NEWSLETTERMar2007

The

e-AADDvocate

Newsletter of the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities

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Our mission

is to build

communities of

support, acceptance,

and opportunity for

children, adults,

and families living with developmental

disabilities

Issue 37 March 2007

(Click on title below to go directly to an article.)

1. Heart of Gold Banquet April 12 - You are cordially invited!

Place your Reservation now! (April 4 deadline)

2. AADD Participant Speaks to Atlanta Women's Foundation

3. Junior League Gives Great Support to AADD

4. Mother's Day Project - Atlanta Girls School - AADD

5. FAS Parent Support Group to Meet March 24

6. Encouragement - A Key Component of Our Work - Mary Yoder, CAE, Exec.Dir.

7. Recreation - Upcoming Events and Activities - sponsored & co-sponsored by AADD

8. Recreation Activities & Resources - sponsored by other community groups

9. Other Upcoming Events and Opportunities

P Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for

the Day...

1. Heart of Gold Banquet April 12 - You're invited!

Award Recipients Announced.

Place your reservation now!

"Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footsteps on the moon."

-Anonymous

"If we had no winter,

the spring

would not

be so pleasant;

if we did not sometimes taste

of adversity,

prosperity

would not

be so welcome."

-Anne Dudley

Bradstreet

"The mighty oak was once

a little nut that stood its ground."

-Anonymous

"The manner

in which one endures

what must be endured

is more important

than the thing

that must be endured."

-Dean Acheson

"When George Washington threw the dollar across the Rappahannock River,

he didn't realize

he was establishing

a precedent

for government spending."

-Harold Coffin

"Start by doing

what is necessary,

then do what is possible,

and suddenly

you are doing

the impossible."

-Saint Francis

of Assisi

You are cordially invited

to attend the 2007 AADD "Heart of Gold"

Annual Awards Banquet.

Date: Thursday, April 12, 2007

Time: Registration & Reception: 6:30 P.M.

Banquet: 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

Place: Atlanta Century Center Marriott

2000 Century Center Blvd., Atlanta

We invite you to join us on April 12 and share in this warm and inspiring evening.

To place your reservation on-line, or to help sponsor the event, go to:

If you would prefer to print a copy of the registration form (PDF format - 2 pages) and mail it, click here.

Deadline for Receipt of Reservations is April 4

2007 Heart of Gold Award Recipient:

Each year, AADD honors the achievements of Atlanta area residents who have made significant achievements and contributions related to developmental disabilities.

"We are very pleased to announce that the recipient of the 'Heart of Gold' award for 2007 will be The Junior League of Atlanta, whose volunteer members have been so supportive of AADD's work," stated Perrine Patrick, Vice-President of the AADD Board of Directors and Chair of its Awards Committee.

"In addition to the 'Heart of Gold' award, several annual awards also will be presented," she said. "Recipients of these prestigious awards are selected by the AADD Awards Committee from nominations received from parents, teachers, friends, employers, employees, AADD volunteers and staff, and the general public. "Some are persons who have persevered in the face of obstacles, and others have done a lot to benefit people living with developmental disabilities."

The following individuals (listed in alphabetical order) will receive recognition:

Pat Cloud - Teacher of the Year Award

Clay Conrad - Employee of the Year Award

Yvonne Fry-Johnson, M.D. - Thomas J. Asher Health & Wellness Award

Peggy Griffin - Outstanding Individual Achievement Award

Cindy Lou Harrington - Vital Service Award

Paul Hogan - Hogan Construction Co. - Jocelyn Dorsey Community Philanthropy Award

Shannon Kitchens, SAGE - Vital Service Award

Judy Manning - Bobby Rowan Advocacy Award

Mitch Stallings - Employer of the Year

Ron Wakefield - Tom Graf Award

Donnie Winokur - Tommy Nobis Award

Beth Wright - Vital Service Award Return to Top

2. AADD Participant Speaks to Atlanta Women's Fdn.

Imagine this. You are a woman who has lived with cognitive disabilities all your life. You are asked to make a speech, to tell your story. This is the first time in your life you have ever been asked to make a speech.

