PADD

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD)

Advocacy is provided to citizens with developmental disabilities throughout Georgia. A developmental disability refers to a severe, chronic disability which is (a) attributable to a mental or physical impairment, (b) manifested prior to age 22, (c) likely to continue indefinitely, (d) resulting in substantial limitations in at least three of seven major life functions, and (e) requiring services for an extended period of time.

Below is a description of our planned emphasis for 2016-2017. Please click here to submit your comments, suggestions, or questions. We welcome your comments on our work throughout the year.

Goal 1: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be free from abuse and neglect.   

Priority 1: Review, investigate, and address allegations of abuse or neglect, including the suspicious or unexplained deaths of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Priority 2: Enforce the rights of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in ICFs/SNFs to be discharged to the community with appropriate home and community-based supports and services through full implementation of the Olmstead decision and the integration mandate of the ADA, with particular focus on people impacted by U.S. v. GA.

Priority 3:  Implement a coherent monitoring strategy to assess and improve the quality and practices of settings and services experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Goal 2: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have improved access to services and programs.

 Priority 1: Deflect the institutionalization of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by obtaining necessary home and community-based supports.

Priority 2: Respond to legal and human rights violations by enforcing, retaining, and restoring the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities subject to discrimination in fiduciary relationships, local and state government, healthcare, housing, home and community-based services, transportation, education, and employment.

Priority 3: Increase the number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in integrated employment making a living wage by educating policymakers about the fiscal and social value of an Employment First policy, collaboration with stakeholders to raise consciousness of the valued social role of the employee, and through individual advocacy.

Goal 3: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are valued, respected, contributing members of their community. 

 Priority 1: Support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, family members, and concerned citizens to advocate for competitive employment, educational, healthcare, and other services that are appropriate to the person’s needs.

 Priority 2: Increase the full inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their communities by recruiting ordinary citizens to act voluntarily on behalf of each other.

Goal 4: Children and youth under the age of 22 with intellectual and developmental disabilities will live in permanent, loving homes. 

Priority 1: Enforce the rights of children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in ICFs, SNFs, or PRTFs by advocating for discharge to the community with appropriate home and community-based supports and services, through full implementation of the Olmstead decision and the integration mandate of the ADA.

Priority 2:  Deflect the institutionalization of children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities by obtaining necessary home and community-based supports.

Priority 3:  Educate policymakers about the Children’s Freedom Initiative, the strategies to prevent the institutionalization of children and youth, and the rights of children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities to grow up in permanent, loving homes.