MH State Hospital Survey :: GA MHDDAD Family Satisfaction Survey..

*Love* Life's little presents like the following that wholly accidentally find their way to these fingertips.. This is a Georgia DHR MHDDAD mental health hospital survey explaining itself with the following:

People who are treated in Georgia’s state mental health hospitals need the support of their family and friends to get and stay well. Loved ones also see the progress of the patient and the quality of the hospital and its staff from a unique perspective.

If you’re close to someone who’s been treated in one of Georgia’s seven state mental health hospitals, we want to hear about your experiences. Please take a moment to fill out the following survey. If a question isn’t applicable to you, or you prefer not to answer, just select N/A.

Survey's original URL :: 167.193.142.194/mhsite/survey.aspx..

For those who may be concerned, the numerical web addy reflected, 167.193.142.194, defaults back to Georgia DHR's Office of Communications if followed..

BUTTERFLY BYTE :: Know up front that, while this survey does not appear to ask for any personally identifiable information, any server anywhere, any time can and does document our IP (Internet protocol) addresses, the sometimes temporary, sometimes more permanent numbers our IPSs (Internet service providers) mark us with, identify us by each time we log on to the Internet.. Just a subtle reminder that we are never as invisible as it may seem at first glance.. :wink:

Cyber hugs..

Cindy Sue

CSBs :: LE seeking potential victims regarding Gwinnett mental health care..

This is coming to you from a local library (Pickens) so apologies for the apparent shortness..

Couldn't get the related Atlanta Journal-Constitution webpage to pull up (keeps frying this machine), and most others pretty much deny reproduction rights of any kind soooooo........

Try the following search keywords in your favorite search engine.....

Gwinnett County :: Dr. Mohammed Qureshi, 45 :: psychiatric evaluation :: Lawrenceville :: psychiatric physician :: Gwinnett Rockdale Newton Community Service Board

Google's news search feature provides the following..

• TinyURL :: tinyurl.com/289plx
• Original URL :: news.google.com/news?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22Dr.+Mohammed+Qureshi%22

MOST importantly :: Investigators want to hear from potential victims for whom the above keywords ring home.. Contact info I could immediately come up with (as it was not provided in any of the stories I located)........

• Lawrenceville Police Department (Georgia)
  • Non-emergency phone number :: 770-339-2400
  • Address :: 20 South Clayton Street, Lawrenceville, GA, 30046

As soon as possible, I'll provide more legal resources interested in hearing from potential victims..

If you are affected by this story, please come forward if you can.. Turn to your private circle of support to go with you in person or sit by the phone while you call the proper authorities..

If you have no one immediately available to stand by your side as moral support, call your local CIL (center for independent living) for support.. Better yet, just walk in.. They're open most business day hours.. Ask one of the on-duty CIL associates to sit with you while you call the local Lawrenceville or Gwinnett County law enforcement agencies to explain your own situation..

If you are a friend, family member, or newbie advocate assisting someone filing a report with Lawrenceville or Gwinnett County, please keep in mind that the person who originally opeenheartedly sought out mental health care services, your friend sitting with you there, is now potentially also a victim of sexual assault.. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to this end may additionally have to be factored in to Life, possibly from this point forth..

Remember.. You didn't ask for this to happen to you.. You did what countless psychiatric survivors did before you.. You trusted as you should have been able to do.. When you are ready, do what you can within yourself to hold the person responsible accountable.. Speaking from very personal experience, self-determination and empowerment will be your immediate reward..

Cyber hugs..

Dalton Daily Citizen :: Highland Rivers director, Klay Weaver, resigns..

But to have been a butterfly on the wall..........

Highland Rivers director resigns..
By Charles Oliver, 2007-06-01
Dalton Daily Citizen; Dalton, Georgia

Summary: Highland Rivers Community Service Board has accepted the mutually agreeable resignation of Klay Weaver, their long-time executive director.. An attorney, Jim Catanzaro, is quoted but appears not to have been completely involved.. Who Mr. Catanzaro represents is not clear.. Searches will begin now for both the Highland Rivers Community Service Board's interim director and eventual full-time permanent director..

