The Georgia Participant-Direction Group (GAPD) is currently seeking new members.

GAPD is a self-organized group of Participants/Representatives which has been recognized by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) as an advisory group. The mission of GAPD is to promote and support Participant Direction for individuals with developmental disabilities through advocacy, education, and training on waiver services, supports, and policy, so that they may live independently in their homes and communities.

The GAPD is comprised of 2 representatives from each region who are current participants/representatives in the NOW/Comp Waiver Participant Direction program. There are currently vacancies in Regions 1, 2, and 3. Self-advocate participants are encouraged to apply!

Meetings occur virtually or in-person 4 times a year. Members are required to participate in committee work.

Applications are reviewed by current GAPD members. The application can be found here. Please send applications and/or questions to: participant.direction@dbhdd.ga.gov

GVRA Parent Forum Recording is now available

The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency in partnership with Parent to Parent of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Education recently hosted an online Parent Forum to allow families to learn about the services these organizations offer.

You can watch a recording of the forum here. If you have any questions about the topics discussed in the forum, please contact Jeff.Allen@gvs.ga.gov. If you have any technical issues accessing the recording, please contact John.Boan@gvs.ga.gov. 

New videos provide information to families on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in Georgia

The Georgia Department of Education has produced 3 new videos to help families understand Georgia’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

  • MTSS and Special Education –
    Watch this video and learn more about MTSS and how it connects with Special Education in Georgia.
  • MTSS FAQs –
    This video features Frequently Asked Questions from Parents about MTSS in Georgia
  • MTSS, RTI and SST –
    In this video, you will learn how to unravel the language of MTSS, RTI and SST and how they impact all students in Georgia.

For more information about MTSS, visit the Education Section of the P2P Roadmap

Covid-19 Resources for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The CDC has released a series of resources specifically aimed at individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The new offerings include a toolkit with social stories, videos, posters and interactive activities. The materials address five topics — getting a COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, social distancing, hand washing and getting a COVID-19 test.

DPH Launches COVID Vaccine Locator Ahead Of Phase 1A+ of Vaccine Administration

Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is launching a COVID vaccine locator on the DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov. The tool allows users to search by county for a vaccine provider in their community, and provides location and contact information for the provider. This is not a centralized scheduling tool.

County health departments and private providers are included in the locator. Additional locations statewide will be added when providers are ready to safely administer vaccine, and as vaccine supply allows. All health departments and most other providers require appointments for vaccine administration. Because vaccine supply is limited, providers may not have immediate appointments available.

Effective tomorrow, Jan. 11, Georgia will be in phase 1A+ of vaccine administration. That phase includes: healthcare workers (physicians, nurses, EMS personnel, laboratory technicians, environmental services, etc.); residents and staff of long-term care facilities; adults aged 65+ and their caregivers, as applicable; and law enforcement, firefighters, 9-1-1 dispatchers and first responders.

The process of administering COVID-19 vaccine is more complicated than other common vaccines, such as flu vaccine, and requires providers to have more resources available, including an area where individuals can be monitored for 15 minutes after being vaccinated. Many providers with vaccine are still vaccinating their own staffs and patients and are not open to the public for vaccination yet.

As both Pfizer and Moderna are able to ramp up production of vaccine in the coming weeks, supply should better meet demand for each phase of allocation and administration. Until that time, providers and the public are urged to be patient as we work together to get vaccine distributed in the most efficient and equitable way possible.

All Georgians, including those who are vaccinated, are urged to continue to follow basic COVID-19 prevention measures: wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and follow the guidance of Public Health and the guidelines in the Governor’s Executive Order.

For updates on COVID-19, follow @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Facebook.

P2P Welcomes our Newest Provider Sponsor

FAITH MEDICAL SERVICES is a health care employment and private home care service agency committed to providing its clients with the best healthcare services in accordance with the highest professional standards in Georgia.

Parent to Parent of Georgia lists more than 5,000 Providers on our Special Needs Database. As one of our provider sponsors, your support helps make an even bigger difference in the lives of over 30,000 individuals impacted by disabilities and special healthcare needs we serve each year. We are grateful for the additional support through our Provider Sponsorship program.

P2P Provider Sponsorship Agreement Form

P2P adds COVID-19 Information & Resources to the Roadmap to Success

Parent to Parent has added information and resources to our Roadmap to help guide and assist you and keep your family safe, healthy, educated, and connected during this time of isolation. Be sure to check out information on Early Childhood at https://www.p2pga.org/roadmap/early-childhood/covid-19-information-resources

Information on Education can be found at https://www.p2pga.org/roadmap/education/covid-19-information-resources

and Healthcare information is at https://www.p2pga.org/roadmap/halthcare/covid-19-information-resources