SILCGA Annual Report 2022 V9 1 2 : simplebooklet.com

Shelly Simmons, Executive DirectorAs always, this year has been ﬁlled with many successes, joy and a few challenges. Thanks to you – our generous donors, dedicated board and amazing Center Directors and sta – we were able to increase services to people with disabilities in various ways.We just completed our 2022 ﬁscal year and I want to thank YOU for supporting us! Our ongoing challenge is to provide the best service, resources and information while addressing the needs of our community. However, this challenge is also what keeps us excited and motivated every single day. SILCGA is excited to have established a partnership with Care Across Generations that will address the care crisis individuals face daily for the disabled, seniors and youth. Re-established partnerships with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) assessing the accessibility of healthcare facilities. Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the continued development of micro transit. Georgia Advocacy Oce (GAO) providing an intern for the development of Enable Work, and the Easter Seals collaboration on a regional transit focus group. We look forward to new and existing partnerships and collaborations throughout the coming year. Each year as we analyze the implementation of our State Plan, we reﬂect on lessons learned and plan to devise improvements in the plan. As we head into our third year of our current SPIL, the IL Network will be working on developing a new plan that will address the concerns and barriers people with disabilities encounter daily. SILCGA held two virtual town hall meetings and the Centers for Independent Living, also, disseminated the assessment survey for necessary feedback. I am conﬁdent, with the IL Network’s participation and consumer feedback, a new and improved plan will be developed to address the concerns of the disability communities in our state.Please continue to support, participate and educate yourselves on the IL Network’s goals & endeavors as we continue to grow and provide services to the best of our ability! In the preparation of this report, we received news of the passing of Gaylon Tootle. An incredible man and advocate. Gaylon was our featured story in last year's report. I learned so much about the man reading his story. He was also a guest speaker during our Virtual IL Day at the Capitol. Gaylon’s advocacy in Voters Rights and transportation are unparalleled. Mr. Tootle will sincerely be missed. Our heartfelt condolences to the Tootle family and Walton Options.LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

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CONTENTSTABLE OFWhat is Independent Living (IL)?An overview of the core services we provide What We DoThe mission of the Statewide Independent Living Council of GeorgiaWho We ServeInformation on the types of disabilities consumers we serveFind Your Local CIL | Map & IndexLocate your local Center for Independent Living (CIL) oceProviding Services in Rural AreasIn rural areas there are unique challenges that CILs must overcomeMaking the Disability Community More Visible | Cover StoryWalton Options constructs inovative 6,500 square foot facility New Kitchen and Studio Space for Cooking DemonstationsDisability Connections builds accessible kitchen to ﬁlm demonstrationsSILCGA Hosts Annual Fundraising EventSee photos from our annual rooftop eventPassing It On: Consumers Become CIL Sta Members NWGACIL sta members share about what inspired themHurricane Evacuation Planning and Home Improvements LIFE helps Savannah consumers prepare for hurricanesiPad Helps Parents Communicate with Their SonMultiple Choices provides family with accesibility aid Home Access ProgramUpdates on one of our most popular programs SILCGA Consults for MARTA and Hosts NADTContributing to and facilitate important conversations for our community New Jobs for Altanta ConsumersdisABILITY Link reports on consumers ﬁnding work in the communityUpdate on Three-Year State PlanAn update on our progress for our statewide planFunding RestoredAn update on our progress for our statewide planRemoving Barriers with the NCILAn update on our progress for our statewide planKeeping People Out of Nursing Homes Saves Taxpayer MoneyAn update on our progress for our statewide plan1023248216184163142132527262829

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2Independent Living is about changing policies and practices that under-estimate, segregate, or oppress people with disabilities.Independent Living promotes the idea that people with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities and the same control over life choices as those without disabilities. We, therefore, work to change societal attitudes by moving away from segregation, paternalism, and pity, opting instead for empowerment and independence. «What Is Independent Living?CIL CORE SERVICESADVOCACY We work with individuals on self-advocacy and assertiveness to promote personal empowerment. We also provide advocacy activities in partnership with individuals and community members to aect attitudinal and environmental change. Regional consultants are available for all titles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).IL SKILLS BUILDINGWe provide access to trained sta who help consumers build necessary skills that facilitate greater autonomy, empowerment, and independence. These skills include budgeting, resume writing, application assistance, and employment readiness.TRANSITIONWe help those with signiﬁcant disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization or need assistance transitioning from nursing homes and other institutions. Our goal is to help people live and remain at home or in community-based residences with the requisite supports and services whenever possible.INFORMATION & REFERRALWe provide information on any subject related to living independently with all disabilities. We also refer individuals to other agencies in our network to assist in gaining independence.PEER MENTORSHIPWe facilitate partnerships with Peer Mentors. Peer Mentors with disabilities serve as role models and provide moral support and creative solutions for life issues.ADDITIONAL SERVICESWe provide a variety of other services and forms of support for consumers, including communication services, assistive technology, and help with any other unique needs a person with a disability encounters.

