Accessibility Now: Stories About Disability Rights in Georgia

Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Monthly

Accessibility Now is a podcast bringing you stories about real people in Georgia and the victories, resources, and challenges we are seeing day-to-day in the Independent Living Movement. Throughout this series we are going to visit the nine Centers for Independent Living (CILs) throughout the state of Georgia to meet staff members and people with disabilities who have been helped and connected to resources by the work that the CILs do. Accessibility Now is a podcast produced by the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia.

  1. 12h ago

    Disability & Emergency Preparedness: Go Bags, Registries, and the 72-Hour Rule

    Tiffany Yearwood, Emergency Management Director for Charlton County, Georgia, joins Accessibility Now to break down what real disaster readiness looks like for people with disabilities. She walks through how to build a personalized go bag, why the 72-hour rule matters more than any generic checklist, and why signing up for your county's voluntary disability registry can be a lifeline before you ever need it. Tiffany also addresses the uncertainty around FEMA's changing role and what Georgia's local emergency management teams are doing to stay prepared. The resources below are a strong starting point — use them to build a plan tailored to your specific needs.

    22 min

  2. 12h ago

    Housing in Georgia: What People with Disabilities Need to Know | Accessibility Now!

    Victor McRae, Housing Policy Coordinator for the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, joins host Matt Shedd to break down the current housing landscape for people with disabilities across the state. Victor walks through practical resources, from LIHTC-funded developments and Housing Choice Vouchers to the Georgia Housing Search tool — and shares an honest assessment of where Georgia is leading nationally and where gaps still exist. You'll come away knowing your rights around reasonable accommodations, which tools to use when searching for accessible and affordable housing, and how to connect with your legislators to make your voice heard on housing policy. Subscribe to Accessibility Now for more conversations on disability rights and advocacy in Georgia.0:00 - Introduction0:22 - Current State of Housing for People with Disabilities in Georgia1:01 - LIHTC Funding: How Government-Subsidized Affordable Housing Works2:57 - Georgia Housing Search: A Free Tool to Find Accessible Rentals3:49 - Housing Choice Vouchers: How They Work and Who Qualifies5:37 - How Georgia Compares to Other States on Affordable Housing7:02 - The Most Common Housing Concerns SILCGA Hears9:13 - Renovating for Accessibility vs. Relocating: What's Realistic12:40 - Developers Embracing Accessibility as a Business Opportunity17:41 - Advocacy 101: How to Talk to Your State Legislators22:11 - What Victor Would Change About Housing Policy in Georgia23:55 - Resources and Wrap-UpLinksStatewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) — main website https://www.silcga.orgFind Your Center for Independent Living in Georgia — interactive map https://www.silcga.org/cils/find-cil-locations-in-georgia/SILCGA Accessible Housing Resources (includes Home Access Program info) https://www.silcga.org/accessible-housing/Georgia Housing Search — free statewide tool to find affordable and accessible rentals https://www.georgiahousingsearch.orgGeorgia Department of Community Affairs — Housing Choice Voucher Program https://dca.georgia.gov/housing-choice-voucher/housing-choice-voucherdisABILITY LINK — Center for Independent Living serving metro Atlanta and 12 counties https://www.disabilitylink.orgGeorgia General Assembly — Find Your Legislator by address https://www.legis.ga.gov/find-my-legislatorLDG Development — affordable housing developer mentioned for accessibility commitment https://www.ldgdevelopment.comGeorgia Affordable Housing Coalition — hosts annual conference in Savannah (likely the event Victor referenced) https://www.gahcoalition.org

    25 min

  3. Mar 26

    Emergency Preparedness and Disability Rights in Georgia | Accessibility Now!

    In this episode, Ester DuRante, Assistant Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, shares how organizations across the state are building partnerships to close critical gaps in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. From the response to Hurricane Helene to outdated federal training materials, Ester breaks down where the system falls short and what real collaboration looks like. The conversation also digs into advocacy, self-determination, and why speaking from the heart matters more than proving your worth. If you care about disability rights in Georgia, subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.Chapters0:00 - Meet Ester DuRante and the Statewide Independent Living Council2:00 - How Hurricane Helene sparked new partnerships across Georgia3:49 - Outdated federal training tools and the push to modernize5:10 - Emergency transportation and disability safety5:44 - What gets overlooked in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities6:39 - Why communication in emergencies is never one-size-fits-all8:43 - Preparing before the storm, not just reacting after11:22 - Advocacy beyond emergency preparedness13:13 - Speaking clearly about who we are without limitations14:49 - Self-determination and the power of choice17:50 - Being heard in healthcare and valuing lived experience21:49 - Leading with heart and finding self-awareness in advocacy24:02 - Closing reflections on courage and curiosityLinksStatewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) — Ester DuRante's organization https://www.silcga.org/LIFE, Inc. — Living Independence for Everyone — Center for Independent Living serving Southeast Georgia https://lifecil.com/FODAC — Friends of Disabled Adults and Children — Provided equipment support during Hurricane Helene and ice storms https://fodac.org/National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) — National cross-disability grassroots organization mentioned by Matt https://ncil.org/Centers for Independent Living in Georgia — Directory of all Georgia CILs https://www.silcga.org/cils/Accessibility Now Podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/accessibility-now-stories-about-disability-rights-in/id1621302132Coastal Alliance of CILs — https://www.coastalallianceofcils.org/

    24 min

  4. Feb 10

    Importance of Mentorship and Community in Independent Living | Accessibility Now!

    In this episode of Accessibility Now, Parker Glick shares how a youth advisory council in Florida pulled him into disability advocacy and the independent living movement. Parker talks about working in Centers for Independent Living, serving with SILCGA, and helping young disabled leaders find their own voices. He also tells a powerful story about a car accident that nearly pushed him into a nursing home, and how community advocacy and home and community based services kept him living independently. The conversation closes with a focus on the personal care attendant crisis, the current political moment, and why community, mentorship, and self care are essential for staying in the fight.Chapters00:00 Welcome to Accessibility Now and intro to Parker00:55 Parker’s path into advocacy and the independent living movement05:00 Youth work, CIL experience, and moving to Georgia and SILCGA08:15 Georgia’s advocacy network and key SILCGA projects12:40 Employment First, 14(c), and policy lessons from SILC work16:35 Advice for young advocates and finding mentors19:10 Car accident, waivers, and community preventing institutionalization23:40 Mentors, relationships, and the personal care attendant crisis26:30 Today’s political moment, avoiding gatekeeping, and closing thoughts

    27 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    Lee Ann Pendergrass on Handing Over the Reins from the State to SILCGA

    In this episode of Accessibility Now, we speak with Lee Ann Pendergrass, who became the first Statewide Independent Living Coordinator for Georgia’s Division of Rehabilitation Services in the 1990s. Lee Ann worked closely with the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) during its formation and played a behind-the-scenes but crucial role in shifting power and funding directly to community-led Centers for Independent Living (CILs). She reflects on the cultural and political shift that occurred as people with disabilities asserted control over their own services—and offers a call to action for the next generation to carry that work forward. 00:00 – Intro01:08 – Lee Ann’s early work in Florida’s CIL network03:00 – Becoming Georgia’s first statewide IL coordinator05:00 – Partnering with Pat Puckett and the early formation of SILCGA07:25 – Bridging tensions between the state and grassroots advocates10:05 – Navigating “militant” advocacy and state constraints13:05 – When the council and state began aligning toward shared goals15:45 – Major milestone: local CILs gaining control from state employees17:55 – Expanding advocacy: nursing homes, ramps, employment, and the ADA19:55 – Georgia’s culture and the shift toward direct self-advocacy22:30 – 30 years of SILCGA: why it matters and what it made possible24:10 – A message to the next generation: “Don’t give up.”

    26 min

  6. 10/28/2025

    The Legacy of a Life Committed to Advocacy: Shelly Simmons

    In this heartfelt tribute, members of Georgia’s independent living community gather to celebrate the life and leadership of Shelly Simmons, the late Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA). Through powerful reflections, they share how Shelly’s compassion, wisdom, and advocacy shaped their lives and the future of disability rights in Georgia.Featuring:Becky Tuttle – Executive Director, SILCGAReshell Baldini – Board Member, SILCGAEtrudy Taylor Mitchell – CEO, Whole InclusionJordan Hall – Mobility Coordinator, SILCGAEster Durante – Advocate & Outreach Coordinator, SILCGAVictor McRae – Housing Policy Coordinator, SILCGAChapters00:00 – Introduction00:00 – Becky Tuttle (SILCGA Executive Director): Remembering Shelly’s leadership and legacy02:53 – Reshell Baldini (SILCGA Board Member): A life of inclusion and laughter04:22 – Etrudy Taylor Mitchell (CEO, Whole Inclusion): Mentorship and inspiration for new leaders07:18 – Jordan Hall (SILCGA Mobility Coordinator): Finding opportunity and empowerment through Shelly’s belief13:42 – Ester Durante (SILCGA Advocate & Outreach Coordinator): Connection, growth, and living authentically18:36 – Victor McRae (SILCGA Housing Policy Coordinator): Compassion in action and Shelly’s everyday impact

    21 min

  7. 08/15/2025

    Disability Leaders Speak Out: Live at the 2025 NCIL Conference

    In this episode of Accessibility Now, recorded live at the 2025 National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Conference in Washington, D.C., we share conversations with disability advocates from across the United States. Each guest talks about the work they are doing in their communities to advance accessibility, equity, and independent living.You will hear about advocacy on women’s health and accessibility, statewide disability policy, community-based services, housing initiatives, youth transitions, disaster preparedness, Medicaid waiver programs, transportation training, and the importance of having people with disabilities at decision-making tables.Watch or listen to the full episode here, or jump to a specific interview using the timecodes below. To see all 20 interviews recorded at NCIL, visit the link in the show notes.Timecodes:00:00 Intro & Monique Stamps – NC Statewide Independent Living Council / Women Embracing Abilities Now 02:20 Harry Weissman – Disability Policy Consortium (Massachusetts) 05:30 Cynthia Coffin – Disability Empowerment Center (Seattle) 07:10 Colleen Roche – New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council 10:00 Christie Graves – Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (NY) 12:10 Patrick Frozini – Center for Independent Living (South Florida) 16:50 June Kailes – Disability Policy Consultant (Los Angeles) 18:00 Katrina Parsons – Disability Link (Tucker, GA) 19:30 Karen Annette & Mindy – Independence Center (Northern Virginia) 21:00 Yao Appiadu – Harlem Independent Living Center (NY)Link to all 22 interviews from NCIL 2025: https://www.disabilityrightspodcasts.org/ncil-conference

    24 min

  8. 06/06/2025

    Tiffany Clifford Reflects on the Early Days of SILCGA

    On this episode of Accessibility Now, we speak with Tiffany Clifford, a longtime leader in Georgia’s independent living movement. She recounts her early days at Walton Options and reflects on the critical role the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) played in expanding independent living services throughout the state. Tiffany also provides a clear explanation of how SILCs and Centers for Independent Living work together—clarifying common misconceptions—and offers a candid assessment of how proposed federal budget cuts could undermine decades of progress.

    34 min
See All (31)

About

Accessibility Now is a podcast bringing you stories about real people in Georgia and the victories, resources, and challenges we are seeing day-to-day in the Independent Living Movement. Throughout this series we are going to visit the nine Centers for Independent Living (CILs) throughout the state of Georgia to meet staff members and people with disabilities who have been helped and connected to resources by the work that the CILs do. Accessibility Now is a podcast produced by the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia.

Information