Georgia APSE:

• Responds to Action Alerts from APSE
• Supports the Legislative Agenda of the Georgia Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. 
• Supports the Legislative Agenda of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Supports the grassroots Unlock the Waiting Lists initiative.

Exploration of our state chapter’s unique role (the only membership organization focusing solely on integrated employment) in the public policy arena led us to focus on equitable employment for persons with disabilities and support of the people who assist persons with disabilities in reaching their goals. Issues consistent with this focus have prompted the beginning of our own public policy agenda.

Work First:

• Employment will be the first option and the preferred outcome of all Georgia youth and working age adults with disabilities.
• Advocate for a statewide systems change with legislation that commits the state's resources to employment as the first priority in service provision for all adults with disabilities.

Supported Employment Services for Persons with Mental Illness:

• Create awareness that Work is an essential part of recovery.
• Restore state funds for mental health supported employment programs.
• Explore the use of Medicaid Waivers to fund supported employment services for persons with mental illness.

Transform the Federal/State Medicaid Long-Term Care System:

• Executive Summary: http://www.centerforself-determination.com/docs/Executive%20Summary%20Medicaid%20Reform%20-%20Final.pdf

Vote:

• Be informed and vote.
• Get out the vote.
• Project Vote Smart:  www.vote-smart.org/index.htm
• Voter Information:  http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter%5Finformation
• Voter Registration:  http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter%5Fregistration

Please visit APSE Public Policy Site:  www.apse.org/policy/index.cfm