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3All of us in the State of Georgia want to contribute to our communities. We all want to go to work, provide for our families, contribute to society, and pay into the system. However, sometimes our public buildings, living spaces, workplaces, policies and societal attitudes contain barriers preventing some from fully participating and contributing in a meaningful way. These obstacles to participation can frequently be addressed and removed. The mission of SILCGA is to facilitate equal participation of people with disabilities within their communities.WHAT WE DOOur Mission StatementHere's What's New at SILCGAWant to know more about what we do? Listen to our podcast highlighting the Centers throughout Georgia!Finally! SILCGA’s mini-documentary, Inclusion: The Story of the Americans with Disabilities Act coming soon!

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Southwest GeorgiaBAINBRIDGE ADVOCACY INDIVIDUAL NETWORKBAINBRIDGE, GA DIRECTOR: MALISSA THOMPSONCOUNTIES: ATKINSON, BAKER, BERRIEN, BROOKS, CALHOUN, CLAY, CLINCH, COLQUITT, COOK, DECATUR, DOUGHERTY, EARLY, ECHOLS, GRADY, LANIER, LEE, LOWNDES, MILLER, MITCHELL, RANDOLPH, SEMINOLE, TERRELL, TIFT, THOMAS, WORTHCentral GeorgiaDISABILITY CONNECTIONSMACON, GADIRECTOR: MICHAEL LEVERETTCOUNTIES: BALDWIN, BIBB, CRAWFORD, HOUSTON, JASPER, JONES, MONROE, PEACH, PULASKI, PUTNAM, TWIGGS, WILKINSONEastern GeorgiaWALTON OPTIONS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVINGAUGUSTA, GADIRECTOR: TIFFANY CLIFFORDCOUNTIES: BURKE, COLUMBIA, EMANUEL, GLASCOCK, HANCOCK, JEFFERSON, JENKINS, JOHNSON, LINCOLN, MCDUFFIE, RICHMOND, SCREVEN, TALLAFERRO, WARREN, WASHINGTON, WILKESMetro Atlanta AreaDISABILITY LINKTUCKER, GADIRECTOR: KIM GIBSONCOUNTIES: CHEROKEE, CLAYTON, COBB, COWETA, DEKALB, DOUGLAS, FAYETTE, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY, NEWTON, ROCKDALEWest Central GeorgiaA2I: ACCESS 2 INDEPENDENCECOLUMBUS, GADIRECTOR: KIRK HOLCOMBECOUNTIES: CHATTAHOOCHEE, HARRIS, MARION, MUSKOGEE, QUITMAN, STEWART, TALBOT, TAYLOR, WEBSTERNorthwest GeorgiaNWGA CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVINGROME, GADIRECTOR:COUNTIES: BARTOW, CATOOSA, CHATTOOGA, DADE, FANNIN, FLOYD, GILMER, GORDON, HARALSON, MURRAY, PAULDING, PICKENS, POLK, WALKER, WHITFIELDSoutheast GeorgiaLIFE: LIVING INDEPENDENCE FOR EVERYONESAVANNAH, GA DIRECTOR: NEIL LIGONCOUNTIES: APPLING, BACON, BRANTLEY, BRYAN, BULLOCH, CAMDEN, CANDLER, CHARLTON, CHATHAM, EFFINGHAM, EVANS, GLYNN, LIBERTY, LONG, MCINTOSH, PIERCE, TATTNALL, TOOMBS, WARE, WAYNEUNSERVED COUNTIESCOUNTIES: BEN HILL, BLECKLEY, BUTTS, CARROLL, COFFEE, CRISP, DODGE, DOOLY, HEARD, IRWIN, JEFF DAVIS, L AMAR, LAURENS, MACON, MERIWETHER, MONTGOMERY, PIKE, SCHLEY, SPALDING, SUMTER, TELFAIR, TREUTLEN, TROUP, TURNER, UPSON, WHEELER, WILCOXNorth GeorgiaDISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERDEMOREST, GA DIRECTOR: NANCY PEEPLESCOUNTIES: BANKS, DAWSON, FORSYTH, FRANKLIN, HABERSHAM, HALL, HART, LUMPKIN, RABUN, STEPHENS, TOCCOA, TOWNS, UNION, WHITENortheast GeorgiaMULTIPLE CHOICESATHENS, GA DIRECTOR: GARRICK SCOTTCOUNTIES: BARROW, CLARKE, ELBERT, GREENE, JACKSON, MADISON, MORGAN, OCONEE, OGLETHORPE, WALTONSTATE FUNDEDONLYSTATE FUNDEDONLYSTATE FUNDEDONLYCHRISTINA HOLTZCLAW

