Disability Resource Group

1992-93: A group of concerned citizens in the disability community began meeting monthly in Atlanta to talk about problems and successes in terms of the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This group named itself the ADA Exchange. The Southeast Disability and Technical Assistance Center (SEDBTAC) provided some of the leadership and logistical support for this early group.

1994: The ADA Exchange became the ADA technical assistance center for Georgia, using a grant from the SEDBTAC.

1995: The Exchange was incorporated in the state of Georgia and transitioned from a purely ADA-education venture into a more far-reaching entity “Working to bring about full-inclusion of all Georgians with disabilities, in all aspects of the community.” The board chose to expand the original purpose of the Exchange to include training and consulting activities that would not only open doors for people with all disabilities, but that would also build networks between the disability community and other service systems.

2000: The ADA Exchange received its first foundation grant from the Ms. Foundation of New York. Our goal was to ensure that women with disabilities had equal access to domestic violence service system.

2002: The ADA Exchange became a 501(c)3 non-profit.

2006: The ADA Exchange began operating under the name Disability Resource Group in order to better reflect the wide variety of services that we provide and the reality that we often serve people outside our state. DRG is currently the only state-wide organization in Georgia that responds to inquiries about all disabilities.

 

Accomplishments:

Since its inception as the ADA Exchange, the organization has continued to grow in mission and membership, both individual and corporate. Here are just some of the ways Disability Resource Group helps the community:

In 1999, the ADA Exchange expanded its services to include a rural and urban transportation advocacy project funded by the Statewide Independent Living Council. The Exchange received and successfully implemented a one year grant from the Ms. Foundation with a goal of building working relationships between the domestic violence service system and the disability service system.  The ultimate objective of this project is to ensure that women with disabilities have equal access to the domestic violence services.

The Disability Resource Group is also involved in the statewide task force on health initiatives for under-served women.  As a result of our work on this taskforce, DRG has received substantial grants from the American Cancer Society, as well as the Susan G Komen Foundation.  Our Breast Cancer Screening for All Project has trained health department staff on disability and customer service, as well as provided education and outreach on the importance of cancer screening for women with disabilities. 

Nancy Duncan, Director of DRG, has provided Customer Service and Disability Awareness training for healthcare workers in a variety of settings.  She has also advised and assisted patients with disabilities who have not been given full access to medical care by way of effective communication, accessible equipment, or other means required by the ADA.

The Emergency Preparedness For All Project is an ongoing effort to educate state and local officials to be mindful of and prepared to serve persons with disabilities and their needs in disaster planning.  We worked with 13 coastal counties using a grant from the Department of Human Resources and continue to provide disaster planning resources.  During 2009, the Disability Resource Group brought together Emergency Responders and people with disabilities in 13 coastal counties in order to increase mutual understanding and onsite emergency planning.

Awareness & Advocacy

The Exchange received two grants to provide training and consultation to the Georgia Department of Labor Career Centers and Employer Committees to assist them in fulfilling their obligations under the Workforce Investment Act.  

As part of our "Know Your Rights" project, we presented informative and motivational workshops to high school students with disabilities at 11 high schools across Georgia in 2002/2003.  This project culminated in the publishing of the Know Your Rights Handbook (PDF) written for high school students with disabilities. 

"Building One Community," a project funded by the Georgia Governor’s Council on Development Disabilities and managed by DRG, worked in 8 high schools to significantly increase inclusion of students with developmental disabilities into the extra-curricular and social activities of their school and community. 

In 2004, DRG was an integral part of the Georgia Secretary of State’s initiative to increase participation by voters with disabilities in the election process.  We provided training on disability inclusion to poll officials in every county in Georgia .  Additionally, we assisted with a voter education project for people with disabilities and the production of a trainer video for poll workers.  DRG continues to work with state election officials to ensure that voters with disabilities have equal access to the process.

Research & Special Projects

Through our ongoing relationship with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, Disability Resource Group was actively involved in 2008 with a pilot Participatory Action Research Project in Georgia.  The work continues in 2009 as DRG advises teams from other states who will be replicating our research.

 Resources & Education

Each month, through seminars, phone consultations, emails and meetings, DRG serves approximately 200 Georgians including: