One day a group of parents, the story goes, sat around a coffee table and decided the time had come to create opportunities for children with developmental disabilities. They were frustrated. They wanted more than a life of isolation for their children. They wanted them to grow up with family. parents have crossed over. And some are still here in this room with Mary Yoder and the people who've benefited from their actions.
All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is Atlanta's preeminent resource on developmental disabilities, providing support services to families for more than 55 years. We are often the one place where people with developmental disabilities can go to achieve personal empowerment, family stability and community participation. AADD provides family support; public policy and advocacy; and community engagement.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Stories of improving lives span 50 years
Gracie Bonds Staples wrote a wonderful piece today in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on AADD's recent celebration of 50 years of stories.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Partners in Policymaking July 2006
At the beginning of July, I was given the opportunity to attend the Toronto Summer Institute on Inclusion, Community and Diversity. Participants came from as far away as Russia, Scotland and China to learn and exchange ideas on what makes a community open to including people with disabilities. It was an opportunity to hear from the top experts in North America on Community Building. Speakers like John McKnight, John O’Brien, Mike Green and Henry Moore who have spent years researching community assets and resources.
As we think about the future of Partners and Partners alumni it reminded me of several things I heard at the Institute: in order to change systems we must engage with each other. With over 400 well trained and informed graduates, the impact you are having in your communities could fill textbooks. Putting a price tag on that work would be impossible.
With that in mind, we have added a new feature to the website to capture the impact of your valuable work. This is an opportunity for you to update us on projects, workgroups, leadership positions, volunteer or paid employment that you are involved in. So, go ahead and brag on yourself! And don’t be modest! So much of what we do goes on under the radar screen, but we care about the influence you are having at the local, state and national levels. Each month, we will send this out as a link to within the newsletter. Please fill it out when you can. Also, if you have a need for volunteers or have a special concern with yourself or a family member that you want to send out to all graduates, send that too, and we will include that too in newsletters.
The link is :
http://www.aadd.org/newsite/programs/alumni.html
Lastly, one of the speakers at the Institute said “ the future is changed one conversation at a time”. We know the knowledge gained from Partners has had a lasting impact on more than just the 400 grads. You all have had those individual conversations, with teachers, administrators, providers, neighbors, friends, children, doctors, and so many others. Thank you for continuing to spread the word on the importance of building communities of inclusion and acceptance. I can’t imagine what Georgia's future would be like without you.
As we think about the future of Partners and Partners alumni it reminded me of several things I heard at the Institute: in order to change systems we must engage with each other. With over 400 well trained and informed graduates, the impact you are having in your communities could fill textbooks. Putting a price tag on that work would be impossible.
With that in mind, we have added a new feature to the website to capture the impact of your valuable work. This is an opportunity for you to update us on projects, workgroups, leadership positions, volunteer or paid employment that you are involved in. So, go ahead and brag on yourself! And don’t be modest! So much of what we do goes on under the radar screen, but we care about the influence you are having at the local, state and national levels. Each month, we will send this out as a link to within the newsletter. Please fill it out when you can. Also, if you have a need for volunteers or have a special concern with yourself or a family member that you want to send out to all graduates, send that too, and we will include that too in newsletters.
The link is :
http://www.aadd.org/newsite/programs/alumni.html
Lastly, one of the speakers at the Institute said “ the future is changed one conversation at a time”. We know the knowledge gained from Partners has had a lasting impact on more than just the 400 grads. You all have had those individual conversations, with teachers, administrators, providers, neighbors, friends, children, doctors, and so many others. Thank you for continuing to spread the word on the importance of building communities of inclusion and acceptance. I can’t imagine what Georgia's future would be like without you.
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