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8Centers for Independent Living all across Georgia are engaged in the tough work of helping people with disabilities live independent and socially connected lives. Whether that’s helping people get the government support they’re entitled to, access transportation or ﬁnd a job, the services that CILs provide have the potential to vastly improve an individual’s quality of life. But in particularly rural areas, there are unique challenges CILs must overcome to best serve their communities. The Disability Resource Center is a CIL serving 13 counties in northeast Georgia. With it’s oce in Demorest, a town 25 miles northeast of Gainsville, we at the DRC have been serving rural consumers for over 20 years.Dealing with the large government organizations that provide aid to people with disabilities was already dicult to navigate alone. But with COVID closing many in-person oces or moving interfaces online, it became that much more dicult for people in rural areas to navigate the system on their own. But for people in these rural areas, having a little help can be life-changing. Consumer Ruby Wells said the DRC has been a lifesaver, especially during COVID. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know what I’d have done,” Wells said. “They helped me get a wheelchair. When appliances break down, they replace them.”Recently, our sta have been ﬁlling out basic Medicaid and food stamps forms to help their consumers maintain their quality of life throughout these uncertain times. Director Nancy Peeples said that building trust with their consumers is one of the main challenges the DRC faces. “They have to trust us prior to us really getting in there and asking, ‘what are your needs?’” Peeples said. “We really build that relationship. It’s beyond providing a wheelchair or providing just one type of service.”It can be hard for an organization like a CIL to build the trust necessary to help the people in these areas. People living with disabilities have often been marginalized for years because of their disabilities or other factors. Individual’s negative past experiences can also be signiﬁcant roadblocks to receiving the help that they need.Tugalo Odister, a DRC consumer from Stephens County, said he had tried to get help before. He tried again last year when “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know what I’d have done,” Wells said. “They helped me get a wheelchair. When appliances break down, they replace them.”Providing Servicesin Rural AreasDisability Resource Center | Demorest, GA

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9he was in danger of losing a place to live. Odister said his experience with the DRC has convinced him we can be trusted to help people.“They’ve been hands-on, boots-on-the-ground, every second, every moment, helping me,” Odister said. “It’s not a gimmick. It’s for real.”Odister has groceries delivered to his house because of a visual impairment that leaves him unable to drive. After one of these deliveries was made to his house, Odister’s groceries were vandalized, leaving him without food for the week. The DRC stepped in to help, getting Odister new groceries within the hour.People won’t see “grocery delivery” listed as one of the DRC’s core services. But it’s those extra acts of service that build the trust they need with consumers. Beyond that, the sta thinks it’s just the right thing to do.“We don’t turn folks away,” Peeples said. “We know that by the time they’ve made a call to the Disability Resource Center, there’s a need.” «DRC consumers Ruby Wells (top) and Tugalo Odister (bottom).SCANTO HEAR THEFULL STORYExcerptedfromSILCGA’sPodcast

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10When it comes to social inequalities, all-too-often out of sight also means out of mind.Social biases and lack of accessible physical spaces makes it too easy for Georgians without disabilities to miss, ignore, or forget the ways our society makes it dicult for a large part of the population to participate in community life.However, signiﬁcant strides have been made in Augusta, Georgia–the state’s second biggest metropolitan area–thanks to the eorts of Walton Options and its partners. If you visit Downtown Augusta today, you will ﬁnd a brand new 6,500 square foot building dedicated to serving the Disability Community. The specially designed and newly built facility Making the Disability Community More Visible in Downtown AugustaWalton Options for Independent Living | Augusta, GALeft to Right: John Allen (Allen + Batchelor Construction), Erin Armstrong (Dickinson Architects), Penny Wasden (First Citizens Bank), Brock Daniels (Georgia Rehabilitation Institute), Phil Brigham (Walton Foundation for Independence), Dennis Skelley (Georgia Rehabilitation Institute), Sue Parr (Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce), Rose Lawas-Smith (Walton Options for Independent Living), and Tiany Cliord (Walton Options for Independent Living)

