WWW.UNLOCKTHEWAITINGLISTS.COM

November 5, 2004

The Unlock the Waiting Lists! Campaign is a targeted effort by a coalition of

Georgia disability organizations to educate the public and change public

policy. The mission is to reduce and/or eliminate waiting lists for thousands of

people with disabilities, the frail elderly, and their families who need home

and community-based services.

This campaign is a grassroots effort with currently over 300 member

organizations and over 5,000 individual members throughout the state.

Georgians with significant disabilities need essential services to remain

with their families and in their communities. These services have not been

adequately funded, and therefore individuals with disabilities and their

families

have been placed on waiting lists. The Georgia Department of Human Resources and

the Georgia Department of Community Health keep lists with the names of those

people, young and old, who have a disability and have requested help from the

state in providing them with services. These lists have grown to crisis

proportions.

How Many People Are Waiting?

The short term waiting list is composed of individuals needing immediate

support, while the long term planning list is a " working waiting list " that is

more flexible, and beneficial when used to learn and plan.

As of October 2004 the number waiting for help include:

Total Short-Term: 2,308 people

Total Long-Term: 2,955 people

Independent Care Waiver: 179 people

Traumatic Brain Injury: 32 people

Total people waiting for help in Georgia are 5,474.

Unlock The Waiting Lists

1440 Dutch Valley Place

Suite 200

Atlanta GA 30333

Phone: 1-877-WAITLIST

Fax: (404) 881-0094

unlockthewaitinglists.com

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