A self-advocate meanders out loud: As a required part of the hiring process, persons interviewing for positions such as executive director of community service boards (CSBs) should additionally be "interviewed", via community stakeholder town halls, by the very communities they serve..

Georgia Tools For Life's ReBoot Program..

One of the latest emails in my inbox served as a reminder of the existence of the Georgia Tools For Life ReBoot computer recycling program.. Computer parts along with other miscellaneous technologies donated to Georgia Tools For Life's ReBoot are recycled, revamped through this non-profit then given to persons with disabilities across the state..

What I REALLY like about this program is that they ask for those who receive computers to pay it forward by donating, volunteering so many hours of time to ANY other non-profit entity of that person's choosing.. This is not just some kind of handout deal..

With all the wonderful interest in Freecycle-type programs going on right now, please think of adding TFL's ReBoot program to your bookmark index for the next time you upgrade your equipment in the future and just don't know what you're ever going to do with the backlog of computer parts beginning to pile up in that back closet of yours..

Georgia :: Special Education Online Petition..

For those who are looking for inspiration as to wording for their own Special Education concerns these days, got a feeling the parents in Georgia covered a base or two of interest here.. :GRIN:

Through the wording of their Educate Georgia! online petition, these parents show they are very serious about where they want the education of their children with disabilities (CWDs) to go henceforth..

PS.. Pay no attention to the referenced deadline date at the bottom.. This petition is being actively forwarded across Georgia disability listservs as of this very moment..

Please pay it forward..

NOTE: If, at first glance, you do not see the following verbage on the petition, scroll down below the signatures and it should then be fully visible..

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Educate Georgia!..

Educate Georgia! We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:

Don't stay the course in Education!

Parents want change in Georgia's Education System!

We need the help of Georgia Leaders to help Georgia's Children with Special Needs obtain an equal education!

Recently, Georgia Dept. of Education, Exceptional Children's Division proposed changes to the Special Education Rules & Regulations for 2007. It is our opinion, that many of the proposed changes will negatively impact the education of Children with Special Needs and our communities in Georgia.

We, the Parents of Children with Special Needs and concerned Public Citizens want our "voices" heard:

No! to the proposed 2007 changes to the Rules and Regulations for Children with Special Needs in Georgia, as the public and parents have not been given the opportunity to review the changes, nor included in the decision making process of the proposed changes.

Parents need to be informed, and included in all decisions regarding providing an appropriate and identifying the "unmet" and "unique" needs of their Children with Special Needs.

Georgia's School Systems must recognize that Parents are the "experts" on the "unique" needs of their Child with Special Needs.

Georgia's School Systems must not retaliate against Parents, Students or Advocates who assert their rights.

Georgia's School Systems must not retaliate against Educators, who express concern and request additional support and resources from Georgia‘s educational System to meet the needs of Children with Special Needs by providing Free Appropriate Public Education.

Georgia's School System must not retaliate against Home schooling Parents, who request and need services for their Children with Special Needs.

Georgia's public school teachers will not conduct comprehensive evaluations for children with special needs and assessments unless they hold the required training, qualifications and licensures to administer such an evaluative tool.

Georgia's school systems will recognize Georgia's licensed medical professionals as "experts" in disabilities that negatively impact education.

Georgia School systems will not diagnose disorders they are not qualified or trained to identify, as disorders are a part of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, used by Medical Practioners.

ALL of Georgia's children with special needs will be provided an education in the least restrictive environment possible upon entering the public school system.

Georgia's school system must not place or change a child's placement to a more restrictive environment prior to providing the maximum support for the child to benefit unless it is the parent's expressed agreement or request.

Placement decisions and recommendations for Georgia's children will follow a sequence of "least to most " and provide the maximum support necessary for the child to benefit in the environment.

Georgia's school systems will implement a Positive Behavior Plan for ALL children (including children with autism and emotional behavior disorders) with behavioral special needs prior to recommend a placement other than the least restrictive environment.