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11Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Center for Disability Rights & Resources at the Walton Options Oce at 948 Walton Way.Completed Center for Disablity Rights & Resources.is called The Center for Disability Rights & Resources. The new space replaced the Walton Options headquarters, which formerly had a smaller and less visible space in the same location.In addition to this new bigger space making the Disability Community more visible, the facility also provides services and resources that have been long needed in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).The new space is fully equipped to be the central locus of activity for the Disability Community in the CSRA with 15 oces, a multipurpose room, consumer meeting spaces, accessible kitchen and sta spaces, a development and communications studio lab, (Continues...)

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12(...) and an accessible technology lab.Tiany Cliord is the executive director for Walton Options, the Center for Independent Living whose headquarters are housed in the space. Cliord and sta spearheaded the construction of this new space because they had been noticing a growing need, not only for their oces and community work, but also a physical space to meet the needs for the Independent Living community in the area. “For quite a few years, our old building had exhausted its ability to provide a functional setting for our work,” explains Cliord. “What we needed was an accessible and ecient facility that would not only house Walton Options and Walton Foundation for Independence, but be representative of the disability community in the CSRA.“The residents of Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) have been invited to be involved with, learn about, and make use of this new and improved center every step of the way.Walton Options kicked o the public facing part of this eort with an ocial groundbreaking ceremony on April 28, 2021. At the event, Cliord and sta were joined by partners in the venture, including Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Rehabilitation Institute, Dickinson Architects, Allen + Batchelor Construction, First Citizens Bank, and Kruhu. The groundbreaking marked the major step in a journey that had been years in the making for the Augusta Community and surrounding areas.And then more recently, Walton Options hosted the ocial grand opening on July 26, 2022, to correspond with the anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act.Throughout the construction project, James Hener, Walton Options’ Board of Directors’ Vice-Chair and Building Committee Chair stated that this project has always been much more than a building. (Continues on Page 23

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13Since the inception of Disability Connections’ (Middle Georgia Center for Independent Living, Inc.), our services have been hybrid by nature. We served individuals out in the community and mostly in their homes and we participated in community events all over including the buildings we occupied.Then the pandemic hit, and it devastated any ideas of routine or normalcy. We never did stop our services as we adapted quickly utilize the advancement of technology tools we had been using over the years. In the past and more so now in the present, Disability Connections has been involved in the creation of multimedia content and resources to increase our capacity to provide information and training in unique ways. The crisis allowed us the opportunity to increase our ability to reach our community in various ways.For years we had goals to create an accessible kitchen for demonstration and assessment purposes and at the same time we had goals to increase multimedia content which we had in the past but planned on expanding. So the pandemic and it’s challenges led us to bring forth the accessible kitchen and a media studio into one place. Disability Connections is utilizing a new space to ﬁlm, share live or pre-recorded videos, covering everything from media skills to cooking in an accessible environment. Our sta recorded a live event sharing their own individual ideas of healthy dishes. As the kitchen is nearly completed, DC plans to oer more in-depth alternatives to eating healthy, dealing with allergies and so much more from a peer support perspective. The sta have also ﬁlmed material for new online workshops/courses regarding all things disability and independent living. During the week commemorating the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), DC used this space to shoot multiple live events. The CEO, Mike Austin, of the Macon Housing Authority was interviewed and recognized for their continued powerful work in providing and creating accessible housing opportunities for Macon-Bibb County and other areas of the state. DC produced another live event at Rigby’s taking a walk through accessibility tour of Rigby’s Entertainment complex and hotel. They too were recognized for their eorts of supporting the spirit of the ADA. With all this new and ever expanding content, Disability Connections has started a brand new online community called The Disability Connection, https://disabilityconnections.tv Containing a lot of this new content, the community is a place for independent living skills training / workshops, media training, advocacy coordination, peer support, emergency preparedness, and so much more. It is a fast-growing community and we are excited and thrilled to provide information, resources and opportunities in a unique way…a dream, hope and idea that became a reality! «New Kitchen and Studio Spacefor Cooking DemonstartionsBy Michael Leverett Disability Connections | Macon, GADisability Connections established this space to ﬁlm and share videos on cooking skills and healthy eating alternatives. We also ﬁlm material for new online classes regarding all things disability and independent living. During the week commemorating ADA, we used this space to shoot multiple live events.Disability Connections is utilizing a new space to ﬁlm, share live or pre-recorded videos, covering everything from media skills to cooking in an accessible environment.

