FAQs

Are you a State Agency?
NO. We are a private, non-profit organization. We DO exist by federal mandate, and the Governor signs assurances that say the State will not interfere with our investigations, but we are a PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT organization. Click here to read more about our legislative mandate, our authority, and our funding.

Who do you serve?
Our advocates and attorneys work to protect the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities or mental illness. We work with and for individuals of all ages and in every county of our state.  The annual Priorities and Objectives for each of our federal programs help determine who we serve and the scope of our advocacy.  For detailed descriptions of our programs and each program’s priorities and objectives, please see the “What We Do” tab.

What does the Georgia Advocacy Office advocate for?
The Georgia Advocacy Office has a vision of a Georgia where all people have value, visibility, and voice; where even the most difficult and long-lasting challenges are addressed by ordinary citizens acting voluntarily on behalf of each other; and where the perception of disability is replaced by the recognition of ability. In order to accomplish this we have organized our resources and we follow our values and legal mandates in ways which substantially increase the number of people who are voluntarily standing beside and for people in Georgia who have significant disabilities and mental illness.

What is “Intake?”
When you call us, if you are not currently working on an issue with one of the advocates or attorneys, you will be asked to speak to one of the Resource Advocates to go through “intake.” That is a process where one of our three Resource Advocates has an opportunity to find out some of the details of your situation. By doing this they are able to determine 1) if the Georgia Advocacy Office is the best place to assist you; 2) if not, they will refer you to a more appropriate resource; 3) if so, they will have the most qualified advocate or attorney for your situation contact you.

How soon will I hear back from somebody when I leave a message?
All “intake” calls are returned within 2 business days. That doesn’t always mean we connect with you! Just that we return the call. It is helpful if you leave your name, phone number, and some good times to call you back on your message. It is also helpful for us to know if there is an especially pressing timeline – like you have an IEP meeting scheduled in 2 days, your child’s nursing hours are going to be reduced, your SOURCE waiver is being terminated, or you have a dispute with your employer and a deadline by when you must file a complaint.

Intake Contact: If you want to send an e-mail to tell the Resource Advocates about your situation please use this link.

How do I get on your mailing list to receive information about training events and other mailings?
We post new publications and announce training events on this website. However, if you would like to receive these items in the print version please send your full mailing address.

What written materials do you distribute that I might be interested in, and how could I get them?
We publish or distribute the following written materials

Booklets: “Community Options, A Guide to Georgia Medicaid Programs and Medicaid Waivers”

Pamphlets: “Bill of Voting Rights Flyer,” “FAQ about Representative Payees,” “Guide for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” “Responsibilities of Health Care Providers for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing,” “Right to Work,” “Social Security Overpayments,” “Traumatic Brain Injury Fact Sheet,” “Your Rights During Confinement in a Georgia Institution,” “Your Rights and Involuntary Mental Health Treatment”

We provide single copies of all of these publications free of charge to people with disabilities and their family members. We are also able to send multiple copies of our brochures. Because of our printing costs we do charge for multiple copies of publications (other than brochures). Please contact us with your specific request for publications.

Will an advocate come and speak to my group?
We do trainings around the State quite frequently, most often at the request of parent and civic groups. Click on the Calendar of Events link to see our currently scheduled trainings. If you would like for someone to come and speak to your group, please email us using the contact us form.  You should include the time, location, topic, length of presentation, number of people expected, and makeup of the attendees (i.e., parents of preschoolers, social workers, graduating high school students, etc.). Someone will then check with the advocates, attorneys, board members, citizen advocates, and other volunteer community advocates who are knowledgeable on the topic for their availability and get back to you on whether someone is available.

More Questions?
If you have a question about the website or about the Georgia Advocacy Office in general please click here to contact us. If you have a question about your particular situation please call us at 404-885-1234 or 800-537-2329 and ask to speak to a resource advocate.