May 2026

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) completed its information gathering process for the 2027-2031 Five-Year Strategic Plan. The feedback collected from across the state helped build a new strategic plan aimed at creating systems change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. The final plan decides how GCDD will spend funding on advocacy and capacity-building activities.

As part of the process, GCDD conducted focus groups, large townhall meetings and shared surveys with families, self-advocates, and providers to identify where funding and programming were needed most.

Public comments are now being gathered on the proposed 2027-2031 Strategic Plan. A 45-day public comment period is underway, and all are welcome to review the plan and share their thoughts.

Comments can be submitted in English at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5DR2B5S and in Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R7JF7QT. The deadline to submit comments is June 19, 2026.

Learn more about GCDD’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.

As Georgia prepares for the 2026 election cycle, one message remains true – the disability vote counts.

For people with disabilities, their families, and those who support them, voting is more than a civic responsibility. It is one of the best ways to influence the decisions that shape everyday life. Policies passed at the state and federal levels determine access to healthcare, education, employment, housing, and community-based services. These issues are not hard to understand. They show up in homes, schools, and communities across Georgia every day. Right now, those decisions feel especially important.

Across the state, thousands of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are still waiting for services. Families are doing everything they can to bridge the gaps while navigating systems that are often difficult to access and even harder to sustain without support. Providers are struggling to recruit and retain staff. This limits their ability to provide more services even when funding becomes available. These are real challenges, and they are shaped by public policy choices. Those policy choices are made by elected leaders.

Civic engagement is how everyday people have a say in what happens in their community. It starts with being included, but it does not stop there. It means staying informed and asking questions. It also means participating in conversations with other members of the community and local elected officials and showing up when it matters. Voting is one part of that process. Voting is also connected to a much larger picture of advocacy.

For many years, people with disabilities have faced barriers that made participation harder than it should be. Some polling places have not been fully accessible. Transportation can be difficult to arrange. Voting materials are not always written in a way that is easy to understand. Too often, people with disabilities have not been included in conversations about rules that affect them.

That is beginning to change.

Across Georgia, more self-advocates are stepping forward and sharing their experiences. Families are speaking openly about what support looks like in real life. Organizations and communities are working together to build systems that are more inclusive and responsive. When people in the disability community speak up and get involved, change happens. It also creates accountability. One of the most important ways to be part of that change is by making a plan to vote.

2026 Election Cycle: Important Dates to Know

The 2026 election cycle includes both the primary and general elections, and understanding the timeline helps make participation more comfortable and less overwhelming. The primary election means that Democrats and Republicans each vote for the candidate they want to run in the general election. The general election means a candidate from each party usually runs, including Independents. A person can even add their own candidate.

Important dates during this year’s election cycle are:

• May 8: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the primary election.
• May 19: Primary election takes place. Early voting for the primary election is now open.
• May 19: Deadline to return an absentee ballot for the primary election.
• August 17: Requests for absentee ballots for the general election begin.
• October 5: Deadline to register to vote in the general election.
• October 13: Early voting begins.
• October 23: Last day to request an absentee ballot.
• November 3: Deadline to submit an absentee ballot.
• November 3: Election Day.

Knowing these dates allows people to plan in a way that works for them. Having a plan like voting early, mailing in your ballot, or getting ready for Election Day makes it easier to vote.

Learn What Issues will be on the Ballot

Understanding the issues on the ballot is just as important as knowing when to vote.

To understand why voting matters, it helps to look at what is happening in Georgia right now. The state’s primary programs for people with I/DD are the NOW and COMP waivers. They provide funding for services that allow people to live and receive support in their communities instead of institutions. The problem is that more people need help than there is help available. Thousands of people in Georgia are on a waiting list. Many families wait years, sometimes even longer, to get the support they need to live on their own.

At the same time, the system is facing significant workforce challenges. Direct Support Professionals, who provide day-to-day care and support, are often underpaid and in short supply. This makes it hard to expand services even when funding is available. While lawmakers have made some progress by adding more help and money for workers, there are still many more people who need support than can get it. These are policy decisions, and those decisions are shaped by elections.