Georgia's school system will not implement or modify Behavior intervention plans without the notification, consent, and participation of parents of children with special needs.

Georgia's Educational System will not ADD the category of children with Autism to the eligibility requirements served in Psychoeducational Centers.

Georgia's Educational System will rule out Autism, before labeling a child with an Emotional Behavior Disorder.

Georgia's children with special needs will not be placed in Psychoeducational centers without required and specific documentation and diagnosis provided by a medical physician and the expressed agreement and consent of the child's parents.

Parents will be entitled to an Independant Educational Evaluation and will not be threatened with Due Proccess in order to avoid providing a child with a second opinion.

Georgia's Children must not be placed in any program without the express permission of their parents.

Georgia's Parent input regarding the "unique" needs of their Child with Special Needs "must" be "seriously" considered and "added" to the IEP.

Georgia's School Systems must take "accurate" minutes and the minutes shall not become a part of the IEP until the Parent has the opportunity to review the minutes and agree they are correct.

Georgia's School System staff are not permitted to alter IEP documentation in student files, without parental consent and notification.

Georgia's School Systems must not violate the right to Privacy under HIPPA of Children with Special Needs or their Parents and Advocates.

Georgia's Children with Special Needs that are home schooled must have the same opportunity to the needed services as any other Child with Special Needs in the schools jurisdiction.

Georgia's School Systems must inform parents of their rights to Early Resolution of their complaints.

Georgia's Children with Special Needs must include in ALL programs, just as their non-disabled peers, and will be provided the necessary support to enjoy the same privileges and benefits of children without special needs. This includes Band, PE, lunch, art, music, school sports, plays, school dances, school events (dances, ceremonies, award programs, recitals, plays, concerts, and "field day") and any other activity a Child with Special Needs has the right to participate in.

Georgia's School Systems will not suspend or expel a Child prior to providing the maximum support required including, but not limited to a "positive" Behavior Intervention first. Georgia's Education Monitoring will be performed by unbiased individuals, not chosen by the school system staff.

Georgia's State Advisory Panel will be comprised of a majority of parents of children with special needs or individuals with disabilities that are not employed nor have benefit from Georgia's Educational System.

Georgia Department of Education will not be responsible for choosing the members of the State Advisory Panel, as the State Advisory Panel serves as an advisory board to the Georgia Department of Education. If Georgia Dept. of Education makes the decision as to the members on the panel, this may lead to choosing only persons that agree with the Georgia Department of Education to be placed on the panel. Limiting and restricting the public and the participation of Parents of Children with Special Needs that are not employed nor have financial gain from Georgia's Educational System.

Georgia's School Systems will not pursue Compulsory Attendance/Truancy or other legal matters in retaliation when provided with a signed medical excuse from school by a licensed medical practitioner.

Georgia's school system must not lower the standards and expectations to grade level when the student's abilities exceed grade level.

Georgia's school system will not use restraints or any or methods of humiliation not used with the without written and expressed consent and agreement with the parent of the child with special needs.

Georgia's school system staff will not retaliate against parents of children with special needs or advocates by slandering or portraying them in a negative manner to other school system staff and or educational leaders.

Georgia's school systems will provide parents of children with special needs adequate and proper PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE as required by Federal law within 10 days of a parent's written request.

Georgia's school systems do not have the authority to disagree with a medical doctor's diagnosis or deny meeting the needs of any child with special needs that affects their education, unless the school System has a licensed medical physician on staff and parents written agreement to do so.

Georgia's educational system must not intimidate teachers, or provide them erroneous and inaccurate information about the rights of children with special needs and their parents. Georgia's educational system must provide teachers with the necessary support needed for children with special needs to be provided access to an education in the least restrictive environment.

This list is not inclusive of all the proposed resolutions, as the DOE has not given the public ample due notice, nor time to the public citizens or Parents of Children with Special Needs Notice time to review all the proposed changes for 2007.