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Photos by: Anaïs Monique | www.anaismonique.comBACK TOGETHER AGAINFinally! After two years of sheltering in place and remaining steadfast to helping all to remain safe & well, we held our annual Strengthening IL Event. What an exciting time for all and how pleasant to see everyone face to face! Thanks to Nelson Mullins for donating the wonderful Rooftop Terrace and to all the sponsors of the event. Special thanks to Stan Jones, Helen Sloat, George Ray and Olivia Buckner for all your guidance and support! We look forward to seeing all of you at the next event!Thank you to the following sponsors for helping to make the event a success: Disability Connections, Disability Resource Center, Northwest GA Center for Independent Living, LIFE, Walton Options, disABILITY LINK, BAIN, Coca-Cola, Steve Wohl, Harry Hosey, Georgia Advocacy Oce, Nelson Mullins, Jennifer Coyne, Passio Technologies, MARTA, Kimley-Horn, Atlanta Regional Commission, and Multiple Choices.

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16If “hurt people hurt people” it can also be stated with equal certainly that “helped people help people.” At least, that’s certainly the case at Northwest Georgia Center for Independent Living and other CILs throughout the nation.People with disabilities often have an understanding of what CIL consumers are going through, feeling driven to volunteer or work professionally in disability services. Sometimes, there’s a direct connection—a consumer becomes an employee of the CIL that helped them. That’s happened twice at the Northwest Georgia Center for Independent Living.The NWGACIL is in downtown Rome, Georgia, right on Broad Street, serving 15 counties in the northwest corner of Georgia. They started nearly 20 years ago as a satellite branch of the CIL in Atlanta, Disability Link. Quinn Durrant, the independent living coordinator at NWGACIL, started out as a participant in their job training program. He ended up being hired at the CIL, and he said his life has changed for the better in many ways.“I have an apartment. I'm using paratransit every day that I work, which is fantastic, they're a great resource. And I have a job, a steady job, and that is something that I will always be appreciative of.”Erna Dobbs, the information and referral coordinator at NWGACIL, also started out as a consumer. When she had a health emergency that left her with a sudden physical disability, the NWGACIL provided her with several assistive devices that enabled her to live in her own apartment after she was released from care.Dobbs started attending educational sessions oered at NWGACIL once she started living on her own. Her continued contact with the organization made her believe more and more in its message. “Once I became disabled, I thought, I’ve got to get out and do something,” Dobbs said. “I’ve got to see people, I’ve got to tell them my story and see if I can do anything to help them.”One day, Dobbs went to their oces intending to ask if she could volunteer. Before she could say anything, Director Holtzclaw oered her a paying job.Every one of the six employees at the NWGACIL has some kind of disability. “Once I became disabled, I thought, I’ve got to get out and do something,” Dobbs said. “I’ve got to see people, I’ve got to tell them my story and see if I can do anything to help them.”Passing It On: When Consumers Become CIL Sta MembersNWGA Center For Independent Living | Rome, GA

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17Left to Right: Christina Holtzclaw, Erna Dobbs, and Quinn Durant, from the NWGACIL oce.Director Christina Holtzclaw is visually impaired and navigates with a guide dog. Assistant Director Kathy Baker is hearing impaired, communicating primarily by email instead of by phone. Dobbs has a simple message for people with disabilities.“Anybody out there that woke up out of a coma, had a stroke, whatever the case might be, slowly went blind or deaf—more than likely, someone at the center has been through some of the things they're going through, as well as know some of the resources to reach out to get the equipment that they might need.”And the same is true for many CILs. Many people are living with disabilities, either their own or those of a family member. Understanding, not just help, is on the other side of the line when someone calls a CIL. The person speaking with consumers may know exactly what they’re dealing with. At the NWGACIL, that’s part of their . «SCANTO HEAR THEFULL STORYExcerptedfromSILCGA’sPodcast

