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In This Issue:
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- Cathedral Antiques Show
- AADD Moves to Decatur
- MLK Award
- In The Limelight
- Individual & Family Support
- Advocacy & Education
- Upcoming Events
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In the Limelight
Dr. Alan Weintraub 
"As a child, I knew I wanted to be a physician!" Dr. Alan Weintraub, AADD Board of Directors, says "As long as I can remember I wanted to be a physician and help people (I know that sounds so silly to be that young and know what I wanted to do)! By the time I got to high school, I knew I wanted to do pediatrics and then decided upon developmental behavioral pediatrics when I was in college." Struggle turns into success. "My passion for developmental behavioral pediatrics began for me in my early years as my older sister, Natalie, has severe learning disabilities. Unfortunately, she was raised in a time when special services were not readily available for those living with developmental disabilities. My parents went 'far and wide' to get her diagnosed. They worked three jobs between them so they could send her to private school - as the public schools did not offer special services the way they do now." After years of struggling, Natalie recently retired from a successful 30-year career with the New York State Workers Compensation Department. "NEVER" is not in my vocabulary! "I love meeting people from different backgrounds and lifestyles and learning about them. As a developmental behavioral pediatrician, it is imperative that we really understand the family dynamics, so we can help the child. My favorite part is helping children do things that other doctors have said they would never be able to do." "NEVER is not in my vocabulary, and I try to remove the word from the parents' vocabularies as well!" "AADD always intrigued me." "I have been aware of AADD's work since moving to Atlanta in 1988. Over the years, I have sat on many different organization's committees, but AADD has been the organization that has continued to intrigue me as it gives so much to the community. I wanted to give back. Linda Wilson, AADD Board Chairman, and I spoke for a couple of years until I could clear my outside schedule to allow me to join the Board of this wonderful organization." Dr. Weintraub's Background Alan Weintraub practices Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and has done so for 24 years. As a board certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician, Dr. Weintraub's expertise includes addressing physical, cognitive, emotional, genetic and metabolic disorders. In 2001, AADD awarded him the "Outstanding Physician of the Year Award" for serving the developmental disabilities population. In 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, Weintraub received the AUTISM HERO award from the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Autism Society of America for his commitment to working with people with autism. Dr. Weintraub is originally from Queens, New York. He and his wife, Louise, love jazz and enjoy going to musicals and plays. Alan and Louise have three children: Philip, now a rabbi living in Newburgh, NY; Rachel who plans on attending graduate school in speech language pathology and Samuel, a musician who teaches piano and trumpet. |
Upcoming Events
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41st Annual Cathedral Antiques Show
February 2-4, 2012
Cathedral of St. Philip
2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
AADD is proud to be named the 41st Beneficiary of the Cathedral Antiques Show!
For more information regarding events and ticket prices, please visit www.cathedralantiques.org.
Conversations that Matter- Gainesville
February 9, 2012
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The Oaks at Lanier Charter Career Academy
2719 Tumbling Creek Road, Gainesville, GA 30504
Join us for Conversations that Matter and meet with advocates and community leaders for a dialogue about individuals with developmental disabilities and the justice system. Be a part of the discussion of current programs and identify community based alternatives to incarceration. You will also receive updates on the new Georgia Crisis Response System.
For more information, please contact Ryan Johnson at
(404) 809-2927.
Conversations that Matter- Kennesaw
February 21, 2012
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Northstar Church
3413 Blue Springs Road, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Join us for Conversations that Matter in Kennesaw! Meet with community leaders for a dialogue about individuals with developmental disabilities and the justice system. Be a part of the discussion of current programs and identify community based alternatives to incarceration. You will also receive updates on the new Georgia Crisis Response System.
For more information, please contact Ryan Johnson at (404) 809-2927.
Partners in Policymaking
March 23-25 and April 20-22, 2012
125 Clairemont Avenue Suite 100, Decatur, GA 30030
Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership training opportunity designed to involve and empower self-advocates, parents of children with developmental disabilities and family members to become better advocates for individuals with disabilities.
Applications are now being accepted. Please click here to apply. If you need assistance with your application, please contact Ryan Johnson at (404) 809-2927.
Future is Now Conference
April 13, 2012
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
King & Spalding - 1180 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
AADD and the Georgia Division of Aging is sponsoring a one-day conference focused on planning for the future for adults with developmental disabilities. The program is for caregivers and professionals and will cover the topics of guardianship, conservatorship, health care directives, special needs trusts, housing, employment and other support options. The cost for the conference is $25. For more information, please contact
Riki Bolster at (404) 627-1697.
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Cathedral Antiques Show Countdown
 
AADD is extremely excited to be the 41st beneficiary of the Cathedral Antiques Show, which takes place this week, February 2-4, 2012! Don't miss the opportunity to hear lectures from renowned celebrity designers, and, of course purchase spectacular antiques from dealers around the country!
Funds from the Cathedral Antiques Show will be used to create a new AADD Family Support Crisis Center, which will offer training and support services for individuals and families living with developmental disabilities. The Family Support Crisis Center will provide a unique, comprehensive array of services, resources and support customized to meet the varied and changing needs of each individual and family.
Cathedral Antiques Show Details:
- February 2-4, 2012
- All events will take place at the Cathedral of St. Phillip, 2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.
- For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.cathedralantiques.org or call (404) 365-1107.
- For a complete schedule of Cathedral events, please click here.
