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Georgia Voices That Count:

Georgia Voices That Count:. Seven Years of Advocacy Training and Support. Introduction. Advocacy project Quarterly meetings Curriculum Support the disability community Political awareness. Activities of GVTC. Provides advocacy training Fosters peer support Shares resources

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Georgia Voices That Count:

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  1. Georgia Voices That Count: Seven Years of Advocacy Training and Support

  2. Introduction • Advocacy project • Quarterly meetings • Curriculum • Support the disability community • Political awareness

  3. Activities of GVTC • Provides advocacy training • Fosters peer support • Shares resources • Communicates historical context

  4. Activities (Continued) • Promotes self-advocacy and self-determination • Emphasizes lifelong commitment • Supports personal growth and achievement • Creates leaders and activists • Strengthens community

  5. What Makes GVTC Unique? • Only for people with disabilities • 80% taught by people with disabilities • Cross-disability • Collaboration of disability organizations

  6. What Makes GVTC Unique? (cont.) • Training with support • Individualized experience • Experiential training • Addresses disparities • Challenges the “disability hierarchy”

  7. Conferences and Curriculum • History of Self-Advocacy • Held in Atlanta • Tour the MLK Center • Make connection between Civil Rights Movement and the Disability Rights Movement

  8. Conferences and Curriculum • Advocating for Community Living • Held in Athens • Learn about the Americans with Disabilities Act • Learn about the Olmstead Decision • Learn about supports and barriers to community living

  9. Conferences and Curriculum • Advocating for Employment • Held in Warm Springs • Tour the Little White House • Consider why Roosevelt hid his disability • Examine the supports and barriers regarding employment

  10. Conferences and Curriculum • Leadership • Held in Atlanta • Coincides with participation in Disability Day at the State Capitol • Consider the attributes of good leadership • Graduation

  11. Circles of Support • David – to help deal with serious illness • Sheila – to help plan move back into community • Tommy – to help publish book • Annette – to help move from nursing facility

  12. Participants’ Achievements • Joy Norman • Class: GVTC #4 • Advocacy Project: create job fair for people with disabilities • Current activities: • Works with Mayor’s “Committee for Persons With Disabilities” for annual job fair • Now on Statewide Independent Living Council • Working to develop Center for Independent Living in Columbus area • Provides support to many individuals and causes • Quote: “I’m a voice to be reckoned with.”

  13. Participants’ Achievements • Margo Waters • Class: GVTC #2 • Advocacy Project: organize curb cuts • Current activities: • Testified at State Capitol regarding the Independent Care Waiver Program • Helped create legislation for the Visitability Campaign • Testified at city council regarding pedestrian accessibility • Now employed at disABILITY LINK and supporting many persons with disabilities and important issues • Quote: “Voices has empowered me to speak up whenever, where ever necessary.”

  14. Participants’ Achievements • Ryan Mercer • Class: GVTC #6 • Advocacy Project: create a website featuring resources for young people with disabilities • http://ryansresources.homestead.com/ • Current activities: • Continues to update site • Featured in Sept. ‘08 AJC article • Member of People First of Atlanta • Working on his own plans for independence • Quote: “They taught me how to stand up for myself.”

  15. Participants’ Achievements • Betty Hasan-Amin • Class: GVTC #6 • Advocacy Project: create and distribute a brochure of resources relevant to people new to independent living • Current activities: • Board member of the Interfaith Disability Connection • Current Organizing Institute participant working to connect disability and refugee communities • Active in transportation advocacy • Quote: “We are strong.”

  16. Participants’ Achievements • Whitney Walker • Class: GVTC #1 • Advocacy Project: Letter writing campaign for full implementation of the Olmstead Decision • Current activities: • Continues to write actively • Attended Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered 2008 • Member of People First of Atlanta • Quote: “Georgia Voices That Count helps a lot of people help a lot of people.”

  17. Participants’ Achievements • Barbaraann Bongiovanni • Class: GVTC #4 • Advocacy Project: • successfully advocated for accessible sidewalks, crosswalks and curb cuts in her community • Current Activities: • Appointed board member of the Georgia Independent Living Network Meeting and disABILITY LINK • developed summer camp for teenagers with disabilities to learn about self advocacy and self determination as part of The Organizing Institute • Certified Peer Supporter through The Georgia Peer Support project and actively provides peer support • Volunteers in local and statewide organizations for people with and without disabilities • Quote: "I am truly a Georgia Voice that Counts!"

  18. Participants’ Achievements • Percy Hardy • Class: GVTC #5 • Advocacy Project: Become a peer supporter • Current Activities: • Is now a Certified Peer Supporter • Recognizes that his experiences, though difficult at times, has provided him the unique ability to offer support to other people with disabilities • People First board member and active in disability community events • Overcame his fear of public speaking! • Quote: "I am now confident I have something to offer!"

  19. Participants’ Achievements • Dawn Alford • Class: GVTC #4 • Advocacy Project: a student at Georgia Tech and working on campus accessibility issues • Current Activities: • Appointed Ex Officio member of the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities • Regularly testifies at the State Capitol regarding services for people with disabilities • Undertakes speaking engagements on a variety of disability related topics including service dogs • Working towards full accessibility in her worship community • Quote: “Everyone can be a leader!”

  20. Outcomes of GVTC • GVTC has produced “positive personal growth” and “clear progress” in participants1 • Promotes ethnic, gender, and geographical diversity in advocacy training2 • Essential to “positively influence public policies that enhance the quality of life for people with…disabilities and their families.”3 • Produced community leaders with direct impact on legislative and other decision making bodies. 1 “Values in Action: Outcomes & Impact of GCDD Programs”, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. April 2008. p.45 2 Ibid., p 41 3Ibid., p 45

  21. Conclusion • Creates Self-Advocacy • Enhances existing skills • Builds confidence • Cultivates self-direction • Creates Leadership • Promotes perseverance • Fosters mentorship • Enhances public speaking skills • Creates Community • Projects have direct social impact • Strengthens disability community • Encourages inclusion and diversity

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