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The Arc of Georgia State Chapter of The Arc |
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Mission |
“The Arc of Georgia advocates for the rights and full participation of
all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Together with our network of members and other local Chapters, we
improve systems of supports and services; connect families; inspire
communities; and influence public policy.” |
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Click here to find your regional board . Contacting your regional board is the first step in receiving a waiver |
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Click here to get a two-page fact sheet on the Medicaid program in Georgia.
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Press
Release
The Arc of
Georgia
Deirdre
O'Brien
Atlanta,
GA.,
June,
2008
-
The
Board
of
Directors
of
The
Arc
of
Georgia
is
pleased
to
announce
the
appointment
of
Deidre
O’Brien
as
Executive
Director,
effective
July
1,
2008.
In
her
new
position
Ms.
O’Brien
will
be
responsible
for
leadership
required
to
make
The
Arc
of
Georgia
the
true
advocate
it
should
be.
Ms.
O’Brien,
a
resident
of
Waycross,
Georgia,
has
been
a
member
of
The
Arc
since
2002.
She
has
assumed
various
leadership
roles
in
both
the
state
chapter
and
her
local
chapter,
The
Arc
of
Satilla,
during
her
membership
tenure.
Ms.
O’Brien
served
as
president
of
The
Arc
of
Satilla
from
2003
to
2006;
she
also
served
as
the
President
of
the
Arc
of
Georgia
from
2006-2008.
Ms.
O’Brien
and
her
husband
of
15
years,
Randall,
have
two
children,
Connor
(14)
and
Clare
(10).
Her
interest
and
involvement
in
disability
advocacy
issues
began
after
her
daughter
Clare,
was
diagnosed
with
significant
intellectual
and
cognitive
disabilities.
Ms.
O’Brien
has
been
an
active
leader
in
the
advocacy
community
in
Georgia.
She
is
a
graduate
of
the
2001
class
of
Partners
in
Policymaking.
Ms.
O’Brien
served
as
an
ex-officio
member
of
the
Georgia
Governor’s
Council
on
Developmental
Disabilities
from
2001-1003.
When
asked
to
describe
her
philosophy,
Ms.
O’Brien
states,
“Disability
issues
are
civil
rights
issues.
People
with
developmental
disabilities
have
an
inherent
right
to
fully
participate
in
their
community.
As
disability
advocates,
we
have
come
a
long
way
but
we
still
have
a
long
way
to
go.
We
must
be
diligent
to
take
the
walls
down
brick
by
brick
so
our
constituents
may
experience
a
truly
vibrant,
fulfilling
life
of
their
choice.”
When
asked
to
describe
Ms.
O’Brien,
Interim
Board
President,
Susan
Hansen
(click
here
for
more
about
Ms.
Hansen)
states,
"Deirdre
O’Brien
is
full
of
energy
and
hope.
She
has
everything
The
Arc
of
Georgia
Board
ever
hoped
for
in
an
Executive
Director.
She
is
mission-centered,
and
it
shows
in
her
many
selfless
acts
in
leading
The
Arc
of
Georgia
forward.
Nothing
excites
Ms.
O’Brien
more
than
making
progress
that
enriches
the
lives
of
people
with
disabilities.
It
is
exciting
when
a
person
discovers
their
passion
in
life
and
is
able
to
partner
that
passion
with
their
own
personal
goals.
Ms.
O’Brien
is
very
motivated
because
every
step
forward
she
takes
to
better
the
quality
of
life
for
the
disabled
simultaneously
improves
her
own
daughter’s
life.
Deirdre
is
funny,
well
spoken,
well
educated
and
knows
the
issues.
I
am
thrilled
to
share
the
leadership
with
her.
We
will
work
together
to
bring
the
level
of
services
in
Georgia
up
to
par
with
other
states.
We
intend
to
shoot
for
the
stars,
giving
honor
and
respect
to
the
disabled
here
in
Georgia!"
Susan
C.
Hansen,
Interim
President
of
The
Arc
of
Georgia
and
parent
of
an
adult
son
with
autism.
Ms.
O’Brien,
47,
received
a
Bachelor
of
Science
in
Nursing
degree
from
Dalhousie
University
in
Canada
and
a
Master
of
Science
in
Nursing
degree
from
the
University
of
Alabama
at
Birmingham.
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Salute to Our Champions
The
Arc
of
Georgia
is
pleased
to
announce
the
recipients
of
"Legislator
of
the
Year"
awards
for
2008.
Through
their
legislation,
these
individuals
have
positively
affected
the
lives
of
people
with
developmental
disabilities.
We
thank
them
for
their
hard
work
during
the
past
session.
Senator Renee Unterman
Senator Jeff Chapman
Representative Ben Harbin
Representative
Mark
Butler |
Why I am a Member
of The Arc of Georgia
Stephen R. Hall, Director
Georgia Office of Developmental
Disabilities
I was with a group of Government Officials and
Providers of Services one time when one of them said this about me
and to me “Well the problem Steve is this, we can’t be sure whether
you are one of us or one of them—one of the advocates.” My response
was direct,
“Let me help you end that confusion, I am
first an advocate for people with developmental disabilities and
their families and I am against every bureaucracy created by
Government Officials that is more about protecting themselves than
people with disabilities and I am against Providers of Services that
choose to scare and manipulate families and people with disabilities
rather than making the changes necessary to offer them a choice of
the newer and very good services. But if you are a Government
Official that promotes changes that bring about the empowerment of
these citizens and their families and if you are a Provider that is
up to date and knows how to ensure citizens with disabilities have a
real life in this wonderful democracy and its communities, then I
consider that you too are an advocate.”
I have been a member of The Arc all of my
professional life. Through The Arc, I met some of the greatest
leaders and teachers of our time. Through the ARC, I met great
families with real questions that I have worked hard on and
successfully answered. And through the ARC, I came to know citizens
with developmental disabilities as real people like myself who have
dreams and really just want everyone to be as happy as possible.
The Arc is a place where you can gather and
meet other people who care deeply about citizens who have
developmental disabilities. About 1.5% of all Americans are people
with a developmental disability and about 11% of us know and care
about these citizens. It is not like the other 89% are without
compassion. Instead, they simply don’t know about these citizens
and about how important they are to American society. It was said
that the worth of a society is not determined by its’ wealth but by
its treatment of the most vulnerable of its members. This begs the
question, “What is government for?” Since wealthier, well-educated,
or very smart individuals are likely to do well with or without
government, it seems likely that government should be for those
citizens, like people with developmental disabilities, who without
some collective help and support of other citizens, would not be
able to be a part of our democracy at all. That people with
developmental disabilities never did anything wrong, that they are
by definition either “born innocent” or came to have a disability
during childhood, just emphasizes the point.
So back to the question, Why am I a member of
The Arc of Georgia? Because when I speak about respect, decency,
caring, and love of other human beings then I have someone who will
listen to me and when others speak this way, even those who cannot
speak in the same way that we do, then I will be able to hear their
voice and be a better human being from my listening. And together,
oh together, yes we can help make Georgia one of the best places in
America for everyone.
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Donations are greatly appreciated, if you would like to contribute to The Arc of Georgia with an automobile please click here: http://www.cars4charities.org/
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The Arc of Georgia's Action Center
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Affiliated Chapter
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Of Georgia
