2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead decision, which was a legal ruling that determined that everyone has the equal right to choose where they live and how they participate in their communities. And for those with disabilities who need support in their day-to-day living, Olmstead established the right to have access to those services. 

In this episode, four guests share their personal and professional knowledge of how Olmstead has prevailed or failed in the last 25 years. The episode features D’Arcy Rob, GCDD executive director, Charlie Miller, GCDD’s policy and advocacy director, Susan Goico, director of the Disability Integration Project at Atlanta Legal Aid, and Tais Keyser, a fierce Georgia mother on a mission to get disability services for her son while helping other parents in similar situations. Host Mara Waldruff guides the story through four chapters — the history of Olmstead, the positive impact it has had over time, the ways in which Olmstead has not come to fruition, and what can be done to spread hope and advocacy to increase its impact on the disability community.

00:30 Introduction: What is the Olmstead decision?

02:20 Chapter 1: The history of Olmstead

13:41 Chapter 2: The positive impact of Olmstead over time

17:43 Georgia’s rate study

22:25 Chapter 3: The ways in which Olmstead has not come to fruition

23:06 The problem with unmet need

31:26 The plight of a mother advocating for services

37:26 Chapter 4: What can be done to increase hope and advocacy?

46:24 Conclusion

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

Inclusive post-secondary education programs, commonly shortened to IPSE, are popping up throughout the country and the state of Georgia. In this episode of Pinpoint, we zoom in on one specific IPSE program, the EXCEL program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. EXCEL stands for Expanding Career, Education and Leadership and has an impressive track record among its graduates, with 92% of them gaining and maintaining meaningful employment. In this episode, we highlight voices of students, graduates, faculty and staff, talking about everything from the impact of internships, post-graduation dream jobs, and the structure that makes the program successful.

Internships and their impact: 1:57
Student spotlight: Itzel 3:40
Student spotlight: Martha: 7:13
Graduate spotlight: Sam: 9:23
Program structure: 14:15
Conclusion: 19:43
Student insight and advice: 22:41

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

It’s a new year, which means a new season for ADVOCACY! The 2024 legislative session is upon us, so GCDD has made sure that this Pinpoint episode has everything you need to know to feel prepared to advocate to your community and legislators. This year, GCDD has three legislative priorities. These include increasing waivers and DSP wages, employment opportunities and fair pay for people with disabilities, and to fully fund inclusive post-secondary education (IPSE) scholarships. In this episode, GCDD turns to its internal talent and subject matter experts, Charlie Miller, Legislative Advocacy Director, and Charlotte Densmore, Public Policy Director, to detail the proposed legislation and to share why each one is so important.

Guests

Charlie Miller, Legislative Advocacy Director

Charlotte Densmore, Public Policy Director

Resources

2024 Advocacy Days calendar and event registration

GCDD full events calendar

Topics and Timestamps 

3:38 Summary of 2024 legislative priorities

4:16 Georgia as a Model Employer (GAME)

5:16 DSPs and HCBS waivers

13:57 Importance of IPSE 

30:23 Ending 14C Certificates 

31:15 Real Jobs for Real Wages

37:39 Key messages and takeaways

42:28 How to get involved

42:40 Advocacy Days schedule

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

What is it like to be a Direct Support Professional in Georgia? With crisis that was existing even before the pandemic - and accelerated due to it - the lack of staff and low wages are impacting individuals with DD across Georgia and their families. 

Pinpoint shares the stories of DSPs and caregivers in Georgia and why we all need to advocate for better wages for those who support people with disabilities to live in the community of their choosing. 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

Did you know that in America it is perfectly legal for an employer to pay workers who have disabilities less than minimum wage? Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act is an exception for people with disabilities that lets them be paid less for doing the same work as their peers. This law was passed in 1938 and most people will admit that it was a “different time,” which it was, but as of this year, 2023, only 12 states have taken action against this kind of discrimination. Georgia is not one of them, but they are taking steps toward ending subminimum wage.

Across the country, institutions called “sheltered workshops” are specifically employing people with disabilities and paying them not just less than the federal minimum wage but way less. Research in Utah and Missouri reveal some workers make 50 cents an hour. In Georgia, there are people making only 22 cents an hour. With the federal minimum wage currently sitting at $7.25 an hour, that’s roughly 1/33 of what they could be making if it weren’t for Section 14(c).

Today’s episode is about the state of employment in Georgia… what’s gone wrong and how we’re going to fix it. 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

Welcome back to Season 3 of PinPoint!

This issue of the magazine is focused on employment and its many different forms. We’re bringing information on the DSP workforce crisis, the state of the disability workforce, and the disbanding of sheltered workshops just to name a few.

Don't worry if that all sounds overwhelming, this is the perfect place to start. In this episode, GCDD's Executive Director D'Arcy Robb explains many of these issues at an introductory level for those who may be totally unfamiliar. And now is the best time to start getting educated, as there are large changes on the horizon that disability advocates and those in the community will want to know about.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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 today’s episode we’re going deep into a new, accessibility-focused company called WheelChariot. Here’s the skinny: it’s a Yelp-style reviewing website built entirely around the accessibility of different businesses, from physical barriers to entry through over-stimulating environments. I am personally fascinated by this idea, and I love the way it engages the disability community in a non-intrusive but still very impactful way. 

My co-producer Laura and I had a conversation with WheelChariot’s founders, Tori Stopford and Gabriel Jones, who originally conceived their business idea in a business class they were taking at Georgia Tech. I was very impressed by these two, and although they are not people with lived experience they have clearly put a lot of effort into engaging the disability community for guidance and feedback.

This interview was recorded a few months ago, so some of the mentions of timeline will be outdated. As of this episode’s release, their website is fully operational with plenty of new information and ways to get registered. They have not yet launched their app, but that is the next big step in their plan. Hopefully we can catch up with WheelChariot when the app officially releases to give you all an update, but for now here’s Gabriel and Tori.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

Today is the long-awaited IPSE Spotlight on East Georgia State College’s CHOICE program. My co-producer Laura Schroeder and I went down to Swainsboro, GA a few months ago to get the scoop on this Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program and I must say, I was very impressed. They had a group of probably 20 students up at the crack of dawn and waiting at the door to welcome us to the school. It was an awesome experience.

I’ll keep it 100 with you… this is not the first iteration of this episode. I had an entire separate script written and recorded, but as I went back and re-listened to my interview with the CHOICE Program Executive Director, Theresa Davis, I couldn’t find a single thing that I could cut out. So do you know what I’ve decided to do? I’m not cutting anything. Those of you who have been keeping up with this podcast have probably noticed that I like big, elaborate stories with as many voices and ideas as possible. But this time we’re keeping it short and sweet.

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

Some of you may know that July marks the anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990 making this the ADA’s 33rd birthday. To celebrate, we’re going to do a history of disability legislation in America and show some love to the most important players.

We’re going to be hearing from several different people across the country today, starting with Sheryl Matney in Washington D.C. She is the director of ITACC, the Information and Technical Assistance Center, which provides support to disability councils on a national level. She explains the DD Act, what is effectively the precursor to the ADA, and why it’s so important. 

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.

Charlie Miller, the Legislative Advocacy Director for GCDD, and Ben Harrison, a disability advocate and student at the University of Georgia’s Destination Dawgs join PinPoint to discuss the latest bill that supports college students with disabilities. These two advocates were standing behind the IPSE bill pushing it along every step of the way to be signed by Governor Brian Kemp. 

A quick disclaimer, this episode was recorded on May 22 of 2023 so some parts of the conversation may be outdated. However, the meat of the episode is about House Bill 185 which is set in stone and unaffected.

Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear a teaser for what’s coming up next. Here’s my conversation with Charlie and Ben.

GCDD Making a Difference Magazine - Summer 2023

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is driven by its Five Year Plan (2017-2021) goals of education; employment; self-advocacy; Real Communities; and formal and informal supports. 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.