This is what is at stake.

Whoever wins in the 2026 elections will help decide how many people can get support and how fast they can get it. It will shape whether waiting lists continue to grow or begin to shrink. It will affect whether the workforce receives the money needed to keep services going and help more people. It will decide whether families can get help early or must wait until a crisis.

There are additional things to think about. At the federal level, conversations about funding for disability programs continue to happen. Some programs, like waivers, use money from both the state government and the federal government, called a match. If the federal government’s payment decreases, states like Georgia will have to pay more money for their disability programs. That makes state-level leadership and decision-making even more important.

This is why civic engagement matters, and why informed engagement matters even more.

GCDD to Host a Candidate Forum

One of the most effective ways to stay informed is by attending a candidate forum. These Forums give voters the opportunity to hear directly from the people who are running for office. They create space for meaningful discussion about important issues.

This year, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) will host its 2026 Candidate Forum on the evening of Thursday, September 17. The forum will be virtual in partnership with the Georgia Advocacy Office, Sangha Unity Network, and REV UP Georgia.

The forum will bring together candidates running for key offices across Georgia. They are the:

• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Superintendent of Schools
• Insurance Commissioner
• Secretary of State
• Attorney General
• Labor Commissioner
• Public Service Commissioner
• U.S. Senator

These candidates will be asked to talk about issues that impact the disability community. These are issues like healthcare access, employment, education, and voting rights.

This is an opportunity for people to hear directly from candidates and better understand the candidates’ positions on the issues. It is also an opportunity to make sure disability issues are part of the conversation before decisions are made. Events like this help bridge the gap between policy and the experience of people with disabilities.

Sometimes it feels like one voice does not make a difference. This can happen when trying to figure out a system that feels large and complex. Remember that every vote counts. Change takes time. Change happens when people continue to show up, continue to speak, and continue to participate. Every vote matters. Every question asked matters. Every conversation contributes to a bigger change.

When people with disabilities and their families get involved, they share what life is really like. This helps make sure decisions are based on real life, not just ideas. They help build systems that work better for everyone. That is how progress happens.

The message is simple. Disability vote counts. Your voice matters. Your experience matters. And your participation helps shape the future of services and supports across Georgia. Now is the time to learn about the issues, make a plan, and be part of the process.

As the weather warms and spring gets into full swing, there is a lot to look forward to. GCDD is moving forward with purpose, and we have a great deal to share for the rest of 2026.

GCDD is helping fund a new study through Georgia State University. The study looks at what Georgia gets back when it spends money on NOW/COMP waiver services for people with I/DD. Waivers help people live in their communities and get the support they need. The study will show that this spending also helps the whole state. It creates jobs. It helps family members keep working. It brings in more tax money for Georgia. We want lawmakers to see that funding waivers is not just the right thing to do. It is also a smart investment. Look for more updates on this study in the months ahead.

Advocacy happens all year long. The 2026 election cycle is a pivotal opportunity for the disability community to be seen, heard, and counted. I want to encourage every reader to make a plan to vote. Our partners at United 4 Change are working hard to make sure Georgians with I/DD understand the issues, know the dates, and feel confident and prepared at the polls. The disability vote counts, and this fall, it matters more than ever.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 17, when GCDD will host our 2026 Candidate Forum, a virtual event in partnership with the Georgia Advocacy Office, Sangha Unity Network, and REV Up Georgia. This is a chance to hear directly from candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, and other key statewide offices on the issues that impact our community. I hope you will join us.

Finally, I am excited to share that GCDD has completed the information-gathering phase of our 2027–2031 Five-Year Strategic Plan. Through focus groups, town hall meetings, and surveys across the state, we have heard where our work is needed most. A 45-day public comment period is now underway, and we invite you to share your thoughts on what we have planned for the next five years. You can respond in English at surveymonkey.com/r/5DR2B5S and in Spanish at surveymonkey.com/r/R7JF7QT. Your voice shapes our direction.

Summer and fall will be full of momentum. I am grateful to each of you for being part of this work, and I look forward to everything we will accomplish together in the months ahead.

D’Arcy Robb
GCDD Executive Director

The Georgia Healthcare Policy Center (GHPC) at Georgia State University is researching whether the money spent on services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is worth it.

This is also known as the return on investment, or ROI. These services are funded through NOW/COMP Waivers. The study aims to show lawmakers and the public the real benefits of this funding, both direct and indirect, so they can better understand why these services are important. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) provided a grant to make this research possible.

Daniel Lanford, assistant project director at GHPC, said their work looks at three key areas:

• How waivers improve people's quality of life by helping them live more independently, find jobs, and participate in their communities.
• How waivers ease the burden on family members by reducing caregiving responsibilities and helping them stay in their jobs.
• How waivers help avoid more expensive care, like nursing homes.

"We are also looking at how these waivers generate additional economic activities, such as employment, that ultimately increase earnings potential and state tax revenues," said Lanford.

Georgia approved 500 new NOW/COMP waivers during this year's legislative session. That is a step forward, but more than 7,800 people are still waiting for one. More waivers and better access to these services are still needed.

A key concern is that lawmakers may worry about the cost of funding more waivers. This study aims to show that the benefits outweigh the costs.

"At the end of this project, we should have an educated estimate of a dollar amount that Georgia gets back from funding these waivers," said Rena Harris, chief program officer at GCDD. "If Georgia invests $100,000 in a person, the state might get back more than that amount because the person can get employment supports. And that enables them to have a competitive job and pay taxes. The waiver also employs Direct Support Professionals and allows family members who are also caregivers to keep their own jobs, bringing in even more tax revenue."

The study is just beginning and is an important first step toward making sure that all Georgians with I/DD get the care they need and deserve. The study also ensures that lawmakers understand the positive impact that funding more NOW/COMP waivers has on Georgia's economy.

"Trying to get more waiver slots by saying, 'It's the right thing to do,' doesn't necessarily work in this economic climate. The truth is, it is a worthy investment, and we need to show it," said Harris. "We hope that we will be able to bring the message to legislators that, for every dollar amount the state invests in a waiver, Georgia gets a greater ROI. It makes good business sense to invest in the NOW/COMP waiver for Georgians with I/DD."

On April 2, 2026, Uniting for Change (U4C) held a voting workshop for self-advocates with disabilities across Georgia. The workshop helped people get ready for the May 19, 2026 primary election.

The goal was to teach people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) the basics of voting. This included why voting matters, how the process works, and how to take part as a self-advocate.

Voting is an important part of our country. It is especially important for people with I/DD to stay informed and involved because election results can affect disability services, funding, and daily life.

The workshop explained each step of voting in a clear and simple way. This helped people feel more confident and less nervous about voting, which can sometimes feel confusing or overwhelming.

“Voting is an important way for you to take part in your community,” says Tamika Woods, a self-advocate and U4C leader. “We need people with disabilities to have their voices heard. Your vote does count, and voting allows you to be independent while making choices that concern your life.”
Voting is an important way for people with disabilities to speak up. But some people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) face challenges that make voting harder. These can include not understanding how to register, not having transportation, not having clear information about candidates, or not knowing what help is available at polling places.

The workshop talked about these challenges and how to overcome them. U4C hopes this information will give people the tools they need to take part in voting and speak up for themselves.

“People with disabilities should understand how to vote and who they are voting for,” said Whitney Granville, self-advocate and U4C leader. “Political issues affect everyone, including people with disabilities.”

The 2026 election is coming soon, so now is a good time for people with I/DD to get ready to vote. Voting is one way to take part in your community and have your voice heard.

When people with disabilities have the information and support they need, they can feel more confident about voting. This helps people be more independent and helps make sure everyone is included in decisions that affect their lives.