Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, Inc.

04/22/2026

Calling all people who care about accessibility in Georgia! This is a wonderful opportunity to help shape what independent living looks like in our state! At the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, we have opened our survey asking Georgians to share what accessibility should look like to help inform our statewide plan for action and advocacy. Please share with your networks so we can hear from as many Georgians as possible.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2RML83C

04/21/2026

Medicaid work requirements are coming. For people with disabilities, the risk isn't the requirement itself. It's the paperwork.

People receiving HCBS, SSI, or SSDI are exempt from the new community engagement requirements taking effect January 1, 2027. But advocates warn that complex exemption documentation has historically caused disabled people to lose coverage they were legally entitled to keep.

Worth understanding now, before the notices arrive in fall 2026.

Source: AAPD / Disability Belongs – https://www.aapd.com/medicaid-work-requirements-explainer/

04/14/2026

The federal agency that oversees most disability programs could be eliminated under the new budget proposal.

The FY2027 federal budget proposes closing the Administration for Community Living and eliminating IDEA special education funding, university disability centers, and vocational rehabilitation supports. Congress rejected nearly identical cuts on a bipartisan basis in the FY2026 appropriations process.

Programs that serve millions of Americans with disabilities are once again in the budget crosshairs.

Source: Disability Scoop – https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2026/04/07/trump-budget-calls-for-eliminating-key-disability-programs/31937/

04/13/2026

Accessibility makes us better in every way. Some people are catching on to this. And they might also tell you: Retrofitting accessibility costs much more than planning it from the start. Housing developers can avoid costly rebuilds by integrating compliance from day one.

04/11/2026

Advocating for Disability Rights isn't just a morally necessary exercise, it is in your self-interest as well. Disability Rights will directly affect you if you are lucky to live long enough, because old age will eventually cause disabilities. Also, life-altering disability can happen unexpectedly to anyone. A sudden injury can lead to lifelong mobility or housing challenges, requiring immediate adaptation.

View the whole episode of Accessibility Now! here: https://youtu.be/BXbHX1w9L2w

04/02/2026

04/02/2026

What happens when a caregiver can't stay through the night?

For people with disabilities, emergencies don't pause for staffing shortages. The gaps in our system become life-or-death situation, and we need to talk about it.

Tune in to the latest episode of Accessibility Now! as Ester DuRante, Assistant Director of SILCGA, breaks down how Georgia organizations are working to close these critical gaps in emergency preparedness — and what still needs to change.

Watch now: https://youtu.be/e1Ji3Bt5VcY?si=6Av91wq_stSiZrz9

03/31/2026

For Georgians with disabilities, $1 TRILLION in Medicaid cuts isn't just a number on paper. It's the difference between living independently in their community or losing that freedom entirely.

Medicaid funds personal care services, assistive technology, accessible transportation, and the support that makes real community participation possible.

03/27/2026

Most emergency plans weren't built with disabilities in mind.

A major ice storm hits. Roads are impassable. Power's out. Now imagine you're a wheelchair user, or you're caring for someone who is. Suddenly it's not just about food and water. It's about mobility, medication, mental clarity under pressure, and a caregiver who's just as overwhelmed as you are.

We don't talk about this enough. Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities isn't a checkbox. It's a conversation we're long overdue to have.

Watch the full discussion here https://youtu.be/e1Ji3Bt5VcY?si=6Av91wq_stSiZrz9

03/24/2026

Since 2010, Georgia has been under a federal consent decree linked to the Olmstead decision, ensuring people with disabilities live in communities rather than institutions. As this oversight concludes, advocates highlight ongoing critical issues.

Sources: wabe.org | kffhealthnews.org

03/12/2026

There was a time when many people with developmental disabilities were hidden, segregated, or excluded from community life.

History matters.

Not for nostalgia — for understanding.

03/12/2026

Georgians with Disabilities in Urgent Need!

7,000 Georgians with disabilities are waiting for care. 1,217 of them are in urgent need right now.

The FY2027 state budget proposes just 150 new waiver slots. That's not a solution. That's a waiting list with a different name.
NOW/COMP waivers are what allow people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live at home, in their communities, with the support they need. Without them, the alternative is institutionalization.

🔗 Source: GPB News https://www.gpb.org/news/2026/03/09/georgians-disabilities-advocates-describe-urgent-need-for-support