Public Policy and Advocacy

AADD works to advance a public agenda of participation and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families. AADD has successfully advocated for a variety of issues, including legislation which requires infant metabolic screening that detects preventable forms of intellectual disabilities and the expansion of services that enable individuals with disabilities to live, work and contribute to their communities. A core philosophy of our public policy efforts is to empower people with the information and skills to become effective advocates for system change and for change within their own communities.

If you would like to make your voice heard in Georgia, sign up for AADD’s Action Alerts here!

Partners in Policymaking has a twenty year history of training and organizing advocates from across the state.  Over 600 partners have graduated from the training and now work together on public policy and community advocacy.

Each year we work with our parent mentors and partners to select and host six Conversations That Matter sessions in different communities across the state.  AADD selects a topic and organizes a program and a dialogue within the community about the topic.   In 2012, our topic has been Building a Brighter Future after High School and we hosted events in Macon, Kennesaw, Valdosta, Statesboro and Gainesville.