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WHAT WE DO:
The UNLOCK! campaign advocates with Georgians with disabilities so they and their families can live full lives and contribute to Georgia's communities and economy.
WE BELIEVE:
We believe Georgia must rebalance its system of long-term services and supports so that fewer dollars are spent on institutional care and more dollars are invested into Home and Community Based Supports.
WE UPHOLD AND SUPPORT THE UNLOCK! PRINCIPLES: Individuals with disabilities should have the opportunity to live full, self-determined lives. This means they should have the chance:
...to be employed
in regular workplaces – not only in settings with only workers with disabilities
earning the same wages as people without disabilities for the same job
with access to supported or customized employment services
...to have a real home
in apartments or houses in a community that they’ve chosen
with the opportunity to live in communities that are inclusive of residents with and without disabilities
with the opportunity for ownership or control of the lease
alone or with others that they’ve chosen
where they decide who visits and when
without the threat of losing that home if they didn’t comply with a treatment plan
...to be engaged in their communities with family and friends
who understand and appreciate their gifts and contributions
with access to an array of educational and leisure pursuits
able to go to locations and activities that they’ve chosen
...to have control over how they spend their time
with adequate information so that they make informed choices from meaningful options
with a schedule of daily activities based on their personal priorities, interests, and contributions
choosing when and what to eat and how to spend their time
…to make their own choices like anyone else
choosing where to live, who to marry, how to vote, and exercising all other legal rights as an adult
making their own decisions regarding medical treatment
receiving assistance through Supported Decision Making –desired support and advice from family and friends – rather than having others make their decisions through guardianship
because over-reliance on formal systems of substituted decision-making like guardianship can hinder or prevent inclusion, self-determination and community integration.
