Georgia Voices That Count
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Transcript 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
Communicates historical context
Activities (Continued)
Promotes self-advocacy and self-determination
Emphasizes lifelong commitment
Supports personal growth and achievement
Creates leaders and activists
Strengthens community
What Makes GVTC Unique?
Only for people with disabilities
80% taught by people with disabilities
Cross-disability
Collaboration of disability organizations
What Makes GVTC Unique? (cont.)
Training with support
Individualized experience
Experiential training
Addresses disparities
Challenges the “disability hierarchy”
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
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
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
Conferences and Curriculum
Leadership
Held in Atlanta
Coincides with participation in Disability Day at the State Capitol
Consider the attributes of good leadership
Graduation
Circles of Support
David – to help
deal with
serious illness
Tommy – to
help publish
book
Sheila – to help
plan move back
into community
Annette – to
help move from
nursing facility
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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!"
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!"
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!”
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.,
3
p 41
Ibid., p 45
Conclusion
Creates Self-Advocacy
Creates Leadership
Enhances existing skills
Builds confidence
Cultivates self-direction
Promotes perseverance
Fosters mentorship
Enhances public speaking skills
Creates Community
Projects have direct social impact
Strengthens disability community
Encourages inclusion and diversity