Your audience, at the Atlanta Women's Foundation, is 400 people, including many of the most influential women in the community. What do you say? Read as Peggy Griffin, an AADD participant, told her powerful story:

(above, l-r) Lesa Hope, Ph.D., Director of AADD’s Community Services Division, gives a hug to Peggy Griffin, speaker for the Atlanta Women’s Foundation Challenging Violence program on March 15. They are joined by Mary Yoder, AADD Executive Director, and Sharon Hill, Executive Director of Georgia Appleseed, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building access to justice, education, and opportunity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"My name is Peggy Griffin and I have had a lot happen in my life. When I was 11 years old I was raped by a man in the neighborhood. Other people who I thought were my friends held me down while it happened. My momma had a problem with alcohol and I was put in foster care, also when I was 11. When I was in foster care, the first woman who I stayed with hit me and treated me real bad. I finally got moved to a family that was nice. I never got to live with my momma again."

"Over the years, I have had people who have hurt me, took my money, called me names, tried to get my children taken from me. I kept quiet because often no one believes you, or you don’t trust people and you think you have to do it on your own."

"I started going to the Women Against Violence group --we call it WAV-- at AADD, I learned there were a lot of other women with disabilities who had been abused. The women in the group, we are like a good family, we can talk about what happened, lean on each other. Most of us did not get any help from our blood families, and we did not feel we could trust people. I know I can trust the women in the WAV group. They are like sisters, we have each others’ back."

"We have started a new WAV group and I help lead that new group. I am helping women who have been through things like me. I have learned that the abuse wasn’t my fault. I know I am a good mother. I know I have got good sense. I am a strong woman. Thank you to AADD, and the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, for making the WAV group possible. It has helped my life be better."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deborah J. Richardson, CEO of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF), congratulates Peggy Griffin, speaker for the Atlanta Women’s Foundation Challenging Violence event held recently in Buckhead.

AADD was recognized at the event as a recipient of AWF grant money to fund a new group of WAV members in their ongoing meetings.

Return to Top

3. Junior League Gives Great Support to AADD

“Great support and a key source of quality volunteers” – that’s the way AADD Recreation Manager Dan Evatt describes AADD’s beloved Junior League of Atlanta (JLA) volunteers, who help AADD provide recreation programs to about 2400 people with developmental and other disabilities every year.

JLA’s annual General Membership Placement Expo is the place JLA members go to decide where they’ll each want to work during their 50 hours of community service for the upcoming year. This year’s AADD recruitment booth at the Expo was staffed by volunteers from the Junior League of Atlanta including Jennifer Linneman, as well as AADD volunteers Sandy Foxworth and Whitney Moister. With the JLA being honored by AADD at the AADD Heart of Gold banquet in April, this was an important time to get the word out about the award and volunteer opportunities.

Above: Francie Adkins, Expo co-chair, chats with Whitney Moister, AADD Advisory Board member who volunteered to help staff the AADD booth at the Junior League of Atlanta Placement Expo, Sandy Foxworth, AADD Board Member who also helped to staff the booth, and Leigh Bullock, co-chair for the Expo.

Above: Jennifer Linneman and Beth Anne Stanford, members of the Junior League of Atlanta, catch up in front of the AADD booth at the Junior League of Atlanta Placement Expo on March 19, 2007. The Junior League will receive AADD’s highest award at AADD’s annual Heart of Gold Banquet on April 12, 2007. Jennifer, who helps with the AADD placement, encouraged many members to attend the dinner, which promises to be very special for JLA members and friends.

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4. Mother's Day Project - Atlanta Girls School - AADD

The Atlanta Girls School recently sent members of the 8^th grade class to the Georgia State Legislature to help Rita Young, AADD Advocacy and Training Manager, tell Georgia state senators and representatives more about the needs of families living with developmental disabilities. The girls wanted to follow up on that work and learn more about AADD, as well as create cards for mothers of children living with developmental disabilities.

