AADD 1956 Like Us Campaign

Hello Friends of AADD,

Did you know that All About Developmental Disabilities turned 55 this year? AADD has been providing support services to families since 1956. In celebration of this milestone, we are launching our 1956 Facebook Campaign. Our goal is to get 1,956 people to "like" AADD on Facebook and reach as many people as we can in order to continuously educate the community about our services and events.

In order to successfully pull this off, we need your help. It's quick and very easy!  All you have to do is go to our Facebook Page and click the "Like" button at the top of the page.  By liking AADD, you can stay informed about disability issues within the Metro Atlanta area and throughout the State of Georgia. We also welcome your comments and feedback.  Another way you can help is by spreading the word and encouraging your Facebook "friends" to like our page as well!

Each week, we will feature contests and a chance to win prizes, so visit often to see what's new.

Thanks for your ongoing support! 

ADAPT Medicaid Rally

Capitol Hill   Washington, DC

September 21st at Noon

Medicaid is on the table for arbitrary and draconian cuts. The disability and aging communities must show Congress that "My Medicaid Matters" by having thousands show up on Capitol Hill on September 21st for a "Rally for Real Medicaid Reform".

So far, EVERY plan to address entitlements has included cuts to Medicaid. NONE has included reform measures proposed by the disability rights community. Make YOUR voice heard in Washington! Join disability, aging and civil rights groups in Washington DC on Capitol Hill, Wednesday September 21st starting at Noon. Rain or shine!

Thanks to the organizations sponsoring this Rally.

State Organizing

If we are going to be able to get strong numbers of our folks out to the Rally, we need strong organizing at the state level. We are looking for people to be local/state coordinators. Volunteering to be a local/state coordinator means you commit to the following:

• Disseminate information about the Rally to folks in your state;
• Outreach in your state to get people to attend; and
• Work to assist and promote, in any way you can, participation from your area.

If you are interested contact:
Bob Kafka, bob.adapt@sbcglobal.net, 512/431-4085
Stephanie Thomas stephanie.adapt@sbcglobal.net 512/442-0252.

Check out our list of state organizers who are working on grassroots turn-out efforts.

Resources for Organizers

Media Materials
It's important that people all over the country know about the rally. Here are media materials that you can use to promote the rally. We are also providing the My Medicaid Matters rally logo in a number of different sizes for your use. Consider posting the logo on your group's website to show your support for Medicaid and the rally!

Promotional Materials
We have prepared flyers that organizers can use to promote the rally. Feel free to print them to distribute them locally. Both English and Spanishversions of the flyer are provided. You can start your state organizing with an introductory email. Here's a sample email prepared for New York State.

Travel to Washington DC
ADAPT has compiled information on travel options to Washington DC to get you started.

Hotels
ADAPT has compiled a list of hotels near the Rally site. They are organized by published rate (with the least expensive first) to make the process easier for folks to find hotel rooms.

Fund Raising
Clearly, groups need funds in order to participate in the Rally. ADAPT of Texas has prepared a sample fund raising letter that you can modify for your own use.   Some groups use a simple flyer that folks can use to get funds. The look of the document is not as important as providing an opportunity for people to ASK.

Bus and Motorcoach Information for Groups
Here is some information on bus and motorcoach drop off locations and parking for the Rally.

Other Information Here is a link to an interactive map for the Rally and DC area. For those travelling into the rally, people can be dropped off:

• where First Street NW connects with Pennsylvannia Avenue NW or
• at First Street NW by the Capitol Reflecting Pool

For those that require a street adddress with a number, the US Botanic Gardens are nearby at 100 Maryland Ave SW. It's only a block from the rally site.

Financial Sponsorship Opportunities

Rally organizers are looking for organizations that can help by providing
financial sponsorship of the rally. If you are interested in supporting the My Medicaid Matters Rally for Real Medicaid Reform, you can send donations to:

Disabled in Action
714 Market Street, Suite 310
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Thanks to DIA of Pennsylvannia for being the fiscal sponsor of the rally!

Resources for Advocates

ADAPT has identified ways we can contain Medicaid spending while providing freedom and greater independence to people with disabilities. Check out
ADAPT's Medicaid Savings Ideas.

Additional Information

For more information, call us toll free at 877-237-2228 or email us at rally@cdrnys.org rally@cdrnys.org. You can also check out our event listing on Facebook.

Comedian Tells 'Special Needs' Joke at Palin Event

TRENDING: Comedian tells 'special needs' joke at Palin event

By: CNN's Dan Merica

Washington (CNN) - In comedy, timing is everything.

And minutes before Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and parent of a child with Down syndrome, made her much-anticipated speech in Iowa, Los Angeles-based comedian Eric Golub told a joke that compared liberal political ideology to “special needs children.”

After commending Palin on raising her son Trig while balancing other responsibilities, Golub made the analogy.

“For that reason alone, the left should worship Sarah Palin and adopt her as one of their own,” Golub said. “Because the leftist haters are an entire political ideology of special needs children.”

Golub continued by saying that liberals are needy and feel entitled.

“And unlike Trig, they aren't very lovable,” Golub said. “All you hear from them is give me, give me, I need, I need, I want, I deserve, I’m entitled – no you don’t.”

Since announcing she had a child with Down syndrome in 2008, Palin has defended the special needs community in a number of instances.

In February 2010, Palin called for Rahm Emanuel, then-White House chief of staff, to be fired after he called liberal groups thinking of running ads against Democratic lawmakers “retarded.”

When an episode of Fox’s “Family Guy” mocked Trig that same month, Palin wrote in a post to her Facebook followers that it felt like “a kick in the gut.”

She also included a response to the "Family Guy" episode from her daughter, Bristol Palin.

“As a culture, shouldn’t we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate,” Bristol wrote. “Shouldn’t we be willing to say that some things just are not funny?”

Palin never mentioned the remark while speaking at the tea party-affiliated “Restoring America” rally in Indianola, Iowa.

Charlie Gruschow, co-founder of Tea Party of America, said he never heard the comment or met the comedian before the event.

"Some of the people on staff had heard him speak before and thought he would be a good person to break up and entertain the crowd," Gruschow said.

This isn't the first time Golub made the comment. He also used it while speaking at a 2010 convention for the conservative organization Young America's Foundation.

Palin's team could not be reached for comment.

CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.

Upcoming Open Captioning Performances

FOX Open Captioning Performances:

Wicked, Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 2:00pm
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 8:00pm
Memphis, Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 8:00pm
Billy Elliot, Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 8:00pm
Les Miserables, Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 8:00pm
Jersey Boys, Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 8:00pm

Alliance Theater Open Captioning Performances:

Into the Woods, Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Golda’s Balcony, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 2:30 pm
The Real Tweenagers of Atlanta, Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 2:30 pm
A Christmas Carol, Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 2:30 pm
God of Carnage, Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2:30 pm
The Wizard of Oz, Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 2:30 pm

For more on Open Captioning Performances click here

Atlanta Regional Roundtable of the ARC

From John Keys, GCDD and SILC:

The 12 Regional Commissions in Georgia have compiled their Constrained Project Lists and these are found at the following web link:

http://www.it3.ga.gov/Pages/Legislation.aspx   

Simply click on the “View Lists” item on this link, go to your region, and view the project list. Scroll down below the listing of all Regional Commissions (R.C.’s), and you will see the meetings scheduled for all the R.C.’s.

These meeting times will change as we get closer to the October deadline, so keep checking on when meetings are held in your community. Call the R.C. in your area (click on their name on the listing on the web link to get contact information) to stay up to date or to get more information.

Transportation Investment Act - Regional Roundtable

Atlanta Regional Roundtable

Public Meetings in September, 2011

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Douglas County

Citizens Hall, Douglas County Courthouse

8700 Hospital Drive

Douglasville, GA 30134

770-949-2000

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Henry County

Administration Offices

140 Henry Parkway

McDonough, GA 30253

770-288-6000

Thursday, September 15, 2011

6:00 - 8:00 pm

City of Atlanta

Council Chambers

55 Trinity Avenue

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-330-6030

Monday, September 19, 2011

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Cherokee County

Cherokee Hall, Administration Center

1130 Bluffs Parkway

Canton, GA 30114

678-493-6000

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Cobb County

Board of Commissioners Meeting Room

100 Cherokee Street

Marietta, GA 30090

770-528-1000

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Fayette County

Administration Offices

140 Stonewall Avenue West

Fayetteville, GA 30214

770-305-5200

Parents Say Fulton Covered Up Student Abuse

Dear friends,

In early July, we posted that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities implemented  a new system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities who are experiencing a behavior related crisis, and we encouraged you to take the time to familiarize yourself with this new system and to pass this information within your networks.

We would like to hear about some of the experiences that family members have had when calling the crisis line number. If you have called the Georgia Crisis Response line in the last month, and would be willing to share your story, please email rita@aadd.org

For an overview of the Georgia Crisis Response system, click www.ddcrisis.com

Sincerely,

Rita Young

Director of Public Policy and Education

All About Developmental Disabilities

Justice and Developmental Disabilities Project

AADD is excited to announce a new partnership with the Division of Developmental Disabilities to administer a Justice and Developmental Disabilities Project.

All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) has a 54-year history as one of Atlanta's premier nonprofit organizations in service and advocacy to people with developmental disabilities.  Our mission is to build communities of support, acceptance, and opportunity for children, adults, and families living with developmental disabilities. As we work to encourage and support this community, we have become aware of the need to address this gap between the perceptions and needs of professionals involved in the justice system and those of individuals affected by developmental disabilities.

A great deal of work still needs to be done with the various stakeholders across multiple systems to address the needs of people with developmental disabilities that encounter the legal system.  To continue to address this issue, a targeted and collaborative training effort will be sustained and enhanced to train judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, police officers, as well as other stakeholders to be aware of people with developmental disabilities and how their lives intersect with various aspects of the legal system. This project will provide consultation and training to the justice system and would work to identify existing resources that could be used as referrals to families and agencies dealing with these issues.

To support the long and short term goals of the project, a Justice and Developmental Disabilities Coalition will be convened to open up a broader public discourse among stakeholders around recognizing and addressing the multiple intersections of people with developmental disabilities in the legal and human resource systems. This project is funded by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Developmental Disabilities and administered by AADD. 

Georgia Partners Graduate Passes

(The Stark Family)

I recently heard from Partner Graduate, Pat Satterfield, that Cheryl Stark passed last week. Cheryl was  a Georgia Partner graduate from the 1990’s. Our sympathies to the family.

- Rita

For more on the story, click here

If you would like to donate to the Stark Family, please click here.