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18This year, LIFE has engaged in numerous eorts impacting LIFE consumers and the community as a whole. Due to its coastal orientation, LIFE focused on hurricane evacuation planning eorts.LIFE is a founding member of the Coastal Alliance of CILs Active In Disaster, a group tasked with facilitating disaster preparedness eorts to support PwD throughout Coastal Georgia and Coastal South Carolina. Additionally, on May 19th, LIFE Sta participated in the CEMA Hurricane Registry Simulation in Pooler, providing real-time feedback during the exercise to agency employees to ensure the process was fully accessible.LIFE followed this up on June 23rd when it hosted an IL Skills training on preparing an emergency kit for community members, ending with a drawing for the kit built during the exercise.LIFE’s efforts to make the community more accessible extended to both residential and business settings. LIFE performed 7 Accessibility Site Reviews of businesses/organizations in Coastal Georgia and numerous home modifications and AT deployments in the area. Examples of testimonials from LIFE consumers benefiting from LIFE’s home modification and assistive technology programs included the following:"The ramp has been a big help and has changed my life for the better. It's so much safer.""I can't tell you how grateful I am, I wouldn't be able to stay in my own home without the ramp, it has changed everything." "The video magnifier has made it possible to remain a little more independent. I can use it to handle my finances, read my bible, newspaper, etc. Without the magnifier, I cannot read instructions on my medicines, food preparation, etc. Thank you, LIFE, for making all this possible and may God bless you." «"I can't tell you how grateful I am, I wouldn't be able to stay in my own home without the ramp, it has changed everything."Hurricane Evacuation Planningand Home RenovationsLIFE Center For Independent Living | Savannah, GAConsumer B.W. was ecstatic to win the Emergency Kit as an attendee of the LIFE Online Emergency Kit Workshop.

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19A Letter We Received From Consumer’s ParentsI want to thank you all for helping me and my son with his assistive technology device, an iPad. Donovan was diagnosed with seizures (not epilepsy), a massive stroke, and then open-heart surgery to remove a myoma from inside his left atrium. The stroke resulted in him having global aphasia and has been dicult for us all every day. The iPad has been such an asset since the app he uses for communication is only the iPad. He had been using an iPad at the hospital and rehab facility but once he left, I would have had to get one myself for him to communicate with us more easily. With your purchasing that and the app for him, it was such a great help and relief for him and I as well as his sister. It has been a ﬁnancial strain on me for many items for him and I know how costly devices can get. I was so grateful to learn that Multiple Choices could help him when he needed it the most. Just yesterday we had an issue where he was trying to tell us something but we couldn’t guess what he was trying to say. With him having global aphasia, he barely understood us and he couldn’t get the words out. He went and grabbed his iPad and typed in that he was in pain in his upper thigh area. Our guesses were o but that iPad was more speciﬁc with him using the app. He communicates more with his wants and needs and it is less stressful. It has been very useful when he goes to therapy and just out of the house. Our next step is getting back into school in which the device will help with communicating to those who will be working with him and around him. There are many boundaries he has but is pushing through to accomplish his goals. It is still very devastating to have this happen to him that every day is a reality check that it happened to him but if he can push through then so can I. Again, this was a blessing to have Multiple Choices be able to get this for Donovan and we are very thankful. «iPad Enables Parents toCommunicate with Son Multiple Choices | Athens, GA

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23The Home Access Program (HAP) continues to thrive. This program provides vital home accessibility modiﬁcations to those requiring it. There are almost 700 people on the waiting lists statewide. During this reporting period, the Centers around the state initiated 13 HAP projects. Projects ran the gamut of installing safety grab bars to totally modifying bathrooms for accessibility. If you know of anyone that requires accessibility modiﬁcations to safely maneuver around their home, please let us know. Check us out at www.silcga.org. The Statewide Independent Living Council and the Centers for Independent Living would like to thank the State of Georgia and the Department of Community Aairs for their continued support of this very important program. «HOME ACCESS PROGRAM

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24SILCGA Consults for MARTA and Hosts NADTCStatewide Independent Living Council | Decatur, GAOn June 8th-10th SILCGA’s mobility Coordinator Jordan Hall Was able to visit Utah in order to provide feedback for the new trains being built by MARTA.The organization building the trains Stadler created a virtual reality simulation of riding the train. The simulation allowed participants to experience how much space will be provided, as well as dierent accessibility features such as the grab rails. Both MARTA and Stadler did an excellent job of ensuring that members of the MARTA Accessibility Committee and Riders’ Advisory Council feedback was not only considered, but also fully understood for implementation. Some of the notable features are increased space and clear designated areas for wheelchair users.The Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia was also selected by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center to be a host site for focus groups to evaluate transportation needs. There were three focus groups. The categories of the groups were younger adults with developmental disabilities, older adults with developmental disabilities, and caregivers of persons with developmental disabilities.For the purpose of these groups SILCGA partnered with the CIL Walton Options. Walton Options was instrumental in gathering participants and providing feedback about transportation barriers. The overall consensus was that public transit needs to be more readily available and accessible and provide more opportunities to cross county lines. The hope is that through the data given from the

