockGA is a group of people and organizations working together to make Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) easier to get for people with disabilities and their families. The group looks for problems in the system and pushes for changes that help people who need these services live better lives.

HCBS, or Home and Community-Based Services, are personalized services provided in a person's home or community instead of an institution. 

UnlockGA recently completed its strategic plan on ways to advance and protect HCBS in Georgia. The group worked with its members from across the state to help identify the priorities for 2026. 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

As we look back on the year, we know that you and others are making communities better every day for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities (I/DD). So, GCDD decided to find out what’s working across Georgia in your town. 

We used a survey to ask two questions:

• What’s going well in your community?
• How has it made the town better for people with I/DD and the local community?  

In this article, read some of the stories that have been shared from across the state. And it’s not too late to share yours!

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

In Georgia, a training program is helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities become leaders in their communities. My Voice. My Participation. My Board. is a program that started in 2014, and has trained 85 Georgians to serve on boards and advisory councils across the state.

The program was created to solve a problem. State agencies and nonprofit organizations were making decisions about people with disabilities, but people with disabilities weren't part of those conversations. When the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) tried to form an advisory council, they realized they needed self-advocates at the table. That's when a rep from DBHDD reached out to the Center for Leadership in Disability to create a solution.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

Jacquelyn Daniel, founder of ConnectAbility in Dahlonega is the 2025 Spirit of Kim Unsung Hero Award Winner! This award celebrates individuals who demonstrate selfless service to Georgia's intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) community. The winner shows the same giving spirit as GCDD's late Office Manager Kim Person. Kim worked for the Council for 19 years and passed away suddenly in July 2023.

The award recognizes individuals who make an impact, often behind the scenes, to advance GCDD's mission of promoting social and policy changes for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Recipients demonstrate the qualities Kim Person herself embodied: selflessness, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to service.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

The National Business Association says that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create two out of every three new jobs in the country. They also make up almost half of all the money and goods that America produces each year. Many organizations support small businesses through funding, connections, and mentorship. But until 2016, none of these groups chose to include business owners who have disabilities.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

Happy Fall! The season of cool breezes, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes is here.

I’m excited to introduce myself as the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (GCDD) new Chief Program Officer. In this role, I’ll be working closely with the GCDD staff and council members to guide the agency’s work and help shape our next five-year plan.

The five-year plan is our roadmap. It lays out what the council members want to see happen with and for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) over the next five years. Every project GCDD does is reflective of this plan.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

During the summer, President Trump provided a plan on how the government should spend (appropriate) its money. Congress is reviewing the plan to decide if it agrees with it or wants to make changes. These changes are called markups. 

There are 12 appropriations subcommittees and committees in Congress. They are debating and marking up appropriation (funding) bills for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget. The funding bills that are most important to the disability community come from the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education committees. These committees are in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

Every election presents an opportunity for people to shape the future of their communities. Voting allows people to lend their voices to improving their city, state, or country. Derek Heard, an Albany native with autism, is developing a voter education campaign. The campaign uplifts the voices of individuals with disabilities and encourages them to exercise their right to vote. Using his two passions – art and activism – he is creating a documentary, Doodling for Democracy. The documentary shares his experience navigating the voting system as a person with a disability. It shows how his mentors and allies supported him.

“[Doodling for Democracy] is about teaching young people why voting is important,” said Heard. “It’s also about how allies teach me how to vote and make choices.”

While in high school, Derek was offered a job stacking clothes hangers. He declined the job offer. He explained that he already had a dream job as a graphic artist. With the help of his mentors, he learned that he was fully capable of pursuing his dreams. He learned that he should not limit himself due to his disability. 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Strategic Plan goals to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Council, charged with creating systems change for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members, will work through various advocacy and capacity building activities to build a more interdependent, self-sufficient, and integrated and included disability community across Georgia.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001GASCDD-03, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.