People First of Georgia Annual Convention 2007..

WHAT: Get Involved! :: The People First of Georgia Annual Convention 2007

WHERE: Buccaneer Beach Resort - 85 South Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527

WHEN: Friday, 2007-08-24 to Sunday, 2007-08-26. Check-in 3:00pm & dinner at 6:00 pm on Friday 24 - check out before 11:00 am on Sunday 26.

COST: Only $50 registration fee per person for everyone - including supporters, attendants etc.

WHO: Important - Conference only available to People First members from chapters who have received their People First of GA Chartership

Registration Deadline: 12 noon, Friday, July 20 – $50 fee due at registration - space is limited - only 150 beds in 75 rooms

NOTE: The Registration fee includes hotel room for 2 nights only (Friday and Saturday) and meals from and including Friday night dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner on Saturday and Sunday breakfast

TRAVEL: Conference attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs - partial travel scholarships may be available – contact People First of GA and submit a travel budget request

CONTACT: People First of GA - 755 Commerce Drive #105, Decatur, GA 30030 – phone 404-687-8890 x150 or 1-800- 239-2507 – FAX 404- 687-8298

MHDDAD :: MH Advocates' Meeting 2007-05-22 2:00pm, Call-In participation..

From Glynda King's very information, high volume (i.e. fair warning given) emailing list..

Below is our proposed agenda for the MH Advocates meeting.

The MH Advocates meeting will be held at 2 Peachtree on May 22nd on the 22nd floor in room 270 at 2:00 PM. Please plan to attend the meeting to meet Audrey Sumner, Mental Health Director, and have the opportunity to discuss MH issues and concerns.

For those who are unable to attend, you may call in 1-886-244-8528 passcode 218749.

If you have any items you would like to add, please email Anna McLaughlin at anna.mclaughlin@gpsn.org.

DRAFT agenda for May 22 advocate's meeting with DMHDDAD

• Welcome Audrey Summer, the new MH chief, and clarification of scope of the job.
• There are problems with implementation of fee-for-service in delivery of child and adolescent mental health services
• How is the Division supporting core providers who are not CSBs in the transition to fee-for-service?
• What plans are being made to protect vulnerable adults as money is removed from that system?
• Will the Division survey providers to ask if the fee structure will support quality services and if they can provide uncompensated services like 24/7 emergency phone contact services?
• Can the billing process be simplified?
• How can/will systems of care be incentivized?
• The scheduled July 1 implementation of the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility short-term model also has problems
• Children with severe disorders related to years of trauma, children with severe behavioral symptoms and neurological symptoms and/or co-occurring disorders, and children who have a history of sexually aggressive behavior are not able to be served in a short-term model. Who will serve them?
• There is need for greater coordination with DCH.
• How can DHR's rehabilitation model be reconciled with DCH's medical model to serve people more effectively?
• We understand that a mental health block grant plan modification is being made. Please tell us more about that.
• What is being done about the issues we have discussed in the past around people who have mental illnesses and who are homeless?

Atlanta Paratransit Action Today :: MARTA Headquarters, Lindbergh Station

A forward representing a cooperative effort of several Atlanta-based disability advocacy organizations.. Fifty rides is not enough when one considers that this barely covers the coming and going to work, let alone all the other activities one must perform just to maintain the status quo of Life..

This MARTA Paratransit action takes place in little less than two hours.. If you're anywhere near the Atlanta downtown area right now, please help out by show of Body and Voice..

Snipped for brevity

WHAT: MARTA Paratransit Action for People with Disabilities!

WHEN: Monday, May 14, 2007 -- 12:00 noon until..

WHERE: MARTA Headquarters at Lindbergh Station
2424 Piedmont Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30324

For more information, call Cheri Mitchell at 678-755-6015

WHY: People who ride para-transit vans now pay $105.00 dollars for one month's worth of unlimited rides. The MARTA Board of Directors is now proposing that para-transit riders must pay the same $105.00 dollars, but for only 50 rides per month! 50 rides per month is not enough!

