Leesburg town hall meeting set on developmental disabilities

LEESBURG — A “Conversations That Matter” town hall meant to focus on providing resources to Georgians impacted by developmental disabilities and planning the future for those individuals is coming to Lee County Thursday, and those close to the topic are able to come with questions.

All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) will be hosting the event, set for 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at The Bindery at Oakland Library in Leesburg.

AADD officials say planning for the future is important for those with developmental disabilities to ensure inclusion and involvement in Georgia communities. The meetings are meant to help families prepare by understanding the current services available — in addition to upcoming services in the pipeline — and how various programs can help.

Officials said the program is also designed to provide information to help foster collaboration between community members and professionals working on issues related to employment and developmental disabilities. It is held in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Kathy Keeley, executive director of AADD, said the town hall meetings — including presentations and dialogue — are in the 15th year. In recent years, meetings have been held in Valdosta rather than Leesburg.

The organization is held on the mindset that knowledge is power, especially when caring for someone with developmental disabilities.

“When we are talking about children with developmental disabilities, we are talking about ages 3-60,” Keeley said. “(Family members of those with development disabilities) end up being responsible for them for the rest of their lives.”

Topics covered will include:

— Planning: Tools and tips for life planning, what people need to know now to prepare

— Trends: Discovering trends in housing, employment, community engagement and funding

— Employment: Issues around employment and day service programs offering options for adults with developmental disabilities and bring them out of isolation

— Waiver Services: What to expect from new definitions and rates for waiver services

— Networking: Networking with other advocates in the community

— Advocacy: Learning about how to get connected to statewide advocacy efforts

Janice Route-Blaylock of Albany has a niece with developmental disabilities. Her sister, now deceased, did not want her daughter in a special program, and instead wanted her to be in the mainstream society.

The Albany Advocacy Resource Center helped the family to that end, and Route-Blaylock has since learned the value of having such resources.

“These services are very necessary,” she said, “I don’t know what I would have done (without the Albany ARC) … (those with developmental disabilities) go through the same things we do, they just don’t communicate them as well.”

She said she holds the team approach when conducting life planning, and that employment of those with disabilities provides them an opportunity to interact with the public — and for the public to learn from them.

“I strongly encourage the mainstream. It’s a win-win for everybody, I think,” Route-Blaylock said.

Anyone associated with those with developmental disabilities is invited to attend the town hall. This includes family members of children and adults with developmental disabilities, self-advocates, teachers, school administrators, transition specialists, developmental disabilities professionals, legislators, transition councils, business owners and community leaders.

Keeley said there are typically 50-100 attending a session. Easter Seals Southern Georgia and Albany ARC are the partners for the Leesburg event, she said.

“There is always good interest in every community … Peoples lives are complicated (with they are caring for) a child with disabilities,” the executive director said.

Registration is open at salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50972/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=83269.

The Oakland Library is located at 445 Oakland Parkway West. For more information, go to aadd.org or call (404) 881-9777.