A rally for Georgia’s disabled

February 16th, 2012

About 2,000 people rallied in front of the State Capitol today to call on the state to increase the amount of money it spends on the disabled. Advocates used the annual gathering to talk to the disabled and to lawmakers.

“We just want the community to know that we’re paying attention to what the issues are that they’re faced with,” said Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities deputy director Patricia Nobbie. “We want legislators to know that there’s a community out there that’s active and paying attention to what they’re doing up here at the Capitol.”

Every year, Georgia spends money on 100 waivers. Governor Nathan Deal told the crowd he wants the funding to continue.

“We are putting in place strategies and tools that empower these individuals to live independent, productive lives,” said Deal.

The waivers cover the cost of moving disabled Georgians from state hospitals back to their communities. However, Nobbie says there are disabled people who were never moved out of their communities who don’t get the state assistance they need.

“We got 750 kids graduating every year with no support,” said Nobbie.

She says her disabled daughter was unemployed for years after high school until she got help from a state funded job coach.

“A lot of parents end up tag teaming employment or somebody ends up quitting a job to stay home and stay with somebody” said Nobbie. “It doesn’t really take a whole lot of funding to help somebody get a job and stay in a job.”

She recommends the state spend $3,500 a year on a job coach, transportation and personal support for disabled Georgians graduating high school. Through Medicaid, the federal government matches state funding. Nobbie also says funding is needed for disabled Georgians being cared for by aging parents.