# 44 AJC Articles, Advocacy Needed and Other Information

[Guest guest]

Dearest Advocates:

Yoder (Executive Director of Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities) wrote an excellent article in the Opinion Section of the AJC Newspaper today regarding use of the R-word and how words we use does reflect and reinforce what we believe in society.

Please take a moment and write a quick note to the AJC Newspaper letting them know how much this issue is a concern to those families and friends that have love ones with disabilities. Sent your emails to letters@... and copy Tucker of the AJC (Editorial Page Editor) @....

Here is the AJC Article:

http://www.ajc.com/print/content/printedition/2008/08/28/yodered.html

Only through continued education are we going to “help” others understand why using of the R-word is inappropriate and disrespectful. PLEASE take a minute to write the AJC thanking them for their coverage of the issue.

Another VERY hot topic is the slow down in the economy and how this is going to effect services under Dept. of Community Health and Dept. of Human Resources. We must continue to unite our voices and speak up regarding these issues. The latest is they are proposing to cut already funded new and existing services, rate increase and disability training.

In addition, there is talk about proposed changes/cuts to the Beckett Waiver. As I receive additional information on how we can help this advocacy effort, I will let you know.

Below are links to the latest from Unlock the Waiting Lists and how you can get involved with these efforts at the current time:

http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/advocate.html

http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/2008proposedcuts.html

Below is the Governor’s response to a letter written on behalf of Unlock the Waiting Lists. He states: “Just like Georgia families are tightening their belts on spending, state government is also focusing on living within our means….Our goal is to find spending cuts that have the least direct impact to Georgians, but it is just simply not possible to cut the budget without having some impact.”

Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities have already tightened our belts over the years and don’t receive enough services to begin with!

As you can see the budget is a VERY serious situation. We need to speak up for our children and those that can not speak for themselves.

In addition, I have some links from various AJC newspaper articles in the last few days on the Dept. Human Resources restructuring, AADD advocacy update from Unlock the Waiting Lists, information on a free Bike demonstration for children and adults with disabilities, and Champions for Children/ Beckett Community Health Forums across the state.

Education is the key to helping those that are not impacted by disabilities understand how important services are for our children. Please get involved and help us “educate” those that don’t understand. Either we get involved and speak up or we are going to lose our services. Get involved!

Will keep you posted.

United…We Will Make A Difference!

Sincerely, Heidi

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AJC Newspaper Articles on the Reorganization of Dept. of Human Resources:

Social service advocates back Perdue reorganization CRAIG SCHNEIDER

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/08/27/dhr_0828_web.html

Perdue pushes separate agency for mental health Alan Judd, Andy

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/08/27/mental.html

DHR plan wins praise Craig Schneider

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/08/28/dhr.html

AADD Update – Advocacy Needed for Individuals with Disabilities:

RIGHT NOW, HELP US ASK DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO SAY NO TO CUTS TO NEW AND EXISTING DD Services, the 3% RATE INCREASE, AND TO DISABILITY TRAINING!

As Unlock informed you in an earlier action alert last week, Governor Perdue has ordered the Department of Human Resources to reduce their current year’s FY09 budget by 6% which translates to $92 million.

DHR’s Board met on August 20th to review the proposed cuts. These cuts could be a permanent step backwards for Georgia. Among other things, the cuts include important funding for unlocking services for persons with disabilities, a much needed 3% rate increase for DD providers, and funding for the disability training of professionals and families.

Georgia has over 6,160 people with developmental disabilities currently on community waiting lists. The waiting lists grow every year by over 1,000 people because individuals and families fall into crisis, or caregivers pass away. Over 700 students age out of the school system every year, needing supports. The multi-year funding plan called for 2,500 services last year, and we received only 500. This year the plan also calls for 2,500, and the current budget proposal includes only the 150 MRWP services we need to meet the requirement of the Money Follows Person initiative.

WE NEED YOUR HELP CONTACTING THE DHR COMMISSIONER AND THE DHR BOARD BY AUGUST 29TH!

RIGHT NOW, ASK THEM TO SAY NO TO CUTS TO NEW AND EXISTING DD SERViCES, the 3% RATE INCREASE, AND TO DISABILITY TRAINING!

TO ACT, GO TO http://www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/advocate.html

Dave Blanchard

Unlock the Waiting Lists Campaign

Governor’s Response to AADD- Unlock the Waiting Lists:

STATE OF GEORGIA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

ATLANTA 30334-0900

Sonny Perdue

GOVERNOR

Dear Mr. Colyer:

Thank you for writing my office about Georgia's FY09 Budget. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns.

As Governor, it is my responsibility to work with the General Assembly each year to develop a budget for our state that balances our many needs and priorities. We are experiencing a softening economy that is impacting our families and our government. Just like Georgia families are tightening their belts on spending, state government is also focusing on living within our means. We have built up a rainy day fund for times like these so we are better prepared than many states to weather a slowing economy.

While there are always programs that are favored by me, legislators and others that are not funded, our system is designed to end up with a budget compromise that accomplishes as much as possible with our limited funds. Spending reductions will have a significant impact on the services that Georgians receive from their state government. Our goal is to find spending cuts that have the least direct impact to Georgians, but it is just simply not possible to cut the budget without having some impact. Together with the General Assembly we are working hard to budget within our means. I appreciate your concerns about specific budget items, and I invite you to share your ideas with the members of the General Assembly who represent your district as well.