Even though People with Disabilities riding para-transit pay double what others pay, they get:

• Poor Service
• Late Para-transit Pick Ups
• Almost No Response from Dispatch
• Long Hold Times when Dispatch Does Respond

OUR SOLUTIONS:

• Unlimited Rides!
• On-time performance of 95% (Industry Average)
• Ride times of 60 minutes or less
• Timely response from Dispatch with hold times of no more than 5 minutes.
• No Trip Denials

Cross-posted at: Six. Almost Seven....

AJC :: Georgia's hospitals to get Federal investigation..

A breaking news announcement shared that Governor Sonny Perdue has been notified that the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights division is headed for Georgia to investigate our state's seven state-run mental health hospitals..

The rest of the story may be found at:

Justice Dept. to investigate Georgia's mental hospitals..
By Alan Judd, Andy Miller, authors of the A Hidden Shame ongoing series of articles regarding the condition of Georgia's state-wide run mental health care hospitals..
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution..
Published on: 2007-04-19

You're going to have to grab it quick because the AJC's articles go into archive very regularly.. Be forewarned that it takes a subscription to view many of their articles.. Perhaps this one they'll just let slide..

Cross-posted opinion at: Six. Almost Seven....

Gwinnett County :: Meeting 2007-04-20: ACLU Sponsored School to Prison Pipeline Project..

WHAT: The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is sponsoring a "School to Prison Pipeline Project in Gwinnett County, Georgia..

WHO: For parents and community members interested in learning more and making a difference in Gwinnett County

WHEN: Friday, 2007-04-20, 7-8:30pm

WHERE: Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, Conference Room B, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville , GA 30045

DIRECTIONS (From South of Gwinnett)

• Take I-85 North to Hwy. 316 (splits to the right)
• Exit Hwy. 316 at Hwy. 120 (Duluth-Lawrenceville exit) and go right approximately 1.5 miles
• Turn right at the 6th light (Langley Drive)
• Go approximately .5 miles and the complex will be on your right

Resource: Member post at GA-ChildrensNetwork, Yahoo! group (semi-high traffic, in-depth application process to join)

Georgia Special Education Petition :: Keep parents in the know, in the loop..

There is currently an online petition circulating concerning special education in Georgia.. It is being forwarded by parents of children with disabilities (CWDs).. They want to make the message clear that they are very serious about staying involved in the education of their children, our Future.. Please pass it on quickly..

Cyberhoused at The Petition Site: Educate Georgia Petition (#600878749)..

The Educate Georgia Petition states:

Children with Special Needs and their Parents want to be "equal" partners in the education of "their" children.

Recently, Georgia Dept. of Education, Division of Exceptional Students has proposed changes to the Special Education Rules, which will be effective July 2007, unless we speak up! Many of the proposed changes will negatively affect Children with Special Needs, their parents and education in our communities throughout Georgia.

The following petition is the collected voice of Concerned Public Citizens and Parents of Children with Special Needs. We the undersigned, hereby agree by adding our signature to this petition, that we are not in agreement with the 2007 Proposed changes to Special Education Rules and Regulations, as proposed by the Georgia Department of Education, Division of Exceptional Students.

The proposed changes will NEGATIVELY affect the education of Children with Special Needs and communities in Georgia. In addition, we, the concerned Public Citizens and Parents of Children with Special Needs propose the following changes: Adoption of Proposed changes, as contained in this petition, to improve the educational results for Children with Special Needs throughout Georgia.

Make Parents “equal” partners in education. Give us a place at the table when making decisions about our Children with Special Needs. Georgia Leaders, we are asking you to change the course of Georgia’s Education!

Unlock Action Alert: 2,000 MRWP Slots for 2008 DHR Budget..

Found the following Unlock The Waiting Lists Action Alert while suggesting UNLOCK as a resource with respect to a question regarding MRWP (Mental Retardation Waiver Program) services..

The Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), recommended approximately 2,000 new Mental Retardation Waiver Program services (MRWP) for the FY08 budget to unlock the waiting lists for home and community based services!

The [Georgia] Governor has presented his budget to the General Assembly on January 10th, cutting the DHR's proposal by 500 services and funding 1,500 new MRWP services with $12.2M to Unlock Georgia's waiting lists for disability supports. We sincerely appreciate the Governor's commitment to fund these services for people with disabilities.

However, the multiple year funding plan to Unlock Georgia’s waiting lists for disability supports calls for 2,000 Mental Retardation Waiver Program (MRWP) services for the FY08 budget.

A handful of talking points UNLOCK provided about Georgia's waiting lists..

• Its a fact that the waiting list that grows by approximately 1,100 people each year.
• Over 700 students with disabilities graduating every year to adult waiting lists.
• With over 6,400 people currently waiting for help, we must remain committed!
• There are over 17,000 individuals with disabilities living with caregivers over the age of 60!

UNLOCK additionally provides links to a sample letter along with tips on successfully, respectfully advocating for all of Georgia's citizens currently locked away from full community inclusion.. Never forget your Voice counts.. This is another great way to use it effectively..

MHDDAD: Certified Peer Specialist Training (Mental Health)..

Certified peer specialist (CPS training regularly comes up lately on various listservs I frequent.. The following offers an opportunity for more individuals to participate in the same..

As a graduate of Georgia Peer Support Project (PSP), a like-minded project that persons of all disabilities, all parties involved profit incredibly from programs just such as these.. Good luck to all who apply..

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Georgia Department of Human Resources :: Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD)
Two Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 22.224
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3171
Phone: 404-657-2100

Carol Coussons de Reyes / Director / Consumer Relations and Recovery Section
2 Peachtree St., NW
Suite 23-411 / Atlanta, GA 30303
Email: emfilson@dhr.state.ga.us, ccoussonsdereyes@dhr.ga.gov.

Greetings from the Consumer Relations and Recovery Section:

We are pleased to announce the upcoming March 2007 certification training for Peer Specialists at Simpsonwood Lodge and Conference Center in Norcross, GA. The Georgia CPS Project is an initiative of the Division of MHDDAD in partnership with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (www.gmhcn.org). Please note the training schedule, cost, and application procedure below. Attached please also see the required application material for prospective participants.

This March 2007 training marks our 18th to date. There are approximately 340 Certified Peer Specialists in GA, as well as those who have joined us for training from 12 other states and Canada. Certified Peer Specialists (CPSs) work in a variety of settings both within and outside of the mental health system and are leaders in some of GA’s newest initiatives: The Medical College of GA has hired a CPS to bring strengths based recovery and the concept of peer support to student physicians, psychologists and psychiatrists. CPSs in Milledgeville are supporting consumers currently transitioning from long term hospitalization into the community under the Olmstead Law. A CPS in partnership with clinical providers in a traditional system has created The Peer Support Specialist Program of the Veteran’s Administration in Augusta. The dynamic energy of CPSs in the mental health system is a testimony to the power of recovery. The support that many CPSs receive from the system is a testimony to the investment that Georgia has made in recovery. Every CPS, as a recovery agent, has lived experience and expertise that is invaluable to the system. May the light of recovery shine for all to see!

As a consumer leader, I can assure you that Georgia is invested in recruiting consumer leadership. The Consumer Relations and Recovery Section of the Division of MHDDAD is currently looking for a CPS to join the staff as the Director of the CPS Project. The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network continues under the leadership of a CPS Executive Director. The partnership forged by these organizations has underscored Georgia’s determination to be a leader in mental health system transformation. Each and every CPS is a leader for their agency or center.

The National Institute of Medicine promotes the GA CPS Project as a model for other states to emulate. Weekly, the Consumer Relations and Recovery Section gets calls from other states asking, “How did you do it?” The Project has also been identified as an “innovative and exceptional practice” by the Annapolis Coalition on Behavioral Health Workforce. The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will release a Resource Kit, Building a Foundation for Recovery: How States Can Bill Medicaid for Peer Support Services and Train a Workforce of Peers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently endorsed peer support services, a milestone accomplishment that will allow other states to tap into a steady funding mechanism for peer support services.

When there is hope in recovery, there is power in the present.

Training Schedule

Week One: March 5 –March 9, beginning at 9am on March 5, and ending on Friday, March 9 at 2pm

Week Two: March 12 –March 14, beginning at 1pm on March 12, and ending on Wednesday March 14 at 12 noon

Cost: Hotel accommodations and meals are included. Single Occupancy: $90 per night (tax exempt individuals), $104.94 per night (with tax). Double Occupancy per person: $71 per night (tax exempt individuals), $75.26 per night (with tax)

Registration Fee: $85.00

Deadline: for all application materials is February 12TH.

For more information, including criteria for acceptance go to www.gacps.org and select "Trainings" or contact Jill Viles, secretary, at 404-657-2103; email jiviles@dhr.state.ga.us. If you have any difficulties you can contact Carol Coussons de Reyes by leaving a message with Jill or by emailing her at ccoussonsdereyes@dhr.ga.gov.

Resource: Sharon McDaniel, disABILITY LINK.

ASA GGC: Annual ASA GGC Conference..

Annual ASA GGC Conference -- April 13-14, 2007 (Friday and Saturday)

Gwinnett Conference Center, Duluth, GA

Website: www.asaga.com.

*Please note the change in dates. Keep an eye on their website for updates.

Resource: Regular ASA GGC emailing.

Georgia: Disability Day at the State Capitol and Freight Depot..

Join a thousand plus other individuals on Thursday, February 22, 2007, for Disability Day at the Georgia State Capitol.. This yearly advocacy and self-advocacy event is featured first and foremost by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)..

From these fingertips: This is an opportunity to personally drop off something regarding each our every Life's stories.. Hard copy of what Life with your disability brings along with personal pictures as an introduction and a reminder later bring it on Home to our state legislators..

Special Note: According to the GCDD website, it appears registration has already been closed for lunch.. Breakfast registrations are still open..

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Tentative Agenda

• 9:30am :: Breakfast at the Depot
• 11:00am :: "Make It Real!" Rally at the Capitol Steps
• 12:30pm :: Lunch at the Depot (Registration is closed for lunch as of 1/29/2007)

Registration is required to attend breakfast or lunch. Due to limited space, early registration is recommended. While registration is closed for lunch, we encourage people to register for breakfast and attend the rally.

For travel assistance for people with disabilities and family members, contact Hilary Elliott at disABILITY LINK, (404) 687-8890 Ext. 106.

Hotel rooms are available at a reduced rate at the Holiday Inn Select Atlanta Capitol Conference Center. To make reservations, call the hotel directly at 1-800-442-6011 and ask for the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities hotel block.

Resource: GCDD website, (888) ASK-GCDD.

44th Annual Morgan Cantrell Memorial Heart Fund Show..

WHAT: 44th Annual Morgan Cantrell Memorial Heart Fund Benefit Show

WHEN: Saturday, 2007-02-24 -- 6:00pm-10:00pm

WHERE: Ellijay Elementary Auditorium; Ellijay, Georgia

COST: $5.00 per seat; miscellaneous ways to contribute throughout the evening including cake auction and bbq plate supper that starts at 4:30pm

DESCRIPTION: Heart fund benefit show featuring gospel, bluegrass, and country music performed by local North Georgia artists

NOTES: Host is Steve Purvis

Resource: North Georgia Now Magazine

People First Of Georgia Chartership Application..

Resource: People First of Georgia (email = p1stofga@yahoo.com).

Application for Chartership
Please include *all* of the following information

Page 1 -- Introduction

• Name of Chapter
• Location of chapter
• When will elections of officers be held
• What is your motto or mission statement?

Page 2 -- Proposed Advocacy Activities

• On another sheet of paper please explain what kind of activities and advocacy projects you have planned.

Page 3 -- Contact Information

• You will need to enclose a membership contact list. The list should have the name, address, and email and phone number of every member, officer and supporter of your chapter. We also need a point of contact for your chapter (point of Contact person can not be a supporter.) Start the list by showing who your current officers are and the point of contact and their name, address, email and phone number. (The point of contact person can be an officer.)

Additional considerations for prospective People First chapters

• Every chapter should contact the state officers once a month. Either by phone (their numbers is listed at the top of the enclosed letter), by letter (address listed at top) or by Emailing p1stofga@yahoo.com.
• **You will need to notify the state officers when you have changes in officers within 30 days of that change. **

Statement of Solidarity for the Dignity of PWDs..

A Statement of Solidarity for the Dignity of People With Disabilities: A Reaction to, against the "Ashley Treatment"..

pub6.bravenet.com/guestbook/501900445.

Resource: People First of Georgia.

MH Press Conference: Georgia State Capitol, Tuesday, January 23, 9:00am..

Related to a previous blog post regarding Andy Miller and Alan Judd's AJC articles, forwarding the following in its latest version to hit my inbox.. Resource thanks go out to my friends and mentors over at disABILITY LINK.. In their words,

This is an opportunity for cross disability advocacy - concern for the "services" people receive in state institutions - whatever their disability label.

Thanks for always being there.. :WINK:

Speaking elsewise most respectfully from these shoes that have been there (else it would never have crossed my mind to even say it, ya know, ya know?): To those who will tokenly stand out in this latest mess that is our state's mental health care system, psychiatric survivors will invariably seek you out as the kind and knowing soul who is saying what they wish they had the stremgth, energies, and position to say themselves that very moment, too..

When these sometimes otherwise labeled "consumer survivors" do reach out, answer their phone calls and return their emails, even if it's just to say, "I really don't have an answer for you in your specific case.. You need to take the next step forward by speaking with [these people].." The Life most assuredly in crisis at the other end will 1) appreciate your honesty and integrity and 2) appreciate you are not just in it for the limelight..

Press Conference will be given jointly by the Mental Health Services Coalition--*ALL MENTAL HEALTH-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS* (strength in numbers and unity)

Tuesday, 2007-01-23- 9:00am
Senate Press Office
Paul D. Coverdell Leglslative Office Building, Room 201
Atlanta GA State Capitol

Please call, email, write, arm twist or hawg tie your State Senators and Representatives to come.

Nora Lott Haynes
Email: haygreg@aol.com.

Crossposted: Six. Almost Seven...

ILRU/NCIL Online Course: Introduction to Olmstead and Community..

The IL NET is a partnership of ILRU and NCIL. On-line courses are offered with the on-line facilitation support of Utah State University.

COURSE DATES: February 5-March 2, 2007

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 22, 2007

ORIENTATION TELECONFERENCE FOR STUDENTS: February 1, 2007

TARGET AUDIENCE: Center and SILC staff, managers, and executives, as well as board members. This is a beginner to intermediate level course.

PURPOSE: Participants will learn about the background and significance of the U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision. They will examine a framework for analyzing disability policy that may be used to determine if state and federal laws and programs really support the rights of persons with disabilities. They will also better understand how the ADA formed the basis for the Olmstead Decision and the importance of that decision for people with disabilities. Participants will better understand how and why individuals with disabilities can plan and direct their own services. Additionally, the participants will focus on using the concept of "consumer direction" to support the choices of those who want to leave institutional settings (such as nursing homes) and live in the community with the supports that they need.

INSTRUCTOR: Helen Roth

A full course calendar is on the ILRU Web site at: Calendar.

PAYMENT INFORMATION: The course fee is $65 per participant. Payment may be made by credit card through the Web site at the time of registration. Credit card orders are also accepted by phone at 713.520.0232 ext. 130. Do not send credit card information by e-mail, since such transactions are not secure. Checks or money orders are also accepted and should be mailed with a completed application form. Return your completed registration form and payment to:

ILRU/ONLINE LEARNING 2006
2323 S Shepherd, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019

Related links:

• Registration Form.
• How does an online course work?
• eTips for online courses -- written by the instructors
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about taking an online course/training

ONLINE COURSES FROM ILRU: This online course is presented by the IL NET, the national training and technical assistance project for centers for independent living and statewide independent living councils. The IL NET is operated by the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) Program at Memorial Hermann | TIRR in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Online course implementation is facilitated by the Interdisciplinary Training Division of the Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University.

OTHER QUESTIONS: Contact Dawn Heinsohn at ILRU, 713.520.0232 ext. 130

Crosspost: Six. Almost Seven...

FRIDA: "Speak Out About the Ashley Treatment"..

Resource for this information was a member post over at the Disability Convention Yahoo! group..

ACTION ALERT: Speak Out About the Ashley Treatment
Fax, E-mail, and Phone Campaign

Feminist Response in Disability Activism (FRIDA), with the support of Chicago ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), the national ADAPT community and Not Dead Yet (NDY), invites you to speak out about the Ashley Treatment.

Our Targets: Seattle Childrens Hospital staff involved in the case of nine-year-old Ashleys growth attenuation and sterilization, as well as Melinda Gates, chair of the Seattle Childrens Hospital fundraising committee and Susan Macek, Director of Communications for Seattle Childrens Hospital.

Why: To oppose their permission of what is now known as the Ashley Treatment, and to condemn further permission of such treatments for children with disabilities whose lives are not otherwise at risk.

When: Tuesday, January 9, 2007, starting at 9 am in your time zone.

Contact Info:

Dr. Douglas Diekema, 206-987-2380
B-5520 Emergency Medicine
4800 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Fax: (206) 987-3836
E-mail: Douglas.diekema@seattlechildrens.org.

Dr. Daniel F. Gunther
Phone: (206) 987-2380
M1-3 Endocrinology
4800 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Fax: (206) 987-3836
E-mail: Dan.gunther@seattlechildrens.org.

Melinda Gates
PO Box 23350
Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: (206) 709-3100
Fax: (206) 709-3252
Email: info@gatesfoundation.org.

Susan Macek
Director of Communications, Seattle Childrens Hospital
Phone: (206) 987-5201
Pager: (206) 469-6310
E-mail: susan.macek@seattlechildrens.org.

Ashley is a nine-year-old with a severe cognitive disability. In order to keep her small and more easily cared for by her family, doctors at Seattle Childrens Hospital are having her undergo hormone therapy to stunt her growth. In addition, they surgically removed her breast buds, uterus and appendix. The Ashley Treatment, as her parents call it, is a medical fix to serious social problems we face in America today. The first of these problems is a lack of quality home-based services for people with disabilities. The second is the social attitude that people with disabilities are less than human and therefore fair game for experimentation. The third is a lack of understanding of disability vs. illness: as Joe Hall of South Carolina has stated, "When I was born my parents knew that I would never walk, but they would have never thought it would be acceptable to cut my legs off."

To review Ashleys parents blog, please see: ashleytreatment.spaces.live.com.

To review one of the original articles as reported by the BBC, please see: news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6229799.stm.

We need to let the Seattle Childrens Hospital and its fundraising Chairperson know that the Ashley Treatment has not gone unnoticed by those of us who live with disabilities.

For more information, AND TO KEEP US POSTED OF YOUR ASHLEY TREATMENT ACTIVITIES, please call Sharon Lamp at (847) 803-3258 or e-mail Amber Smock at ambity@aol.com.

(Original) Source: Feminist Response In Disability Activism (FRIDA)

Crossposted at: Six. Almost Seven...

"A Hidden Shame": AJC Investigation into Georgia Mental Health Care Hospitals..

***HIGH Trigger warning on this lead for consumer or psychiatric survivors***

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PLEASE NOTE: The reporters and those who assist them are putting together a very extensive investigation into Georgia's mental health care hospitals.. In several places, they give readers the opportunity to provide feedback, either through online comment forms or a phone number for one on one contact..

Overwhelming amount of information regarding the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's newest investigation(s) into what they state as "at least 115 patients from Georgia's state psychiatric hospitals who have died under suspicious circumstances during the past five years".. The reporters have presented so much information, it would be taking a huge chance on copyright infringement with respect to reposting from this keyboard..

Theoretically, this series of articles all starts here:

A HIDDEN SHAME: About this series
www.ajc.com/news/content/health/stories/2007/01/04/0107meshabout.html.

Links to the related articles so far are provided on the left of the screen.. You'll most likely need an AJC free, somewhat lengthy online subscription to view while the information is up there..

For my friends who wish to have alternative formats available, you will need to inquire of AJC directly.. The reporters offer the following phone number for those wishing to contact them regarding this series of articles in particular:

404-526-2640

Crossposted at: Six. Almost Seven...

Event: 2007-01-08/09 Georgia Independent Living Network Meeting

Direct from the SILC (Statewide Independent Living Council) homepage..

SILC of Georgia / Georgia Independent Living Network Meeting Schedule

The Council meets quarterly in conjunction with the Georgia Independent Living Network in various locations around the state. Details on specific locations and times will be disseminated at least 14 days prior to each meeting. Check back [at the SILC website] for info, or if you would like to be on [their] public notice list, please call or email the SILC office. Unless otherwise noted, meeting times are 9am-5pm.

Attendance and participation by the public is encouraged. Please RSVP by phone or email to ensure adequate seating and refreshments as well as materials, which will be made available in alternate formats upon advance request.

Next Meeting: Monday, January 8, 2006, 1pm-5pm
Tuesday, January 9, 2006 9am-Noon
Renaissance Atlanta Hotel
590 W. Peachtree St, NW
Atlanta, GA 30308
Hotel Phone Number: (404) 881-6000

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome.. :)

This latest blog of mine will serve first and foremost as a cyber cache of the best of the hundreds of emails that hit my inbox each day.. The focus for this, the Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar (GDAC) blog will be meeting, conference, and other related disability advocacy and self-advocacy event information that might be of interest to persons with disabilities in and around Georgia..

As with informational forwards elsewhere, right from the git-go, you will immediately notice credits are openly provided to the originating information that will appear here.. Soo.. The only thing I will ask of others is that if you heard it here first, please consider linking, referring back to the related post..

GDAC began a few years ago as a personal way of getting involved to help promote disability advocacy events occurring throughout Georgia.. It eventually became a full-blown self-advocacy project commitment during my training with Georgia Voices That Count (GVTC)..

Choosing a very resource-rich, open method of operation for the calendar, among other endeavors, comes from my own first experiences of trying to find information out there on the Net, back when "psychiatric survivor" first became a part of my own vocabulary, back when I was desperately, very desperately trying to find something resembling immediate help, assistance of any kind.. More often than not, some info could be found, but, man, oh, man, were sources the best of well-kept secrets.. To the information seeking individual whose Life may be hanging literally by one single string, this can be a very Life-affecting practice, indeed..

'Nuff rambling.. Let's get down to the business of change, involvement, full community inclusion for people of all disabilities by getting out there into our communities and getting involved.. :WINK:

Note: This blog is now officially considered the primary, much more active spinoff of Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar with the to-be included posts one day finding their way home to the same.. Very occasionally, where appropriate, related photos will be shared through my Mountain Splash profile over at Yahoo! 360..