The Georgia DOE Division of Exceptional Students has not highlighted all the proposed changes, in order for us to review and comment on the proposed changes.

We first need to inform our Leaders of our concerns:

Many Children with Special Needs across the state of Georgia are not receiving a Free Appropriate Public Education. There are over 190,000 Children with Special Needs served with an IEP in Georgia, Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) only accounts for 60% (114,000) of Children with Special Needs in Georgia. Only 32% of Children with Special Needs graduate with a "regular" diploma. The drop out rate for Children with Special Needs "increased" in 2005-2006. Children with Special Needs deserve an equal education, high standards and the opportunity to achieve according to "their abilities". Children with Special Needs should make the same amount of progress as any other child if they are able to. Don't set limits on our Children with Special Needs; they too have gifts to contribute to society.

Have rising expectations for our most vulnerable children, and give them the same opportunity as their non disabled peers to become productive and respected citizens in our schools, communities and society.

As tax payers it us our RIGHT to be involved and participate in partnership with school systems involving our children's education, as an EQUAL team member. Our input has VALUE, as parents, and Georgia's educational system must not have the authority to make decisions about children with special needs without agreement from parents and guardians.

NOW is the TIME to UNITE our VOICES and STAND for the RIGHTS of our children, and send a message to our leaders that NO! We do not agree with Georgia's proposed changes to the rules and regulations that will negatively impact nearly 200,000 students with special needs throughout Georgia. Parent involvement and collaboration is absolutely necessary for Georgia to repair it's broken educational system and ensure NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND. It is the hope that the results of this petition will reach those who lead Georgia by validating the concerns and voice of Georgia's Parents of Children with Special Needs and Concerned Public Citizens. Those who sign also hope to inspire compassion in our Leaders to work toward resolution of the Education crisis that has compromised and negatively affected the lives and future of our most vulnerable:

Georgia's Children with Special Needs in our communities.

The deadline for this petition is January 19, 2006.

Let's work together and make our concerns known to our Leaders.

There are many that care about the plight of Georgia's Children with Special Needs: Parents, Educators, and Leaders alike. The information on this Petition, especially the comments, will help our Leaders understand the day-to-day challenges facing Georgia's Children with Special Needs, their families and educators. Please sign and pass this Petition along to others.

You can make a difference! This Petition will be presented to our Leaders and you will have played a part in improving the lives and education of Children with Special Needs, their families and strengthening Georgia's communities by helping to develop a better Education System to meet the "unmet" needs of Children with Special Needs.

Join the Educate Georgia Campaign! in order to change and improve the course of education in Georgia!

Thank you for your time and consideration.

In dreams, she dances :: Georgia's hospitals to get Federal investigation..

In reality, she's too pooped to barely walk down the hall, BUT that won't stop her from sharing the following..........

A breaking news announcement shared that Governor Sonny Perdue has been notified that the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights division is headed for Georgia to investigate our state's seven state-run mental health hospitals..

The rest of the story may be found at:

Justice Dept. to investigate Georgia's mental hospitals..
By Alan Judd, Andy Miller..
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution..
Published on: 2007-04-19

You're going to have to grab it quick because the AJC's articles go into archive very regularly.. Be forewarned that it takes a subscription to view many of their articles.. Perhaps this one they'll just let slide..

To Andy Miller and Alan Judd..

Haven't been able to say it enough since you all started the A Hidden Shame series of articles: You all ROCK..

Anyone else smell a Bouncing Baby Pulitzer in the air for these two..?

Told them back when those articles first started appearing, what is occurring in our state's hospitals is, no, goes beyond inexcusable.. It's unconscionable that, with all the cr#p that came out about our Highland Rivers' system here across the top of the state, Andy and Alan's series of articles is eerily like stepping back five years ago.. The stories are the same, the results are the same, the circumstances more similar than different..