I appreciate your interest in the management of our state, and I hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you again for writing.

Free Bike Demonstration for children and adults with disabilities:

Freedom Concepts BIKE DAY!!!Sept 21st from 2pm to 6pmat Body Pros Physical Therapy Facility in AlpharettaWe will be hosting the bike day at the Body Pros Physical Therapy facility in Alpharetta. The facility is located convenient to Georgia 400, Alpharetta Highway and minutes form the North Point Mall area. We will have demonstrations and test rides in the rear parking lot located directly behind the building Body Pros is located in. We'll have most of the Freedom Concept models available for test rides, including the Tandem.Come out and join us for a fun ride on one of our awesome bikes, giveaways, and more information on Freedom Concepts Products!!Please be sure to RSVP with Curtis Henry either via phone or emailcurtcannon86@...Address for Body Pros AlpharettaAlpharetta Location1750 Founders ParkwaySuite 130Alpharetta, GA 30004-7600Web Address: http://bodyprospt.com/mx/for more information, and directions.mapFor more information on Freedom Concepts visit: www.freedomconcepts.com Directions from GA 400N/S and Alpharetta Highway:

Directions to Alpharetta from GA 400 North

Get off on the Mansell Road exit. Make a left turn at the light and head west on Mansell Road. At the 5th light make a right turn on to Old Roswell Road. Go down the hill to the stop sign. At the stop sign make a left turn (Do not go straight!) and stay on Old Roswell Road for 1 mile. Our office is in the Founders Park at Northmeadow office park. Turn into the parking lot when you see our street number of 1750 that is located on the street. We are in Suite 130.

Directions to Alpharetta from GA 400 South

Get off on the Haynes Bridge Road exit. Make a left turn at the light and head west on Haynes Bridge Road. At the next light make a left turn on to Lakeview Parkway. Drive a short distance to on Parkway. At that light make a left turn. Drive to Hembree Road and make a right turn at that light. Drive a short distance through 1 light and then make a left turn onto Old Roswell Road. We are about a 1 mile on the left side of the road. Turn into the parking lot when you see our street nu

mber of 1750 that is located on the street. We are in Suite 130.

Directions to Alpharetta from Alpharetta Highway 9

(S. Main Street) If you are heading north on Alpharetta Highway (South Main Street) you will need to make a right turn onto Wills Road. If you are heading south on Alpharetta Highway (South Main Street) you will need to make a left turn onto Wills Road. Drive south on Wills Road and cross over Hembree Road and make a right turn at that the stop sign onto Old Roswell Road. We are about a 1 mile on the left side of the road. Turn into the parking lot when you see our street number of 1750 that is located on the street. We are in Suite 130.

Champions for Children/ Beckett Community Health Forums

Parent to Parent of Georgia, in conjunction with local community partners, will sponsor community health forums on Beckett/Deeming Waiver and the new Champions for Children health care financing option. Dowd, Director of the Member Services and Policy Unit at Georgia’s Department of Community Health (DCH), will provide a Beckett/Deeming Waiver overview, and Easter Seal’s regional Champions for Children Coordinators will provide details of their new program. Easter Seals Southern, North, East, Middle and West Georgia will be represented at the forums.

Beginning August 19th, and continuing through October, five informational sessions will

allow families and professionals to learn more about the Beckett/Deeming Waiver

and Champions for Children Programs. The forums will take place in Albany, Augusta, Columbus, Dublin, and Fulton/Dekalb (Metro Atlanta). The basic eligibility requirements for the Champions for Children Program are as follows:

Children must be 21 and under with a physical, cognitive, developmental or medical disability. The child must currently live at home, and must not be eligible for Medicaid.

Albany, GA (Dougherty County)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Easter Seals of Southern Georgia

3000 Palmyra Road Albany, GA 31701

Nicki - enwilson@..., Heard - theard@..., Kathy SuttonKathy@... or

Dublin, GA (s County)

Saturday, September 6, 2008 – 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Dublin Mall (Turning Disabilities into Capabilities Health Fair)

2005 Veterans Blvd # A38, Dublin, GA 31021

Spalding - clspaulding@..., Ralph son – rdonaldson@...

Decatur, GA (Metro - Dekalb County)

Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

The Frazer Center

1815 Ponce de Leon Ave N.E., Atlanta, Ga. 30307

Karmen - khughes@..., Gresham – greshams@...

Columbus, GA (Muscogee County)

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Columbus Public Librar y - Synovus Conference Room

3000 Macon Rd, Columbus, GA 31906

Bradley Lawrence - bhlawrence@..., Mae -Lee - maesilverpws@..., Mindy Pace - wesfranciemom2001@..., LaKisha – lakisha@...

Augusta, GA (Richmond County)

Thursday, October 9, 2008 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Warren Baptist Church

3203 Washington Road, Augusta, GA 30907

Sheila - sthomas@..., Sheryl Irwin - /sirwin@..., Leigh Proctor - Esevaluator@...

For more general information contact Sherry at sherry@... or / .

--Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 8 years old with Down syndrome & - 6 years old) For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential, please go to www.heidijmoore.com "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice, please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative.