A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Greetings!

As we enter a new year, SILCGA is looking forward to serving and enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Moving into the second quarter of our State Plan, our focus will be our legislative agenda. We will diligently advocate for Enable Work, our Home Access Program (HAP), and community access through transportation. Please visit our website for detailed information.

During the first quarter, SILCGA collaborated with the California Commission on Disability Access during National Disability Employment Awareness Month as panelist and presented the viewing of INCLUSION. Individuals from the documentary participated providing a narrative on employment challenges & successes and answered participants questions from the well-attended event.

With the close 2024, it also presented the retirement of Malissa Thompson, the Executive Director of BAIN, Inc. We wish her well and offer our thanks to her service in the Bainbridge and Valdosta offices. Remain engaged as we will reveal our new service areas!

SILCGA Sets Their Agenda for GA Legislative Session

Learn more about our agenda items for Georgia’s Legislative Session, which includes the Enable Work Program, Accessible Transportation, and Funding for the Home Access Program.

Click to Learn More

SILCGA Attends Bienniel Institute at UGA

From Victor McRae: On December 6th, most of the Statewide Independent Living Council traveled to Athens, Georgia, to participate in the 33rd Biennial Institute of Georgia Legislators. There, the SILC team set up our table to share information about the needs of Georgians with disabilities. On Monday and Tuesday, we had the opportunity to speak with our Georgia Representatives. The topics covered included our Enable Work Program and the Home Access Program. While there, some of the SILC team also had the pleasure of attending a few of the information sessions being held. During these lectures, we gained a better understanding of the state’s current priorities. Overall, it was an excellent way to prepare for the 2025 legislative session.

From Ester Durante: Attending the Biennial Institute event was a great experience for me. As a former educator, I attended several sessions and was impressed with the remarks from Senator Strickland, in particular. He talked about the over one million Georgians suffering from a workforce crisis due to literacy issues. Believing children are our future, Sen. Strickland’s words rang out to me. He said, “We celebrate families, marriages, having children yet we’re passing laws that does not protect those same children that are our future.” With that being said, I’m looking forward to the current and newly elected legislators reflecting on his words and actively listening to all constituents and addressing the needs the best way possible during this General Assembly to combat the literacy issues in the state which will help create a secure environment for stabilized housing and equitable employment for Georgians.

Victor McRae Represent SILCGA at NFB

In October, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) participated in the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia’s 51st Annual State Convention in Augusta. This event provided an opportunity for SILCGA to connect with a dynamic community of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, sharing information about the organization’s services and advocacy efforts. At the exhibit table, attendees learned about the various programs SILCGA oversees, with a focus on supporting independence for individuals with disabilities across the state.

In addition to tabling, SILCGA representative Victor McRae moderated two panels alongside Walton Options and Multiple Choices, two of the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in Georgia. These panels highlighted the vital services CILs provide to the disability community, like the aquaponics community garden, Friday night peer groups, and accessibly videogame events.

The convention culminated at the General Session Assembly, where multiple organizations had the chance to speak about the work they have been doing for the blind and visually impaired community. At the assembly, Victor gave a 15 minute presentation emphasizing the organization’s work in promoting accessible and inclusive legislation. He also stressed the importance of engaging with state representatives to ensure that the needs of the blind and visually impaired community are heard and addressed.

Jordan Hall Re-Elected to GTA Board

Jordan Hall, SILCGA Mobility Coordinator, was re-elected to serve on the Georgia Transit Association Board. The Georgia Transit Association (GTA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving public transportation in Georgia. The organization focuses on coordinating with state legislators to achieve equitable transit outcomes throughout Georgia. It also provides opportunities for professional development, networking, and exchanging information, ideas, and experiences. A primary example of this is the Georgia Transit Association’s Annual Conference. Jordan has had the privilege of presenting at the conference twice. Each conference has a variety of topics involving transit, innovation, and infrastructure.

Winter Board Meeting on Thursday, January 23

Join us to learn more about what’s happening at SILCGA this quarter! All are welcome!

See Agenda Here

Review of 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2o25

Join us for the SILCGA end-of-the-year retrospective podcast as we celebrate the progress and challenges of Georgia’s Independent Living Movement in 2024. Hear from SILCGA staff as they share updates about expanding services, improving accessibility, and building a more inclusive future. Together, we reflect on the milestones of the past year and look ahead to exciting opportunities in 2025.

Listen Now