We look forward to seeing you at the Cathedral Antiques Show!
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AADD Moves to Decatur
AADD is proud to announce the move to our new office space at 125 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 300, on the square in downtown Decatur. We are conveniently located near the MARTA station and are now closer to the majority of the population we serve. Our accessibility will enable AADD to offer a more person-centered approach to help families deal with crisis, secure housing, food and the basic essentials they need. Our new site was designed to utilize space more effectively in order to better serve our participants.
AADD's Executive Director, Dave Blanchard, said, "We are excited to join several other agencies who advocate for people with disabilities from downtown Decatur. It's such a vibrant community and our new space will no doubt help better serve those individuals and families who are living with developmental disabilities." We cannot wait to meet our new neighbors! Please feel free to stop by anytime and check out the new space. |
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AADD Receives MLK Award
Recently, AADD was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award of the Rollins School of Public Health and the Goizueta Business School of Emory University. Dave Blanchard accepted the award on behalf of AADD at an award ceremony on January 19, 2012 where the event's theme was "Voices for Social, Economic and Political Justice."
The 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award's goal is to recognize those members of the community who raise awareness of social injustice, speak on behalf of justice, celebrate diversity and impel action in building a better future for all mankind. AADD was nominated in the Service and Advocacy category specifically for those organizations that provide services and/or advocacy for the human rights of those marginalized because of poverty, race or ethnicity, national origin, gender, age or any other reason.
The MLK Community Service Award is the only event that has consistently recognized and celebrated people and organizations in greater Atlanta whose work exemplifies the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Individual and Family Support
WAVE Group Sends Balloons to Loved Ones By Lesa Nitcy Hope, LMSW, Ph.D
Twenty women stood out on the deck holding balloons, overlooking a small stream in Midtown Atlanta. The sun was out, but a chill was still in the air. Many of the women paused in silence, possibly in prayer or caught in a memory. When ready, they lifted their hands and released the balloons. Everyone looked up and watched as the helium filled balloons rose into the air, each with a letter saying goodbye - each gently releasing heartfelt expressions of loss, gratitude and longing. Names were spoken, tears spilled and hugs passed between group members.
This heartfelt and emotional day was part of AADD's Women Against Violence and Exploitation (WAVE) program, where group members spent time talking and thinking about grief and loss. In turn, each of the women talked about having lost someone who supported them during and after the abuse and hard times they had experienced. The WAVE members wanted to be able to say thank you and goodbye.
Their letters, which were tied to balloons, talked about the importance these people represented in their lives and how helpful it was having that person around.
- "I miss you momma, you were good to me. Even though I got taken from you when I was 11, I still miss and love you. I am very sorry for putting you through the stuff I put you through."
- "Dear Dad, I wish you were here to help my mom out. I miss talking to you about my problems. You taught me to raise my kids the right way."
- "Mom, I know you are happy for me because I am not on drugs, not homeless no more and I am trying to stay strong for my kids. I know that you want that. I love you."
- "Bye Deborah, you were a great sister. You taught me to be kind. I like wearing your clothes - makes me feel close to you. I really miss you."
- "To my mother that I never had the chance to meet....I have been doing very good and over the years I have had children and they are doing good too. I thought that one day I would get to know you, because I really miss you a lot."
WAVE is a support group for women who have experienced sexual and physical violence. It has been offered at AADD since 2003 and has supported up to 30 women each year who have had these experiences. The incidence of violence against this population is staggering.
- Victims with some level of intellectual impairment are at highest risk of abuse.
- Nearly 50% of people with disabilities experience 10 or more abusive incidents in their lives.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported rates of sexual violence against women with disabilities of 51% to 79%.
AADD is grateful to the many people who support this effort. If you would like to learn more or volunteer, please contact Suzie Fatkin at (404) 809-2911.
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Advocacy and Education
Partners in Policymaking 2012
AADD is currently accepting applications for the 2012 Partners in Policymaking leadership class, an innovative training program designed to teach parents and self-advocates the power of advocacy to change the way people with disabilities are supported, viewed, taught, live and work. In addition, the program provides self-advocates and parents the tools to become better advocates for their families and for all individuals with disabilities in Georgia.
Partners in Policymaking's goal is to establish and maintain productive partnerships between people needing and using services and those who make public policy and laws. To accomplish that objective, the program works to educate its participants about current issues and best practices and familiarize them with policymaking and the legislative processes at the local, state and federal levels. Participants also learn what they can do to act as a catalyst for change. Upon graduation, participants use their new skills to obtain state-of-the-art services for themselves and others.
Partners in Policymaking 2012 Program Details:
- This year, the program will focus on community building and state-level advocacy. Participants will hear from subject matter experts on topics such as (a) the history of the disability movement; (b) building accountability and commitment; (c) person centered planning and (d) state-level advocacy.
- Participants are required to attend two weekend-long sessions held on March 23-25 and April 20-22, 2012 at AADD's office located in downtown Decatur.
- The application deadline is February 1, 2012. Applications will be accepted at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VKDYVKF
- If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Ryan Johnson at (404) 809-2927.
For the past 20 years, Partners in Policymaking has produced hundreds of graduates across the state who have strengthened the voices of individuals living with developmental disabilities. Peter Muller, a Partners in Policymaking graduate, said, "Partners in Policymaking has helped me find my voice in advocacy. I have gained such confidence in myself."
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