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25A consumer came to us with the goal of ﬁnding employment. Speciﬁcally, she wanted to work in a position that worked with others who have disabilities.Since she has an involved background of similar employment she was looking to ﬁnd something that while allowing her to work in her chosen area of interest would also challenge her and provide her with opportunities to grow. After supporting her with updating her resume’, she submitted an application for employment with an organization. She was able to interview for the position and was hired with a start date in January 2022. She reports she is excited to begin a job in something that interests her.New Jobs for Atlanta ConsumersdisABILITY Link | Metro Area Atlanta, GA ◊◊◊A consumer who has been with us for a few years who has served as a volunteer and other capacities has been working on a primary goal of obtaining housing. In line with that goal the consumer applied for and was placed on the HUD 811 waitlist. In March 2022, the consumer’s name came up on the waitlist and is currently in the process of working with the newly built apartment community she was referred to in order to complete her application process so that she can move into her new home in the next few weeks. She is excited saying that it has been a long time coming. She can’t wait to live on her own in a place she can aord and is accessible. «focus groups organizations like NADTC will help improve and advocate for the expansion of transportation.The Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia was also selected by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center to be a host site for focus groups to evaluate transportation needs. There were three focus groups. The categories of the groups were younger adults with developmental disabilities, older adults with developmental disabilities, and caregivers of persons with developmental disabilities. For the purpose of these groups SILCGA partnered with the CIL Walton Options. Walton Options was instrumental in gathering participants and providing feedback about transportation barriers. The overall consensus was that public transit needs to be more readily available and accessible and provide more opportunities to cross county lines. The hope is that through the data given from the focus groups organizations like NADTC will help improve and advocate for the expansion of transportation. «“One of our consumers who is visually impaired came to us seeking employment. She began working as an intern and successfully completed that program. Upon completion of her internship she began attending LEAPS and Speechcraft and now has a job at AMAZON! She has shared the information she has learned at AMAZON to help others with visual impairments also get jobs at AMAZON as well!”

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27Funding RestoredAfter a three year challenge of having critical funding removed, the IL Network’s funding has been restored.Thanks to the House Human Resources & Senate Human Development and Public Health Subcommittees and the generous consideration from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency for seeing the great value in the Network’s ability in providing necessary and needed services statewide.With the funding restored, the Centers are looking to hire qualiﬁed individuals in order to increase consumer services and decrease current stang overload. Not willing to settle for funding restoration, now we can return to advocating for complete state coverage. Currently, there are 27 counties that are not being served by a Center for Independent Living. What is known, from the needs assessment, is many want and need a CIL in their county. Your help is needed as we begin to educate and advocate for CIL Expansion. Help us ﬁll in the blank areas of the state. By doing so, we can potentially provide resource access to individuals who are under-served and isolated. «(Continued from Page 12)“As we reach out to gain support for the new building, we are also reaching out to raise awareness about the options and opportunities the CSRA has when we create a community where every person, regardless of ability, deserves to take up space, to exist and to be,” said Hener. “It is exciting to see what was once a sketched out idea being brought to life in our community,” In addition to the Walton Options services and programs, Walton Foundation for Independence will be a part of the new Center for Disability Rights & Resources with oces on site. At the grand opening event on July 26 of this year, Walton Options celebrated not only its core services which are the foundation for the development of many programs, but also highlighted and celebrated the partner organizations and programs that will now call the Center for Disability Rights and Resources home. These organizations include Walton Foundation for Independence, Prevent Blindness, and the Hire Me Georgia campaign.“It is exciting to be part of the revitalization that is occurring all around us,” said Cliord. “Persons with disabilities are active throughout the community and contribute individually to the heartbeat of the area as it continues to grow. We are excited to have this new space as part of that growth.” «Making the Disability Community More Visible in Downtown Augusta

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28"My experience conducting detailed site surveys has been an eye-opening education and has given me a sense of pride and honor. It has made a world of dierence to work with the regional team at SILCGA, who understand intersectional marginalization, and to serve as part of an inter-abled collective; especially in a world that centers the able-bodied community. While visiting facilities around the state, we saw inconsistencies in leadership, education, and overall care. Some facility leaders and sta were eager, hopeful and highly attentive to their patients, while others were met with disregard, lack of knowledge, defensiveness or even apathy. Oversights are inevitable when sta is spread too thin, funding is insucient, or education/ training is unavailable to sta.A special thank you to Shelly Simmons. I feel blessed to have made these connections, and the exceptional care she had for our wellbeing while traveling remotely. The team is an inspiration and I can rest a bit more easily at night, knowing folx like them exist, doing this beautiful and very necessary work."Natasha JainArt Director + Designer + Illustratorwww.asha-artnsoul.com/"Surveying healthcare facilities around the state of Georgia provided an incredible perspective on the gaps in care for marginalized communities with disabilities. Aside from poor communication with certain regional contacts, it was actually painful to witness some providers reveal themselves as detached or indierent to their disabled communities. I recall sitting with a facility leader, inquiring about their evacuation policies and training for those requiring additional assistance. The person’s answers were unclear, unsure, and nearly dismissive. After some discussion, we were able to eectively establish their answers and why these policies were undeniably essential. Thankfully, there were many other healthcare providers that were overjoyed at the opportunity to be surveyed and improve their facility’s accessibility. If it were not for the resources and support given by Shelly Simmons and her team at SILCGA, I do not feel I would have been able to complete the work, feel as safe, or face certain challenges as eciently. Working in tandem and as an inter-abled team with SILCGA gave me an education I will forever carry forward."Anaïs MoniqueWriter + Photographer + Podcasterwww.anaismonique.comIn May, the SILC and the Centers for Independent Living across the state were selected by the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to participate in a barrier removal survey of medical facilities. The facilities were surveyed to assess their accessibility for persons with disabilities. The project surveyed 87 facilities.Removing Barriers with the National Council on Independent LivingStatewide Independent Living Council | Decatur, GA

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29It’s no secret that transitioning a person out of a nursing home can dramatically improve their quality of life. What often surprises people, however, is that it actually saves the state and Georgia taxpayer money to do so.Here’s an excerpt from one of our podcasts in which Access 2 Independence Director Kirk Holcombe explains how transitioning people out of nursing home saves the state money.The state spends about $200 a day for a person to stay in a nursing home. Multiply that by 30 days and you get up $6,000 a month. If you live out in your community instead, what assistance do you get from the state and the federal government? Your Social Security check, which is usually around $750 a month. Do I want to pay that individual $750 a month, or do I want to spend $6,000 a month for them to live in a nursing home? To help with this, the government came up with the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, which gives CILs a budget of $20,000 to help transition someone out of the nursing home and live independently in the community. For every month that that individual is living out in the community, the state and the federal government is saving around $5,000 dollars a month. Per person, per year, that becomes a lot of money. If you think about it as just our center alone, for 30 transitions over the last ten years, we probably saved the state right around $19 million. And so I think our goal last year was 205 individuals that we transitioned. That's $1,000,000 a month multiplied by 12 months. So for the MFP program as a whole, for our goal of 205 people, we're saving $12.9 million a year transitioning people out of the nursing home. And that's for every year.So every 200 people, 205 people, we get out, we're saving the state $13 million plus the cumulative year. So let's say the 30 or the 205 people we got out five years ago. If they all have stayed out, have not transitioned back into the community, those 200 people five years ago, we've saved $65 million just for those 200 people. «How Keeping People Out of Nursing Homes Saves Taxpayer MoneyAccess 2 Independence | Columbus, GASCANTO HEAR THEFULL STORYExcerptedfromSILCGA’sPodcast

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Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their ﬁndings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent ocial Administration for Community Living or Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency policies.Magazine created by Matt Shedd | mattshedd.comVisit us online and don‘t forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTubewww.SILCGA.comSILC STAFFSHELLY SIMMONS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTORREBECCA RAMAGE-TUTTLE | ASSISTANT DIRECTORJORDAN HALL | MOBILITY COORDINATORSILC BOARD MEMBERSSHELIA KITCHENS | CHAIRRESHELL BALDINI | VICE CHAIRMATTHEW DOOLEY | SECRETARYYAS ABDALLAH |TREASURERSAVANNAH ABBOTT | BOARD MEMBERTIM CARTLEDGE | BOARD MEMBERKIM GIBSON | BOARD MEMBERDANNY HOUSLEY | BOARD MEMBERJUAN MAITLAND | BOARD MEMBERSAMUEL VERNIERO | BOARD MEMBERXAVIER JENNINGS, GVRA | EX OFFICIO MEMBERJENNIFER COYNE, DAS | EX OFFICIO MEMBERJEROME GREATHOUSE, DCH | EX OFFICIO MEMBER315 WEST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, SUITE 660 | DECATUR, GA 30030PHONE: 770.270.6860 | FAX: 404.835.1546 | TTY: USE 711 RELAYSCANTO HEARMORE FROMSILCGA’ SPODCAST