“We are thrilled by the ongoing interest and support of this community of young women who are making a difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. This gesture of making Mother’s Day cards for a group of women who are often forgotten is something we’d love to do with other school groups,” said Rita.

Kai Harmon and Kelly Manners, eight graders at the Atlanta Girls School, show Rita Young, AADD’s Advocacy and Training Manager, their work on Mother’s Day Cards to send to women AADD helps to support.

Alli Sureski, an eight grader at the Atlanta Girls School, shows her work on a Mother’s Day Card to send to the mother in a family AADD helps to support. Alli and her classmates made more than 100 cards to be distributed to moms in AADD programs such as Georgia Family Support, which helps to support families living with developmental disabilities.

Shala Noufe, physical science and physics teacher at the Atlanta Girls School, talks with eight grade student Laura Rogers about the Mother’s Day cards Laura made for mothers of children with developmental disabilities.

Return to Top

5. FAS Parent Support Group to Meet March 24

See details below.

6. Encouragement - a Key Component of Our Work

~Mary Yoder, CAE

To summarize what we do at AADD, we say, “We make life better for people living with developmental disabilities.” We add that we provide “support, advocacy, and opportunity.”

But simple statements such as these don't explain the nuances that really make a difference, a difference that makes AADD’s work so much more than routine. One of those nuances –a very, very important one--

is encouragement. Whether it’s “what we do,” or a result of what we do, I would like to share with you some quotes from just four recent conversations that reflect that difference.

“It really felt good to know Benita would be with me to face the landlord – I knew I could do it with her by my side. She gave me courage and they agreed to fix the toilet and not to raise my rent.”

“I knew I had to move to keep my children safe, but I could not find a place. Then Pam said, ‘don’t worry, we’re a team – we can do almost anything.’ And last week we moved into my new place and the kids have their own bedroom.”

“Knowing what I know now, I will work with the school to get what Jennifer needs – thanks to Partners in Policymaking.”

“Being in court is really scary. I don’t know what I would have done without Lesa. She kept me from giving up – and she helped get me out of jail.”

We make life better for people living with developmental disabilities.

Mary Yoder, CAE

AADD Executive Director

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7. Recreation - Upcoming Events and Activities

-sponsored & co-sponsored by AADD

Cycling

(Unified Activity - including persons with disabilities and without disabilities)

OUR TEAM STARTS OUTDOOR TRAINING AT STONE MOUNTAIN PARK

Monday, March 26^th.

Our group is looking for riders. You don't have to be a hardcore cyclist. Everybody rides at their own pace. Come check us out. You don’t have to commit.

If you are interested or just curious, give Dan a call.

Mondays 6:30 PM

Ages 14 and above

No charge except for special events (scholarships available for those events).

Contact Dan Evatt 404-881-9777 ext 216 email dan@aadd.org

Cycling - Join AADD's Team in the

Bicycle Ride Across Georgia 2007 (BRAG)

354 miles Columbus GA to Savannah GA

(Unified Activity - including persons with disabilities and without disabilities)

This year, AADD’s cycling team will again participate in BRAG, and we are looking for riders for our Special Olympics team. We will train, evaluate, ride with, and support riders on this ride. We’ve had good success with taking riders who can only ride a few miles and train them to ride between thirty and sixty miles a day.

This is a week-long bike ride from Columbus GA to Savannah GA on June 9^th through June 16^th.

We have our own support van and driver that follows us along the route for those riders who need extra support, and many do. We camp each evening, along with many of the other riders on BRAG. We have our own camping equipment. We will stay in a hotel for two of those nights; we do like a good bed and air conditioning occasionally.

If you are curious, give Dan a call at 404-326-5345. Also check the BRAG website at www.brag.org.

Happy Group (Social Clubs)

Meets twice monthly at several Metro Atlanta YMCAs, usually on Saturday afternoons, depending upon the activity.

Takes field trips such as Braves games, dinner and a movie, dances, plays, “wish to fish,” Hawks basketball games (we don't sit courtside), paint your own pottery, etc.

