News
May 18 2026
Following the conclusion of the Georgia Fiscal Year 2027 budget process, the final budget signed by Governor Brian Kemp on May 12, 2026, includes funding for 100 additional New Option Waiver Program (NOW) and Comprehensive Support Waiver Program (COMP) waiver slots. This is a significant departure from the 900 slots approved by the Georgia General Assembly last month. We recognize that many individuals, families, and caregivers across Georgia are processing this difficult news.
We understand that this outcome may leave many of you feeling disappointed, frustrated, uncertain, or concerned about what lies ahead. Your feelings are valid, and we want you to know we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.
“More than 7,500 individuals and families across Georgia remain on waiting lists for NOW/COMP waiver services. Behind every number is a person, a son, a daughter, a sibling, a neighbor, and a family doing everything they can to support their loved one.”
During the 2026 Georgia Legislative Session, families across Georgia stepped forward to share their lived experiences, their needs, and their hopes with lawmakers. Their courage and advocacy matter, and it will continue to matter in the days, months, and years ahead.
Our Role and Our Responsibility
As Georgia’s leading Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Parent to Parent of Georgia’s mission has always been to educate, empower, and support families of individuals with disabilities. That mission does not waver, not in moments of progress, disappointments, or setbacks. We are a trusted, nonpartisan resource for families advocating for their loved ones, self-advocates, providers, partners, and the broader disability community. We do not take political positions, and we do not assign blame. What we consistently do, without exception, is show up for families. Our commitment remains unchanged.
How We Will Continue to Show Up for You
In the weeks and months ahead, our organization will continue to:
“You do not have to navigate this alone. Our team is here to walk alongside you, answering questions, providing guidance, and making sure your voice continues to be heard.”
A Word About Well-Being
Advocacy is not easy work. For many families, engagement in the legislative process requires courage, vulnerability, and significant emotional energy. If you are feeling exhausted, discouraged, or overwhelmed right now, please be gentle with yourself.
We encourage you to lean on your community, connect with others who understand your experience, and take the time you need to care for yourself and your family. Sustainable advocacy begins with taking care of the people doing the work, and that includes you.
Looking Ahead
The conclusion of the state’s budget cycle is not the end of this conversation. The needs of more than 7,500 individuals and families on Georgia’s waiver waiting lists are real, pressing, and deserving of ongoing attention and action. We will continue to monitor policy developments, engage with partners and stakeholders, and keep families informed as new information becomes available.
We remain steadfast in our belief that every individual with a disability in Georgia deserves access to the services, supports, and opportunities they need to live full and meaningful lives. We remain equally committed to the families who love and support them.
We are here not just as an information resource, but as a partner on this journey. If you need support, connection, or simply someone to help you think through next steps, please reach out to us.
Together, we will continue building a Georgia where no family is left without the information, support, or voice they need to thrive.
We are grateful for the trust you place in us. That trust is something we do not take lightly, and it is the reason we will never stop showing up for Georgia’s families.
For questions, resources, or support, please contact Parent to Parent of Georgia at
www.p2pga.org | (770) 451-5484