AJC :: Georgia Governor's mental health commission copied other state's materials..

Alan Judd and Andy Miller's recanting of Georgia's ever evolving mental health care system story through their A Hidden Shame series just keeps getting better and better.......

Not.

Thanks to the editors who (once again) saw the Value to including the following in the weekday AJC emailing, the latest I've seen is today's entry about how the Georgia Governor's commission has now no less than plagiarized a few years old likeminded report from Michigan rather than dedicate more towards creating our own:

• (Georgia) State's mental health report was mostly plagiarized: Gov.'s commission copied others' material
  
  Alan Judd, Andy Miller; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Published on: 06/11/08

A new vision outlined for mental health care in Georgia last week isn't so new after all.

Large sections of a report by Gov. Sonny Perdue's mental health commission were lifted, often verbatim, from a Michigan study published in 2004 and from two other sources, a review by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found. The commission's report, released last week by the governor's office, credits none of the cloned material.

The report presents as its own work entire sentences, paragraphs and longer passages from other sources, with no more than superficial editing. It duplicates, with only two minor changes in wording, the values listed in the Michigan study. Seven of Georgia's eight key findings mirror Michigan's. Even Georgia's vision statement is appropriated from the Michigan report.

Sigh.......

Because of how ceaselessly exhausted I remain and how hard I know it is to keep going most days, a part of me is empathetic to what occurs in situations like this.. What I'm meaning is empathetic towards that days are only 24-hours long and Lives are crammed full to the hilt already trying just to possibly stay somewhere above the water line in this, our one and only shot at that thing called Life..

And like that which goes back to 2002 when the in-my-physical-presence handpicked advocate chosen for me by heads of the Highland River's Community Service Board THEMSELVES the day they publicly announced their slate was clean dropped off the face of the Earth on me regularly in an extremely desperate, by a spider's silk threadbare time of need for any kind of external advocacy assistance.. Every day that blip in time comes to Mind, I try to forgive by picturing she may walk in Shoes not so unlike my own..

Yup.. Some large part of me does "get" it in some part, much as it can be and remains Life-endangering to those who faithfully do as Society expects, too often dictates, and trustingly walk in those same very doors..

What me doesn't get is that those who could become even more empowered by involvement on any level sit day after day after day waiting to hear what tidbits they can from sources such as Alan and Andy.. Most aren't at that point where these fingertips are.. Those in particular could use the self-determination guaranteed by a phone call inviting their opinion on what occurred in each, their own separate case of mismanaged mental health care across the great state of Georgia..

Ego comes to Mind.. When Lives are endangered, there is no place on this Planet for Ego..

There's a reason I openly worship my relationship with the advocates and self-advocates that revolve around the awe-inspiring energies generating from disABILITY LINK, the center for independent living (CIL) down there on Commerce Drive in Decatur.. If they've got Ego, by gosh and golly, they've harnessed it to the hilt to drive positive actions of support and empowerment in all directions towards others, positive forward moving actions of advocacy that are literally saving Lives..

They nearly alone and without twice of thought saved mine..

My Heroes.

Cyber hugs from Talking Rock..

Dear Barack :: One Citizen's Perspective :: Cross-Disability Accommodations..

Sent from these fingertips a mere few moments ago to Betsy Borgacz with the Barack Obama presidential campaign.. Should you wish to provide her with similar feedback yourselves, email her directly at OlympiaEventPlanning [at] yahoo.com with a subject line similar maybe to "Universal Accessibility and Accommodations Of Political Campaigns"..

Cyber hugs from Talking Rock..

Hi, Betsy..

Thank you sooo much for addressing, of late through Jake's own personal efforts, what these fingertips, too, have expressed [1] from my first venture [2] onto the My.BarackObama.com campaign website.. If I may be so bold, I am asking that you please accommodate me now cognitively by allowing the following extended impromptu response to how my Mind processed your recent request for information and feedback on accommodating universal accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs)..

Each United States state and some U.S. possessions have centers for independent living (CILs) that *should* be excellent, business day on-call resources for just exactly as you ask.. The Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) website offers an in-depth listing of many American CILs operating at this time:

• ilru.org/html/publications/directory/state_list.html..

If for any reason at all, you or any of those who may receive this by default of its intended audience, run into a snag trying to contact these various CILs in your quest for information regarding universal accommodations, *PLEASE* do not hesitate to call my Colleagues, Mentors, Extended Family here in Georgia at the disABILITY LINK (the LINK) of Decatur:

• disABILITY LINK
  755 Commerce Drive, Suite 105
  Decatur, GA 30030
  (404) 687-8890 Voice
  (404) 687-9175 TTY
  (800) 239-2507 (V/TTY)
  (404) 687-8298 FAX
  Email: info@disabilitylink.org..

This particular CIL is chock *FULL* of national disability self-advocates, nay, internationally active advocates.. Not to put them on the immediate spot, but they are, among many other things, very familiar with organizing events of various sizes for persons of, again, *ALL* disabilities..

+ + + + + + +
DISCLAIMER :: Before I go *any* further, please let it be known up front that they, as I, do not openly extend public endorsements for political candidates in and of themselves.. These groups are, instead, being recommended from the Heart as resources for best practices consultations.. Additionally, as it appears that you wholeheartedly acknowledge, no one self-advocate is *ever* in a position to speak absolutely on behalf of the Whole..
+ + + + + + +

Prompting my boldness in highlighting the LINK :: With their last few years' experience in organizing Georgia Voices That Count (GVTC) disability self-advocacy training weekends, they are becoming extremely familiar with coordinating various congregational activities embracing very diverse assemblages of disabilities at any one given time.. This includes but is not limited to the fine honed art of coordinating accessible transportation, temporary housing, and disability-specific accommodations, e.g. interpretors for persons with hearing impairments and suitable quiet space for persons with mental illness..

Additionally, there are many, *many* wonderful organizations scattered across our precious United States, but these next couple of organizations are some that I also ask that you *please* acquaint yourselves with in your own efforts to accommodate all persons, not just now but forever always into that, Our Futures (with above DISCLAIMER remaining in effect here, also):

• ADAPT in Denver
  201 S Cherokee
  Denver, CO 80223
  Telephone: 303/733-9324
  Email: ADAPT@ADAPT.org..
  www.adapt.org..
• Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)
  P.O. Box 30142
  Kansas City, MO 64112
  Attn: Laura Walker
  www.sabeusa.org/nationalchapters.html..

Additionally, two more things I would like to quickly *once again*, as I have already done personally and previously, address to the Barack Obama campaign camp: Website accessibility and community transportation.. My suggestions for both, as before, remain to please visit the following:

For the Barack Obama website webmaster and/or webmistress:

• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
  www.w3.org/WAI/..

Validating the BarackObama.com website is a HUGE start towards its overall accessibility for *ALL PERSONS*:

• W3C Markup Validation Service
  validator.w3.org..

Public listservs for advisement regarding implementation are available for both of the above.

Lastly, regarding transportation, if you are looking for what I personally find to be an exceptional example of community transportation for persons of all disabilities, nope, again *ALL PERSONS*, I *once again* most humbly recommend someone get a firsthand feel for the community program here in Pickens County (Jasper), Georgia:

• Mountain Area Transportation System (MATS)
  180 W. Burton Street
  Jasper, GA 30143
  Telephone: 706-692-3252

Visiting MATS would give you an excellent feel for what you would be looking for in accommodating the transportation needs of local constituents..

In conclusion, thank you for, at this time, pro-actively addressing ongoing concerns of public citizens with disabilities in our United States.. Intermingled with the reputable preferences of others, accommodation requests fulfilled by incorporating any of the above personally-garnered factors have an overall proclivity towards being of mutual benefit for *EVERYONE*, in each our daily Lives..

Peace, Love, and Social Justice For Us All..

Cindy Sue
Six. Almost Seven..

[1] Funny how rhetoric can sidetrack a girl.. :)
my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/butterfly/gGB5JF..

[2] Butterfly's Profile @ My.BarackObama.com
my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/public/g5XsM..

- :: -
CindySueCausey.blogspot.com
www.ButterflyBytes.com
Georgia Voices That Count, 2005
Talking Rock, GA, USA

Congratulations, Georgia Voices That Count, Class of 2008..!

A special email from the fingertips of Linda Pogue at disABILITY LINK in Decatur..

And I quoteth (with just the teensie, tiniest of editables).......

GVTC#6 graduates (and supporters),

Congratulations upon becoming Georgia Voices That Count graduates! We think of you as members of the GVTC family from the moment you first signed on - now you are official! You join over 75 GVTC graduates, advocates from across Georgia who have made a commitment to working in your communities for improved access, inclusion and self determination for people with disabilities.

Thanks to ALL the supporters, presenters, sponsors and others who helped create the GVTC experience and especially to those who joined us for the GVTC graduation (and those who would have been there if they could) to add their power to the GVTC family. There were some wise words spoken at the meeting and graduation. While I am not claiming the following words to be "wise," I do want to make sure you heard them loud and clear.

I have a multiple choice question for the GVTC graduates.....

I applied for GVTC because:

• a. Someone I know said it would be good for me
• b. I thought it would be interesting
• c. You get to hang out with a great group of people
• d. I like to be involved
• e. I have a passion for justice, I want to make a positive difference in the world, I know I have a responsibility to do what I can for the disability community and I need help and support to be the best advocate for myself and other people with disabilities

Any of the answers are right, but of course (e) is the real point of the exercise!

I want to tell you something straight - ready?

Keep busy , having fun, and being involved are all very well, we all need those elements in our lives, but, if you do not make the move from taking part in training meetings to taking part in the disability movement, then who will?

• Who will advocate if not you?
• How will things change for the better if you are not going to try to make it happen?
• Who will speak to the elected representatives if not you?
• Who will reduce stigma and pity for people with disabilities if not you?
• Who will help people move out of nursing facilities and other institutions if not you?
• Who will make our communities more accessible if not you?
• Who will make our communities more inclusive if not you?

That's right - it is all about YOU!

Please think about it:

• The Georgia Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) recognized the need for more people with disabilities to become advocates, activists and leaders - and so they fund GVTC as part of their work
• disABILITY LINK supplied expertise, organizations, passion, resources, etc. to create and administer GVTC
• Then many people, representing many different organizations, donated their time and energy to make presentations to you at the GVTC meetings - to help you learn and consider important topics
• Plus many people donated their time and energy as supporters during and between the GVTC meetings - to help make it easier for you to participate
• Current leaders and activists have supported and encouraged you to make the next move in your advocacy career
• All these organizations and people do this because they see the need, and believe you are the right people to fulfill the role!

Maybe you are already stepping out, taking risks, becoming leaders, doing what needs to be done? I am now encouraging you to take it further.

No one can do it the same as you - you are the best people for the job - others can only encourage and support you - you have to do it - it is you who other people are looking to - do you really want other people to make the decisions for you? - you are the future - it is a huge responsibility, but you are up to it because you are GVTC graduates.

Thank you from me - from the disability community - from everyone!

Like James Allen says, "How do you eat a whale?" - one bite at a time!

So work hard, be well, keep in touch - thanks and best wishes, Linda

Oh, Linda.. A WHALE..? Really..? :wink:

To my fellow graduates, PLEASE never forget the crescendo of empowerment that welled through you as each, your different Georgia Voices training years progressed.. PLEASE find some way to pay it forward to others around you in your respective communities..

Warmest cyber hugs of celebration from a fellow graduate,
Cindy Sue Causey, GVTC#3, Class of 2005..

United In Advocacy..!

I Just Don't Get It :: All The Service Funding Cuts Going On..

Rumors (translation: no associated link of confirmation to share) came my way recently (waves to disABILITY LINK NW) that, here in Georgia, funding is in danger of being stripped away from supporting full community inclusion for PWDs and instead will be poured back in to nursing homes and other similar long term care facilities, i.e. jail and segregation.. With all the forward-thinking universal inclusion strides made through individuals' undaunted advocacy and self-advocacy efforts over the years, can we say, "Bass ackwards or what..??!!"

Another desperate "help stop this funding cut" action alert that just hit my inbox (waves to Glynda and Jeannie over at MHDDAD) comes from Mental Health America.. The Mental health slammed in Bush Budget, help fight back! alert states:

The President's $3.1 trillion proposed budget for FY 2009 abandons the millions of children and adults with mental health needs and others at risk of mental health problems. It slashes Medicaid funding by $18 billion over 5 years, and drastically cuts funding of a wide range of other federal programs critical to people with or at risk of mental health problems.

On behalf of the most vulnerable, we CANNOT let this happen. Raise your voice with others and call on Congress to reject the Administration's budget and adopt a budget that makes children and adults living with, or at risk of, mental health conditions one of the nation's most urgent priorities.

What's getting these fingertips more than just a little bit bent of late are the seemingly gabillions of Marines.com U.S. Marine Corps ads running right now...........

Proudly announcing sponsorship of...........

Totally Life-altering...........

Totally Life-affecting...........

Basketball games.

Am I completely mistaken, or is not the military also funded by federal dollars..??

Perhaps near even wholly supported by the same..??

And, if so, could not those dollars being wantonly spent on frivolous ballgames not be redirected to rescue Life-saving, Life-sustaining, non-segregation-supporting community services constantly in danger of being cut..?

:scratches head and furrows brow:

Guessing that those who hold our Nation's purse strings do so have their priorities, doesn't they.. :wink:

Warm cyber hugs from the Hills of Northwest Georgia..

Shoutout to the LINK :: Did you all know you've been "Portfolio'd"..?

Check it out:

Condé Nast Portfolio.com's Top Company Profiles :: disABILITY LINK..

Kewl, ay..?

Cyber hugs.. :wink:

So, what's everybody doing to celebrate Olmstead decision this year..?

Getting the following from a few different directions right now, Georgia Advocacy Office and disABILITY LINK, both in Decatur, Georgia.. :waving to Cheri and Linda:

Not too late to organize something to celebrate in your own community.. Marches from a point of interest to or through an institution are very popular with my friends.. If you get down to the last second, you could still get together and go out to dinner, anything, and still bring awareness to those around you..

Advocacy Tip: For next year, stop right now and put yourself an entry in your favorite calendar program, such as Yahoo!'s Calendar.. Set it to start reminding you a few months ahead of time so you can start encouraging those around you to get involved, too..

Remember, June 22, 2009, the Ten Year Anniversary of Olmstead decision, is just around the corner, too.. Hint, hint..

PS.. If you would like to volunteer, get involved with the event in Georgia, give a shout to Cheri Mitchell: 678-755-6015..

Long Road Home 2007 :: It’s a Celebration!!

Friday, June 22, 2007 :: 12:00 noon

Join activists from around the state for a Rally at the Georgia State Capitol

We will be celebrating the Olmstead Decision of 1999 and the victories won this year.

• Approval of Georgia’s Money Follows the Person application
• The passage of The Advanced Directive Bill
• The passage of the Medicaid Buy-in

After the rally, everyone is invited to March with us to the Atlanta Public Library. Endeavor Freedom will be filming people’s stories.

We all have a story to tell, share yours.

The stories will be preserved for the Georgia Disability Rights Exhibit.

What Begins As Simplicity Speaks To a Change For the World to See. Be the Change!

RFP: Design, Publish "Making A Difference" Magazine..

An interesting RFP (request for proposals) from the GCDD (Georgia Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities)..

If you would like to see a hard copy of previous issues, feel free to pop into disABILITY LINK in Decatur (755 Commerce Drive).. You don't actually enter the building, but instead use the door just to the right of Building 755's front doors.. Let them know why you were asking, and feel free to drop my name as having sent you by.. :WINK:

Good luck to anyone who gives this unusual opportunity a shot..

---

RFP: Design, Publish "Making A Difference" Magazine..
Original RFP #42700-901-0000003250 at Georgia Procurement Registry.
Any questions should be directed to the Contracting Officer via electronic mail at: mpavonsuriel@dhr.state.ga.us.

Description:

The Department of Human Resources, Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is requesting proposals from individuals or organizations to produce a quarterly magazine, known as, "Making A Difference Magazine". The objective of this procurement is to obtain the services of a qualified firm to design, publish, print, and distribute a quarterly magazine, which is reader-friendly and contains timely articles and features that are on the cutting-edge of technology, supports and services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Resource: Member post at Advocates' Roundtable.