The newest location will be in the South Metro Area through the Fayette Co. Parks & Recreation and Fayette YMCA Dept. Contact Debbie Parrish 770-461-9714 ext. 5644

Contact Happy Club Voice Mail 404-687-2521

Health & Fitness Program

Mondays 6 PM to 7 PM

(I-85 & Shallowford Rd. area)

Briarcliff United Methodist Church

4105 Briarcliff Rd. Atlanta 30345 (Corner of Shallowford Rd. and Briarcliff Rd.)

This program of the AADD recreation department is mainly a flexibility and health-training program. Our goal is to teach participants better techniques for healthy living through exercise, sports and recreation. We will have regular "check ups" to determine what progress each participant makes throughout the program. Also, volunteers are needed for this program. Come join us and see how fit you are.

Contact Dan Evatt 404-881-9777 ext 216 email dan@aadd.org

Swimming

(Unified Activity - including persons with disabilities and without disabilities)

AADD’s Special Olympics swim team will start practice Tuesday, October 24th, with subsequent practices on Tuesday evenings, 7:30 to 8:30 PM. We are lucky enough to practice at the Emory University swimming pool. Also, members from Emory University swim team help coach our team.

Contact Dan Evatt 404-881-9777 ext 216 email dan@aadd.org

Volleyball

AADD co-sponsors several volleyball teams and competitions.

DeKalb’s team start date: March 22 at Gresham Park. Contact Aseelah House at arhouse@co.dekalb.ga.us or call 770-671-1728

Volleyball in Gwinnett starts in February at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cole Dr @ Five Forks Trickum Rd. Contact Lynette Swanson at Lynnette_Swanson@gwinnett.k12.ga.us or call 678-985-3592.

Fayette County also has a team. Location and time TBA. Contact Debbie Parrish dparrish@fayettecountyga.gov or call 770-716-4325.

Volleyball-

Statewide Volleyball Tournament

(Unified Activity - including persons with disabilities and without disabilities)

AADD Special Olympics is hosting a statewide Special Olympics volleyball tournament on May 5, 2007. This is our 6^th year and we have expanded the tournament using Emory University’s Woodruff PE Center, the same location as the Summer Games are held. All Divisions welcomed.

If you are interested in attending this tournament, please contact Dan “Dij” Evatt at 404-326-5345 or 404-881-9777 ext. 216. Or email dan@aadd.org.

Walking Club

Mondays Afternoons & Early Evening

You can’t beat an afternoon walk at Stone Mountain Park in the spring. We’ll start April 16^th.

First group meets at 5 PM Second group meets at 6:15 PM

Everybody walks at their own pace. Our goal is to work up to walk a full lap around the mountain (About 5 miles). However we don’t expect walkers to walk a full lap the first day. We have a plan for each walker. Come check us out. You don’t have to commit.

If you are interested or just curious, give Dan a call.

Ages 14 and above

No charge except for special events (scholarships available for those events).

Contact Dan Evatt 404-881-9777 ext 216 email dan@aadd.org

Return to Top

8. Recreation Activities & Resources

-sponsored by other community groups

Help Us Update This List

The Junior League of Atlanta and AADD are partnering together to update this list. If you know of an activity or have an activity you would like to include in this list, please contact Dan Evatt at dan@aadd.org or call the AADD office at 404-881-9777 ext. 216.

Boy Scouts & Cub Scouts designed for children with special needs

Includes soccer, volleyball, Miracle Baseball and Blaze Sports Goal Ball.

Aseelah House and her staff do a great job; give them a chance and try out some of their activities.

Contact Aseelah House at arhouse@co.dekalb.ga.us or call 770-671-1728

Caglewood

Interested in sleeping in a tent, nature activities hiking, and backpacking? Or maybe you would like to spend the weekend in cabins at some of Georgia’s great state parks. If so, this may be a good program for you. Costs available from Caglewood for various programs.

Check out the Caglewood web site at www.caglewood.com/.

Caglewood Inc. 455 Friars Head Inc. Suwanee Ga. 30024

Tel: 770-402-9355 Fax: 770-441-3406 Email: info@caglewood.org

Cobb County Residents

Contact the Cobb Co. Parks & Recreation Cultural Affairs, Therapeutic Recreation Services Unit for lots of activities. They have social clubs, special trips, dances, camps, and various sport teams.

