We’re Here All Year
We’re Here All Year: Beyond Awareness Months by GCDD Staff Every March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) serves as a powerful reminder that with the proper supports and services, individuals with developmental disabilities are dynamic contributors to the community of their choosing. That individuals with developmental disabilities are valuable members of our communities and deserve […]
Building Relationships and A Career Path Through Supportive Mentors
by Lud Kozlowski At first, being identified by others as autistic offended me, whether it was by a doctor or just someone I met in passing. I knew there were times growing up and as an adult when I obsessed over a matter, and those times were awkward, but the thought of being autistic made […]
Disability Voting Rights Week
Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW) is a nonpartisan movement hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the REV UP. DVRW is about advocacy, celebrating community, and building power. Learn more about DVRW here. In 2024, DVRW is the week of September 9-13. The REV UP Voting Campaign builds the power of […]
IRS Tax Credits and Accessibility
On July 26, 2024, the Americans with Disabilities Act turns 34 years old. The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. In addition to that protection, the ADA also guarantees that businesses that provide goods and services to the public […]
Video Advocacy
Video is being utilized as a powerful advocacy tool. Both professional and amateur filmmakers are using the power of video to change the world around them for the better. Videos are beneficial for advocacy campaigns because they are a simple and efficient way to convey the main points of an idea or project to many […]
Supporting Inclusive Education
The Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Arkansas advocates for policy and system changes that improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. One of our policy priorities is supporting inclusive education. We expect a safe, comprehensive, and inclusive education for every Arkansas student. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) […]
Giving Thanks for Caregivers
With the Thanksgiving Holiday upon us, we are all thinking about the things we are thankful for in our lives. As advocates in the disability community, we know that caregivers are at the top of that list for many. What is a caregiver? A caregiver is a person who gives care to another, generally in the […]
Disability Accessibility and Inclusion: Policy and Procedure
As NDEAM 2023 comes to an end there is a topic I’ve been stuck on for a while: Policy and Procedure. To some, P & P is not a topic they spend too much time thinking about. But I do. Policies and Procedures can make or break an organization. The execution of a high-level vision […]
Summer-Fall 2023 Council Update
Greetings from the Arkansas Council. We have had a busy few months. Thanks for visiting our Blog! July On July 26th we celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the ADA. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all […]
Disability Pride Month – July 2023
What Are You Proud Of? By Kimberly Gatewood I’m Kim Harris Gatewood. I am a black woman with disabilities. I work for my state’s council on developmental disabilities. I would like to talk with you today about Disability Pride because July is Disability Pride Month. Let me take you back a few years, before I knew […]