Barrier Busters

Inside this Newsletter

1. Barrier Busters
2. Legislative News
   Interagency Council Hosts Legislative Breakfast, McCoy Presents Mock Testimony at Capitol, Sen. Dan Lee attends Wheelchair Soccer Tournament
3. Sports
   West Georgia Wolverines win State Soccer Championship
4. Features
   People First! Statement of Determination, Top Ten Tips for Parent Advocacy

Back to Self-Advocacy

Senator Dan Lee Attends AAASP Soccer Tournament

Senator Dan Lee made an appearance at the American Association of Adaptive Sports Programs' Wheelchair Soccer Tournament hosted at the Center for Therapeutic Recreation in Warm Springs in November. Lee was impressed with the athletes and their vigorous efforts, and was even surprised to see some old friends and former classmates from Greenville High School working as coaches.

Following their victory, the West Georgia Wolverines were honored with a Proclamation from the Meriwether County Commissioners on behalf of being named State Champs. Senior Player Robby Turner presented Senator Lee with an AAASP Spirit Shirt and a team photo as a memento of the tournament and for his personal support of the team.

MCICFC Hosts Legislative Breakfast in Greenville

Greenville's Georgian Inn was the site of the second annual Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Meriwether County Interagency Council/Family Connections in December.

Representative Carl Von Epps and Senator Dan Lee were both present to meet representatives from various public and private service agencies. Following the buffet-style gourmet breakfast, the legislators made brief remarks to the guests and fielded questions from those interested in specific topics.

Among the topics discussed was the lack of adequate child care. No after care/respite care facility exists in the county to serve families of children with disabilities. Representative Epps spoke about a bill currently being developed which would give families a state tax credit for child care expenses, similar to the credit on federal taxes. Senator Lee, who along with his wife will co-chair the Georgia Hall Society Ball for the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in February, suggested that perhaps RWSIR might be a possible site for such a service.

Other questions were posed by members representing the Meriwether County Ministerial Association as to the possibility of non-profit agencies being allowed to solicit grant funds to start a project like this. It is obvious that the issue of child care is one that needs to be brought up again to address the need for local service providers.

McCoy Presents Mock Testimony at Georgia's Capitol

January is the time when the Partners In Policymaking participants spend a day in Atlanta. Along with a guided tour of the Capitol and classes on the legislative process, they presented mock testimonies on topics significant to people with disabilities and their families. Margie McCoy, a PIP participant in the class of 2001, was part of a team whose presentation on Inclusive Education was given before a panel of four Georgia legislators.

Although the presentations were given before a ìmockî panel for the purpose of training only, there is always the possibility that something in the actual subject matter will reach a potential committee member or bill initiatior on behalf of their constituents and registered voters with disabilities.

"This was a great opportunity to educate our legislators on issues that are important to us," said McCoy. "We feel that IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is IDEAL for ALL children."

In her portion of the presentation, McCoy used photos and personal stories about her five year old daughter, Tiffany, to bring home the point that inclusion is not only a legal requirement, but must be facilitated and supported to all extents necessary. Inclusion is the only way to ensure that all children are given a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

Facts and statistics followed an introduction of the topic by Anastasia Anuforo, the parent of two children with Autism. Summing up the subject, fellow teammate Michael Kelly, who has developed blindness in adulthood, spoke of how important inclusion is not only for the students with disabilities, but also for the typical population. Their moving testimony revealed how mainstreaming students with disabilities will help remove the stigmas and barriers by educating the rest of the population.