555 Nickajack Rd, Mableton, GA 30126 770-819-3215 Fax 770-819-3218

DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Activity Guide

The DeKalb County Department of Parks and Recreation has published their new activity guide for this Winter & Spring. Aseelah House, TR Program Coordinator has provided a copy in PDF format. You can print your own copy at this location: ACTIVITY GUIDE. It is PDF format, so you will need Adobe Reader or similar software to open it. (It's 8 pages long, so give it a minute to open.) If you have further questions, Ms. House can be contacted at: (770) 671-1728.

DeKalb County Recreation - Other Activities and Events

Check out great events and activities in DeKalb County. Some activities include:

Adventure Series Ropes Course, camping, and indoor rock climbing

DeKalb - Social Club

DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Department has started two new social clubs. One is at Midway Park for 13- through 16-year olds, and the other is at Browns Mill Park for 16+ year- olds.

Contact Aseelah House at 770-671-1728 or email at arhouse@co.dekalb.ga.us.

Metro Miracle League (Buddy Baseball & Bowling)

Interested in Buddy Baseball and Bowling? Check out the North Metro Miracle League’s web site at www.nmml.net.

North - Special Olympics in Alpharetta (Special K’s)

Interested in Special Olympics activities in the north metro area? The Special K’s have a lot of sports to offer; aquatics, track & field, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, basketball, long distance running & walking, bocce, golf, tennis, and cheerleading are the sports Debbie Currere has in the Alpharetta area.

Contact Debbie Currere at 770-649-0070

Rockdale County Residents

Rockdale is rockin’. Check with Tom McPike, Rockdale County's Parks and Recreation Department recreation therapist. He has started and expanded many programs. A few of the activities include: after school programs, bocce, Halloween Party, Beep Baseball, Miracle Baseball League, bowling, sled hockey, social clubs, wheel chair basketball, basketball, cooking, swimming, soccer, Christmas Parade and Party, and Mother- Daughter Spa Day.

Call Tom McPike at 770-981-6306 and see what’s new.

Roswell Department of Parks & Recreation

Roswell offers a variety of activities throughout the year. They are mostly geared for ages 18 and up but have children's activities periodically. For more information Contact Mary Rummel at 770-641-3950 email mrummell@ci.roswell.ga.us. The Roswell website is www.roswellgov.com.

SASSY (A Fun Family Group)

This group in South DeKalb County meets several times a month for social activities.

They meet as a family, parents and children, for picnics, parties, bowling, and even trips to Disney World.

Contact: BJ Kelly 770-987-9171

Voice Mail 770-969-9571

South Metro Residents

Check out Fayette County Parks & Recreation Department Therapeutic Programs.

Special Olympics Teams, Happy Club, and social activities are just a few of the activities Debbie and her group have for South Metro Atlanta residents.

Contact Debbie Parrish at 770-716-4325

Summer Camp

If you are thinking about a summer camp for Summer, start looking now! Now is the perfect time to start looking. The excellent GLRS summer directory at www.glrs.org then go to the link for “GLRS Publications.” If you need help looking for a camp give AADD’s recreation manager Dan Evatt a call. He will be glad to assist you in finding a camp.

Call Dan at 404-881-9777 ext 216.

Tennis

Special Populations 2007 Spring Tennis Academy

Training is free, Racquets are furnished. All levels welcomed.

Special Populations Tennis Program 205 Axton Ct. Roswell, GA 30076

770-740-8723

770-751-9469 Fax

Email: marymillersmith@hotmail.com

www.specialpopstennis.com Register Online

Locations:

East Roswell Park 9000 Fouts Rd Roswell GA 30076 (770) 594-6134

Training Day/Time: Mondays @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Start Date: March 19th End Date: May 7th

Fair Oaks Tennis Center 1460 West Booth Rd Ext Marietta GA 30008 (770) 528-8480

Training Day/Time: Saturdays @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm