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.