NEWSLETTEROct2007

The

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Newsletter of the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities

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Our mission

is to build

communities of

support, acceptance,

and opportunity for

children, adults,

and families living with developmental

disabilities

Issue 43 October 2007

(Click on title below to go directly to article.)

1. Conrads Lead Inspring Legacy
2. Town Hall Meeting Series Kicks Off
3. Message from Mary Yoder, AADD Executive Director
4. Say "Yes" to Holiday Joy - Adopt a Family
5. Activities Connection!

1. Conrads Lead Inspiring Legacy 2007

From left to right: Legacy Breakfast co-chairs Darlene and Chip Conrad, their son Clay Conrad.

NEW VIDEO

Click here to view AADD's new 6-minute video:
Reaching Out, Speaking Up, Supporting Families.

You must have QuickTime to view this video. To download QuickTime for FREE, click here.

With leadership by co-chairs Chip and Darlene Conrad, Legacy 2007 was an inspiring and uplifting event, according to attendees of the breakfast held Tuesday, October 23, in the John and Sue Wieland Pavilion of The High Museum.

“This was a terrific program. I really enjoyed it,” said Kitty Farnham, a first-time attendee of the breakfast, AADD's main community outreach event.

Others who’ve attended for several years were delighted by an appearance by young friends of AADD and singers from Morris Brandon Elementary School.

Cindy Lou Harrington, far right, with guitar in-hand, led singers from Morris Brandon Elementary school and other friends of AADD in the premiere of the "Good Morning Song."

Sam Williams, AADD advisory board member, kept the almost capacity crowd engaged during the program, which lasted less than an hour.

“The children and the ‘Good Morning Song’ were such a surprise. They added a lot of energy to the morning. We were also deeply moved by the video. We love this event – my family and I,” said Marianne Craft, AADD board member and former Legacy event co-chair.

Master of Ceremonies Sam Zamarippa welcomed more than 250 guests who were served an elegant breakfast of fruit, quiche, and breakfast breads. He introduced Clay Conrad, son of Darlene and Chip Conrad, who asked the blessing. Zamarippa also recognized sponsors of the event including Park’n Fly, King and Spalding, and The High Museum.

In his comments, Chip Conrad, a current AADD advisory board member and past AADD board president said, “AADD has spent 50 years advancing the cause of people living with developmental disabilities. And by advancing that cause, our entire community is lifted up.” He also commented on AADD’s challenges, “We are a not-for-profit organization that operates in a difficult funding climate. While we are grateful for the state funds and grants AADD receives; these funds aren’t enough to meet the demand for our services in metro-Atlanta and beyond. Your gift helps us to bridge the funding gaps.”

Mary Yoder, AADD executive director, was quick to thank event sponsors during her comments, and said, “ We are grateful to have had such caring sponsors for Legacy this year.”

Yoder also delivered a compelling keynote speech on the theme of the breakfast, “Reaching Out, Speaking Up, Supporting Families.”

She talked about how, with the support of many of the guests at the breakfast, “We have built an organization that was founded on the belief that everyone has a right to be the best they can be, to live with dignity and respect. Further: all of us, at times, are dependent on one another,” she said.

The video shown at the breakfast, “AADD: Reaching Out, Speaking Up, Supporting Families,” is on the AADD web site, www.aadd.org.

For information about how you can either sponsor or attend the 2008 Legacy Breakfast, please contact:

Matt Pieper
AADD director of development
404-881-9777 ext. 232
mpieper@aadd.org

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2. Town Hall Meeting Series Kicks Off With Great Response;
Statewide Media Coverage

Orie (L) and his friend Nicholas(R), two DeKalb County high school students, came to the Town Hall Meeting on Disability to see how they could be of service and help out, according to Rita Young (C) of AADD.

More than 200 parents and self-advocates helped kick off the 2007 - 2008 series of Town Hall Meetings on Disability at the inaugural event held October 29th at Shamrock High School in Decatur and a second meeting held in Savannah on November 5th. The meetings have inspired a burst of media coverage including interviews with Dave Blanchard, AADD director of Public Policy and Education.

The Town Hall Meetings give parents and self advocates the opportunity to talk about many topics related to developmental disabilities. This year the focus is on school-to-work transition planning for young adults with a disability. The meetings make possible the chance to ask questions of the policymakers, learn how to help affect policy, and work with other parents to help find solutions to common concerns.

“We are thrilled with the response! What a great crowd. The people came to learn, to find support, to connect. We offered the expertise and the opportunity and I believe a lot of questions were answered,” said Rita Young, AADD Advocacy and Training manager.

Dave Blanchard, AADD director of Public Policy and Education, was joined by Steve Hall, director, Office of Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Department of Human Resources; Nancy E. O’Hara, director, Division for Special Education Services, Office of Standards, Instruction, and Assessment, Georgia Department of Education; and Susan Sherman of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, State Department of Labor, in a panel discussion led by Rita Young.

The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities serves as the Presenting Sponsor of the Town Hall Meetings. Their generous financial sponsorship, along with event sponsor and AADD board member, Linda Wilson, ensures that admission is free of charge for all attendees. The meetings are being coordinated by AADD in collaboration with the DeKalb Council on Developmental Disabilities: Georgia Department of Education; Georgia Department of Human Resources, Office of Developmental Disabilities; Georgia Department of Labor, and Unlock the Waiting Lists! campaign.

AADD board members Cindy Bertram and Sandy Foxworth were among the volunteers who greeted guests at the first Town Hall Meeting on Disability. To learn about other events scheduled around the state, visit www.aadd.org

“Parents are asking about what happens after their children graduate from high school. They are concerned that their children will lose the gains they’ve made, and that supports won’t be in place. We say it’s never too early to start planning, and that you can’t have too much information,” said Rita Young.