Last time I, for one, sat in person and watch as the man in charge jested, joked as he announced at a press conference that they had been cleared of.. wrong-doing, of all accountability, I guess.. The system that directly cost people their Lives and others nearly theirs got away with it a few short years ago, managed to cover their tracks somehow.. Not this time, folks.. There will be justice for those who have no alternative but to turn to a system they in their Hearts believe is providing responsible Emergency Rooms for their Minds..

PS.. Hee-UGE THANK YOU slash CYBER HUG for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution editors for seeing the value of this story being "breaking news" worthy.. (Grin, that happened to be a gripe that I had stalling half-finished in the wings on my 'puter.. Welp, set that one to the side and keep moving steady forward from there..)

PPS.. Ok, so who's got the chutzpah, the ca(l)jones to go open information act on the Governor's Office and pull the handwritten note I left him Disability Day..

Talking about the note where I told him from the Heart that they have got to stop what is going on across the state in our community mental health care system as a whole, that they're churning out more desperate people every day they piddle along.. If you live in a community, you ARE touched by our state's community mental health care system because there is a ripple effect when those desperate people's Lives inevitably touch yours down the road.. Virginia Tech (VA Tech) very sadly has already realized the same..

NO MORE DESPERATE, DESTROYED LIVES.. PERMANENTLY ACCOUNTABLE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CARE NOW.................... (please)..

Cross-posted at: Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar..

PUBLIC NOTICE to iPowerWeb.com: Request for an immediate cease and desist..

To whom it may concern at iPowerWeb.com, interchangeable with "VDeck"..

As privately forwarded to your attention very early this A.M., this is my promised public notice of intent to pursue legal channels of cease and desist against your company regarding your use of my publicly established identity of (but not necessarily limited to):

• ButterflyBytes.com, otherwise recognized as Butterfly Bytes, Web Design by Cindy Sue
• Calendar.ButterflyBytes.com, otherwise recognized as Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar
• SixAlmostSeven.ButterflyBytes.com, otherwise recognized as Six. Almost Seven.. A [psychiatric survivor] advocates for change..
• Cadillac.ButterflyBytes.com, otherwise known as Country Country Club, Family-operated sports bar and grill

How important do I consider this request for a cease and desist of your current (mis)use of my sweat and tear established cyber identit(y/ies)..? Three words, the three very simple words of "Six", "Almost", and "Seven" from the English language, when entered into the widely recognized search engine, Google, ranked Numbers Two and Three of 29 million plus returned possible outcomes just this very second.. THAT'S how important this is to me..

Six. Almost Seven.. was just beginning to find its speed in the world of mental health and disability advocacy.. Sitting in my inbox currently are several "thank yous" from individuals who have found my Life-experience garnered leads to self-advocacy and support beneficial.. We are talking about individuals who are themselves or who have family members or friends experiencing some level of suicide related crisis and/or suicide survival.. This is very, very personal on any number of levels..

Because you have chosen the path you did with respect to my account with your company (related correspondence to be posted within later, including the original final timely email from me stating all was hunky-dory, was cool, was covered by a financial supporter with respect to your "lightly-announced", ill-timed deduction from an assoicated bank account), you are now using MY self-identity(ies) of Six. Almost Seven.., Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar, and Butterfly Bytes, Web Design by Cindy Sue along with my friend's brand newly established cyber identity of Cadillac County Club to redirect to your sole benefit.. MY cyber identities, the ones that have taken nearly ten years to create and establish, are now being used by you to your monetary benefit..

To that end, and as was first brought to your attention a reasonable eight business hours ago, you are officially notified of my request for you to cease and desist using my cyber identities to your monetary benefit now..

Thanking you in advance for your full cooperation in this very serious matter..

As stated earlier in my private correspondence to you, best wishes in your future business endeavors..

Peace..

Cindy Sue Causey
Talking Rock, Georgia

Ref: Butterfly Bytes
Six. Almost Seven..
Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar
Cadillac Country Club

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Blue Ribbon Camapaign :: Free Speech Online..

