TASH 2009 WEB CONFERENCE SERIES Supporting Adults to Achieve Lifestyles of Their Choice

The Supportive Living Series begins tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24th and continues to August 8.

In this series you will:

Identify strategies for assisting people to become increasingly in control of their own lives.

Understand how to get supports in place for our adult children.

Develop strategies for supportive living.

Collect strategies that resulted in people with disabilities having increased valued roles within communities.

Evaluate and select the best options.

Click Here for a complete DESCRIPTION of this series.
Click Here to REGISTER online for this upcoming webinar.
Click Here to DOWNLOAD the registration form.

The World Bank speaks to the impact of the connection between poverty and disability.

Poverty is about vulnerability—-being exposed and powerless in the face of risks and shocks to the household. It is also caused by scarce and uncertain levels of private assets and access to services. The relationship between poverty and disability is complex and multi-directional.

Poverty contributes to disability through a lack of education, malnutrition, poor health care, polluted environments, occupational and road accidents, and conflicts and disasters. The few services that are available to people with disabilities are often underfunded, poorly managed, and capacity constrained. In tandem, poverty and disability create a vicious circle.

While the nexus from poverty to disability may not be as clear as the nexus between disability and poverty, sufficient evidence highlights the risk factors that those living in poverty experience, as well as how those factors may increase impairment and disability. Poverty and hunger are almost inevitably linked to insufficient nutrition, poor housing, and inadequate health care services. These factors lead to an increased risk of impairment, which in turn may lead to disability.

Click the link to see Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo's article: "INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ACTIONS TO REDUCE POVERTY AND HUNGER" and post a comment below.

Rita Young assumes role of Director of the Division of Public Policy and Education at AADD

With Dave Blanchard, assuming Executive Director position effective July 1st, Rita Young will step into the position of Director of the Division of Public Policy and Education at AADD

“I am thrilled that AADD was able to promote from within its own staff to fill the this position, Rita has a proven track record over reliability and integrity over the last six years as Manager of Advocacy and Training. She is committed to our mission: to help build communities of support, acceptance, and opportunity for individuals and families living with developmental disabilities,” said Blanchard.

Rita Young has been Manager of Advocacy and Training at AADD (formerly Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities) since 2003, providing leadership training on disability issues, and working on public policy, legislative, and education activities. She led the Partners in Policymaking project at AADD that has trained hundreds of Georgians to be advocates and self-advocates on disability issues. Ms. Young has offered significant support for the Unlock the Waiting Lists Campaign. The mother of two sons affected with autism, Rita’s goal is to support families in gaining the knowledge, resources, and skills to become effective advocates. Before joining All About Developmental Disabilities, Young was with Parent to Parent of Georgia as a resource coordinator and has worked with Dale Carnegie of Georgia as an instructor and facilitator.

States' Budget Woes Are Poised to Worsen

Article from the Wall Street Journal

State budgets look bad now, but they are set to get worse.

The bulk of funds from the federal government's stimulus package will be allocated by 2011, but tax collections aren't likely to be enough to take their place -- even if the economy is recovering.

The drop in tax revenue is set to be deeper and last longer as collections have become more sensitive to business cycles in recent years. At the same time, states face growing health-care costs and the need to replenish pension programs funded by decimated investments. And some of the stimulus funds expand programs that will require state money to sustain them after the federal largesse runs out.

"There are so many issues that go way beyond the current downturn," said Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers. "This is an awful time for states fiscally, but they're even more worried about 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014."

Click here for the entire article.

Second Annual Interfaith Disability Connection Summit:

Pursuing Inclusion Beyond the Ramp to Be Presented in Atlanta
The Interfaith Disability Connection (IDC) will present its second annual educational conference on Sunday, August 9th from 1:00-6:00 PM at the Sloppy Floyd Building in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is a one day event that focuses on how religious communities can make their houses of worship and programs more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities and their families. Topics will go beyond physical barriers and discuss creating services and programs that are inclusive of all members of the community.

Leaders in religion and disability education have been appointed as event speakers. Bill Gaventa, director of community and congregational supports at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities will join fellow speakers Pat Khan, Dr. Khalid Siddiq, and Ginny Thornburgh.

This year's keynote speaker is the Rev. William "Bill" Gaventa. Rev. Gaventa is director of community and congregational supports at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities and associate professor of pediatrics at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He also serves as editor of the Journal of Religion, Disability, and Health and of the newsletter for the Religion and Spirituality Division of American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Clergy and lay leaders in both religious and disability communities, advocates and friends are invited to take part in this conference on community, acceptance, and inclusion. Attendees will gain the knowledge, resources, and motivation to make positive changes in their religious communities.

Those who register before July 10th receive an early-bird discounted rate of $35. For more information and to register visit www.interfaithdisability.org or contact IDC at idc@bobbydodd.org or by calling 678.365.0073.

Information related to the upcoming Long Road Home celebrations:

·Bainbridge, GA celebration:

This celebration will be on June 16th at the Willis Park Gazebo from 1-2 p.m. The event will include a Long Road Home march, a prayer and pledge, music, a discussion regarding life in a nursing facility vs. life in the community, and a candlelight vigil.
For more information, please contact BAIN, Inc. at (229) 246-0150.

·Savannah, GA celebration:

This event will occur on June 17th at Georgia Regional Hospital, 1915 Eisenhower Drive, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lynette Bragg will moderate and introduce speakers, including Sue Jamieson (Atlanta Legal Aid Society, and Olmstead plaintiffs’ attorney), Denise McClain (Division Olmstead Coordinator, Case Expediter Coordinator, and Interstate Compact Coordinator), and Catherine Ivy (DCH Long Term Care Director).
For more information, please contact Bob Habas at (912) 920-2314.

·Columbus, GA celebration:

This event will occur on June 18th at the Government Center Plaza at 11 a.m. This event is sponsored by the Columbus State University Office of Disability Services, Muscogee County Navigator Team, and the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
For more information, please contact (706) 565-3628.

·Milledgeville, GA celebration:

This event will occur on June 19th at Central State Hospital in the Auditorium from 2-5 p.m. The event will include speakers, entertainment, and a dance and DJ. This event is sponsored by the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network.
For more information, please contact (404) 687-9891.

·Atlanta/Decatur, GA celebration:

There will be two Atlanta area events, both on June 21st. The first will take place in Downtown Decatur in the Decatur Square Bandstand from 1-2:30 p.m. This event will include speakers and entertainment. The second event will be held at Georgia Regional Hospital, 3073 Panthersville, Rd. from 4-5:30 p.m. The event will include speakers, entertainment, and art by Lois Curtis.
For more information, please contact Yvette Sangster at (404) 885-1234 or ysangster@thegao.org.

·Capitol celebration:

The final event will be held on June 22nd at the State Capitol of Georgia. The event will include several speakers, including: Representative John Lewis (D-GA); Senator Nan Orrock (State Senator, District 36); Sue Jamieson (Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Olmstead plaintiff’s attorney); Lois Curtis (artist, self advocate, and Olmstead plaintiff); Ellen Yeager (Mental Health America); Cynthia Wainscott (Mental Health America); and Sherrie Jenkins-Tucker (Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network).
The event will include entertainment and an Artists’ Gallery featuring the works of individuals with disabilities. On display will also be the Mental Health Bell, which was cast from shackles that once bound people with mental illness living in asylums. We will invite individuals in the crowd to take the podium, tell their stories, and ring the bell of freedom.
For more information, contact Jenny Holland at (404) 885-1234 or jholland@thegao.org.