Georgia's Lack of Support Is Troubling

Guest column in the Atlanta Journal Constitution by Dave Blanchard, executive director of All About Developmental Disabilities, a service provider in Georgia.

When a family member is living with a developmental disability like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or autism, life is filled with daunting challenges.
Some we would expect, such as ensuring quality education and securing safe housing. But there are also challenges with the everyday activities, such as getting to the store or dialing 911 in an emergency.
Families in Georgia, where more than 90,000 individuals are reported as living with developmental disabilities, find these experiences even more challenging. Georgia is ranked 50th in the nation in fiscal support given to individuals with developmental disabilities. That’s dead last. Most of these families do not have access to sufficient support to meet the most basic needs. More than half of Georgia families who are living with developmental disability are living in poverty.