EndeavorFreedom.TV: A Chance to Share Your Story

Had been meaning to post about Endeavor Freedom for a while now.. This makes for the perfect opportunity to pass along a tad of their message.. If any of it proves of interest, drop a note and/or your resume to:

ZenGarcia@alltel.net.

On June 22 of last year during brutal heat and sweltering sun, Georgia Advocates celebrated the sixth anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court Decision Olmstead v. LC & EW; in which all people with disabilities won The right to lives integrated in community with long term care services Delivered at home instead of an institutional setting.

In 1995, 47 year old, Elaine Wilson, characterized with a mild mental Disability and personality disorder, joined in a lawsuit filed by fellow Patient 31 year old, Lois Curtis. Curtis, who having been diagnosed With a mild mental disability and schizophrenia, had been Institutionalized for three years at Georgia Regional Hospital, a mental Health facility, before Atlanta Legal Aid lawyer Sue Jamieson, filed a Brief in federal court in Atlanta on their behalf. The case took on Immediate precedence as State’s lined up to oppose the right of people With disabilities to receive government long term care assistance to Remain in the community and receive services in our own homes. The Government and then Director of the Department of Human Resources in Atlanta, Tommy Olmstead claimed that the nursing home and institutional Facilities that the States have provided for end of life care and long Term disability placement were ‘sufficient’ environments to sustain People whom had acquired permanent life impairing disabilities even Though most were in no threat of imminent death because of their Disabilities.

On June 22, 1999, the spotlight shone on the Supreme Court as disability Advocates waited what was to become milestone decision – "To people with Disabilities, this case is as significant as /Brown v. Board of Education/ was to people of color," said Mark Johnson, advocacy Coordinator for the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. "When the ADA was Passed, it was a mandate for integration. Now we've got our state Challenging our right to integration." Cheers echoed through the nation As the U.S. Supreme Court sided with advocates, saying that to force Persons with disabilities into nursing homes -- or any institution -- Without creating alternatives, "constitutes a form of discrimination Based on disability prohibited by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

In 2004, Kate Gainer, organized the first ever Long Road Home, a 5^th Anniversary Celebration of the Olmstead decision to assess the ‘Integration mandate’ in Georgia as President Clinton had ordered all State Medicaid programs to draw up plans to comply with the Supreme Court decision. 5 years after the initial ruling Georgia remained in 45^th place out of the 50 in providing community-based services to its Long term care recipients. Georgia ADAPT has honored this landmark Decision every year since by organizing and marching for the annual "Long Road Home" campaign which demands our State comply with the Olmstead decision.

Last year we ended our campaign with a press conference at Kenny’s alley At the Underground in downtown Atlanta. The only problem was - none of The mainstream news channels or media sources showed up to be in Attendance to relay the importance of our story and why we were Celebrating this event. Lois Clark was even in attendance to address The crowd in support. That was when Valerie Suber, the media director For the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities asked loudly, “Where is the media and why do they continuously ignore our issues?” In That moment I conceived a thought, why continuously struggle to get Coverage from the mainstream news outlets when they mostly never show up To profile our issues, would it not be easier to create an independent Media site for people with disabilities, empowered by people with Disabilities with news stories and media specifically targeted for our Community.

It seemed to me that it would be an easier task to create an independent Media site than to convince corporate news outlets that our issues are Important. We as a group, as a community of people living on the Fringes of society, in the shadows of mainstream culture are largely Ignored, told that our lives are not worthy of equality, that there is No quality in living with a disability, and that we would be better off Dead. We know they are dead wrong and have been banging our heads Against the wall just to get some one to notice that we have things to Say; we feel, we hurt, we bleed!! We are human and we want our equal Rights no matter what your professional opinion thinks about our lives.

As advocates we spend so much time attempting to convince the mainstream Media that our issues affect everybody and are relevant to be reported On and yet even when they do cover our stories it is usually done in a Way that slants public opinion against us. So instead of spending all That time and effort into persuading corporate media to cover our Issues, I wrote a grant to the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities to start an independent media organization for people with Disabilities run by people with disabilities to be called EndeavorFreedom.tv.

Having had the grant approved, we are now on the cutting edge of moving into and creating something which can really benefit people with disabilities as a community whole and give us a mode for expression that is not controlled by minds and opinions that do not understand and even belittle our lives. It’s bad enough that we have to struggle to hold onto our individuality and our dignity when hard pressed by a historical legacy of warehousing people with disabilities and segregating us from mainstream society just because we function differently than most.

People with disabilities make-up 20% of the population and yet disability news, stories, and events make up less than 3% of what the corporate media reports on. If you happen to be in a minority with a disability you are represented even less, and if you are poor and a minority with a disability, then truly nothing in mainstream culture reflect your/our everyday experience of life. EndeavorFreedom.tv wants to change all that. We want to capture and relay the everyday stories of everyday struggle by everyday people with disabilities just trying to manage the American dream here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We want you to be the hero, the star, the story and we want you to share with us the stories that you consider news, issues which are important to you, that are rarely if ever seen on corporate news.

All of us are touched at some point and in some way by disability. Share with us how it is that disability affects you or some one you know. In order for us to make this project a success we are seeking the active participation of the entire disability community abroad. This will be your chance to write, shoot, direct, and edit your story and share it with us so that we can in turn share it with the world. Like the newly launched Current.tv or YouTube.com, we are empowering all people with disabilities to be the producer, editor, film director. Create, capture, and shoot the story that is important to you; share it with us and we’ll share it with the world.

EndeavorFreedom.tv also represents an opportunity for people with disabilities to become involved in media vocations which we as a community have been largely locked out of up until this point. We do have paid staff positions available to website developers, radio hosts, film editors, journalist, and camera personnel. We are also seeking creators of disability unique content and will pay accordingly. We envision expanding EndeavorFreedom.tv into the central hub for the disability community. If you are interested in being part of our project please contact me at the email above. We’ll start where we can and expand into all directions as time and space allows. We need the whole gamut of personnel with technical expertise on media, engineering, editing, filming, reporting, and hosting to make this project work. We are especially interested in bilingual personnel so that we can extend our reach to all communities of minorities with disabilities. We especially are seeking website developers with experience adapting websites to accommodate all accessibility issues as we want to insure the site for people with every kind of disability.

So, if you are or know of anybody that might be a good candidate for any of these positions, please invite them to submit their resume to ZenGarcia@alltel.net. We will be in contact soon and may invite you or them to join our staff. Even with our grant, initially we will focus on keeping paid staff to those areas of dire need, utilizing volunteer staff where we can to get things started. We will employ more paid staff positions as the site grows. As soon as the site is generating enough viewer interaction to solicit paid advertisers to site, we will further increase paid staff positions. Please consider joining us in this endeavor, we need your participation to make this a success.

"A Hidden Shame": AJC Investigation into Georgia Mental Health Care Hospitals..

***HIGH Trigger warning on this lead for consumer or psychiatric survivors***

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PLEASE NOTE: The reporters and those who assist them are putting together a very extensive investigation into Georgia's mental health care hospitals.. In several places, they give readers the opportunity to provide feedback, either through online comment forms or a phone number for one on one contact..

Overwhelming amount of information regarding the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's newest investigation(s) into what they state as "at least 115 patients from Georgia's state psychiatric hospitals who have died under suspicious circumstances during the past five years".. The reporters have presented so much information, it would be taking a huge chance on copyright infringement with respect to reposting from this keyboard..

Theoretically, this series of articles all starts here:

A HIDDEN SHAME: About this series
www.ajc.com/news/content/health/stories/2007/01/04/0107meshabout.html.

Links to the related articles so far are provided on the left of the screen.. You'll most likely need an AJC free, somewhat lengthy online subscription to view while the information is up there..

For my friends who wish to have alternative formats available, you will need to inquire of AJC directly.. The reporters offer the following phone number for those wishing to contact them regarding this series of articles in particular:

404-526-2640

Crossposted at: Georgia Disability Advocates' Calendar.