All About Developmental Disabilities (Formerly Atlanta Alliance On Developmental Disabilities)

The mission of All About Developmental Disabilities is to build communities of support, acceptance, and opportunity for children, adults, and families living with developmental disabilities.

Description:
All About Developmental Disabilities is truly an alliance. We collaborate with more than 100 different organizations in order to provide social and recreation opportunities (e.g. a team of persons with disabilities and without disabilities participates in the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia), to provide training and assistance to help families stay in their communities as contributing members and improve their quality of life, and to access benefits and resources (our information and referral line answers over 900 calls a year). AADD provides family support to about 170 families, but also emphasizes the need for education and advocacy training. Some specialized programs address the abuse of persons with developmental disabilities (Women Against Violence), another focuses on parenting skills for parents with developmental disabilities. The Emerging Leader Network teaches individuals and family members of those with developmental disabilities to become self-advocates. In order to change existing systems for a challenged, devalued and often excluded population, we strongly advocate for increased resources for persons with developmental disabilities.

History:
Created by parents to provide greater opportunities for their children, AADD was incorporated in 1956. Over the years the name of the organization became the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities now All About Developmental Disabilities and has garnered a reputation for being on the forefront of pushing for change and inclusion for persons with developmental disabilities. Benchmarks include advocating the passage of key legislation: requiring testing for PKU at birth; the Community Services Act requiring services for persons with developmental disabilities; requiring posting of warning of drinking during pregnancy (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome); as well as bills requiring a free and appropriate education. AADD gave birth to the Bobby Dodd Institute and the Tommy Nobis Center, which provide vocational and training opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities, as well as the Interfaith Disability Connection. Presently AADD is also the co-pilot site for the Aging and Disability Resource Connection, and the Justice and Developmental Disability Coalition.

Contact people:

Lana Hardy, Assistant Executive Director, (email) Azalene James, Director, Georgia Family Support, (email)

Office fax number: (404) 881-0094

Address:

1440 Dutch Valley Place, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30324 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.aadd.org

Directions:

AADD is one block south of Ansley Mall, which sits on the corner of Piedmont and Monroe Drive. Go south on Monroe Drive, turn right at the first traffic light onto Dutch Valley Road. Take an immediate right. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: MARTA rail station NORTH 5 Arts Center Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 34 minutes   Nearest Bus Stop: MARTA Bus Route #27 Monroe Drive, 5 minutes minute walk

Last updated on August 12, 2009