From the Chair

On behalf of the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) I am pleased to submit the annual report for SFY 2009, and to report that the Council had a productive and challenging year.  Members addressed their individual learning curves and while there is always more information to absorb, the Council as a whole took deliberate actions to support decisions effecting upcoming issues.

 As a Council we experienced transition and growth through conscientious planning, long working sessions, and honest and forthright discussion.  We did not solve all the problems the VR agency faces: the waiting lists are still too long, the money is still in short supply, the political capital must always be replenished.  Yet we provided support and direction to a truly dedicated Georgia VR staff, offered our assessments and observations in candid and ongoing dialogues, and spurred change when and where we could. 

The Georgia VR staff expects to provide exceptional customer service and it does so admirably in the midst of a stagnant economy and accompanying budget restraint.  Individually and collectively the Council listened to those in the trenches, and championed every effort of staff to use a different direction to reach a new destination . . .  to ensure that the door to innovative thinking, creative approaches, and new opportunities would always remain open.

The Council was quick to embrace a benchmark principle – to speak with one voice that reflects one common purpose: to ensure that the Georgia VR program becomes the premier organization that assists people with disabilities to maximize their work potential and independence.  To help craft an environment of increased employment opportunities, the Council sought out new alliances, strengthened existing relationships with key stakeholders, and enlisted the support of like-minded advocates.

The Georgia SRC exists to ensure the integrity of the Rehabilitation Act by upholding the spirit as well as the letter of the law.  We know we will always encounter new challenges and tough problems as we move to implement that law.  We also know, however, that disability is a natural part of the human experience; it will not stand in the way of our consumers achieving their goals. 

Sincerely,

Linda Shepard

Council Chair