Prior to the event, press coverage announcing the series ran in Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, Macon, and Atlanta, among other Georgia cities. To see a sample of the coverage, click on:
www.ledger-enquirer.com
www.accessnorthga.com

To hear one of Blanchard’s radio interviews, click on aadd.org

For more information about upcoming Town Hall events in Savannah, Athens, Macon, North Fulton, and Gwinnett, and how your business could help to sponsor the events, please visit:
www.unlockthewaitinglists.com/ConversationsthatMatter.html

November 29th, 7pm - 9pm - Gwinnett
Oakland Meadow School
590 Old Snellville Hwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
For more information: Karen Addams or 770-736-1783

December 3rd, 6:30pm - 8:30pm – Macon
Mulberry Street United Methodist Church
719 Mulberry Street
Macon, Georgia 31201
Click here for Flyer For more information: Nalini Isaac or 478-765-8716

January 7th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm - Athens
Location to be Announced
For more information: Lynn Jones/Pam Moore or call Lynn at 706-461-8841

January 8th, 7:00-9:00 p.m. - North Fulton
Location to be Announced
For more information: Jennifer Carroll or 770-998-1703

Rita Young
404-881-9777 ext. 220
rita@aadd.org

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3. Say "Yes" to Holiday Joy - Adopt a Family

Shannon Kitchens, of Sage Clothing Co., Inc., shows just a couple of the large number of toys that Sage has collected for AADD families

The Social Security Income check comes once a month. $603. She manages to pay the rent, the heating and light bills, and buy a little food. But what gnaws at her every day is the sight of her two little boys sleeping on mattresses on the floor. She needed two bed frames for twin beds – that was her Christmas wish. She couldn’t rely on her family – they had abandoned her a long time ago. In a panic and with a little bit of hope, she turned to the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (AADD).

Twenty-one years ago, AADD instituted its Adopt-A-Family program to deliver holiday cheer to families AADD supports throughout the year. Last year over 40 families were adopted; this year AADD hopes to at least match that effort for families living with developmental disabilities.

AADD seeks open-hearted individuals, businesses, companies, and faith communities to adopt a family by bringing them a holiday meal and gifts matching their needs. Some volunteers send a check or gift certificates, and AADD’s Outreach Specialists assist the participants in shopping for their families. Other volunteers band together with friends, cook the meal, buy and wrap the gifts, and deliver it all to the family’s door.

“We deeply appreciate our adopters, whether they take the presents over themselves, or give us a check to help with the shopping” said Azalene James, director of AADD’s Georgia Family Support program.

“Generous adopters bring great joy to the families we support. We hope folks will step forward now to make things brighter for these families. Life is hard on them all year. And when cold weather and the holidays come, their needs are even greater,” Azalene added.

For the last three years, SAGE, an upscale clothing store, has asked their clients to contribute toys that then could be distributed to AADD families.

“SAGE presented AADD with bags and bags of toys, worth about $1,000, that were lovingly distributed among AADD families. What a gift that was!” said Carey Sipp, AADD marketing director.

Azalene James, is delighted to speak with anyone interested in adopting a family for the holidays. Call 404-881-9777, ext. 214 or write her at azalene@aadd.org.

4. Message from Mary Yoder, AADD Executive Director

Mary Yoder, AADD executive director,
speaking at Legacy, 2007

Recently I was honored to speak to about 280 Atlantans, all of them friends of AADD’s. The occasion was AADD’s Fifth Annual Legacy Breakfast.

As I refined my comments for this year’s talk, I was struck with gratitude that AADD is able to help so many people. Last year we provided a variety of services to about 6,000 people living with developmental disabilities.

I want to share the story of one family we were able to help recently. Perhaps you will want to share this story sometime during the upcoming holidays, as you join me in being grateful that AADD is in a position to make a difference in the lives of people. This story makes me especially proud; it could be the story of any one of us:

Jake is a single dad who had been homeless, living in a car. As a child he suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him blind in one eye, with chronic headaches and intellectual disabilities. The headaches have never gone away. Brain damage continues to make learning difficult. Jake was, and is, plagued with frustration and depression.

But being homeless had to change when the mother of Jake’s 8-year-old son was put in jail for selling drugs. It was a turning point for Jake; he became determined to step up for his son. With the help of his family, Jake became his son’s legal guardian. Then he called AADD for help.

To make a long story short: in two months AADD helped Jake secure a housing voucher, find a place that would accept the voucher, move, obtain furniture and housewares, and enroll his son in school. We also supported him in finding and becoming established with a doctor, and in meeting neighbors.

This proud father now tells everyone he is grateful for a home for his son and that the AADD parent support group is helping him to be a responsible dad.

AADD is committed to be there for Jake and his son. For as long as they need us, we will provide flexible supports, to meet this family’s changing needs.

Jake is like you are: he wants a good life for his child. We know there are at least 3,000 people on the waiting list for services here in Metro Atlanta. During this holiday time, I hope you will find room in your heart to help us make a difference for a family like Jake’s, and that you will support AADD’s ongoing work to reach out, speak up, and support families.

(If you missed the 2007 Legacy Breakfast and would still like to make a year-end gift, please click on here.)

5. Activities Connection!

Highlighted event: 19th Annual AADD/Junior League of Atlanta Holiday Dinner Dance

This month the spotlight is on one of the year’s great events – the AADD/Junior League of Atlanta Holiday Dinner Dance. Each year more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities join together to celebrate the season, reconnect, dance, and share a delicious sit-down dinner.

For more information on this event and other recreation or education events , click here to visit the “Events” section of our AADD Web site.

Happy Holidays!

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