How disability services work in GeorgiaA short guide: who to call first and what to expect.
Start with people who have done it.disABILITY LINK, 404-687-8890, is run mostly by people with disabilities. They help with benefits, housing, equipment and moving out of a nursing home, and their help is free.
For income, apply for Social Security disability or SSI at 800-772-1213 or ssa.gov. Most people are turned down the first time. Appeal within 60 days. A disability lawyer is paid only if you win, out of the back pay.
For help at home, Georgia Medicaid has programs called waivers that pay for support so you can live at home. For some of them the wait is years, so apply now and use other help while you wait. Empowerline, 404-463-3333, can tell you which one fits.
For equipment,FODAC gives used, repaired wheelchairs, walkers and hospital beds for a one-time $25 fee. Tools for Life at Georgia Tech lets you try devices and software made for people with disabilities before you buy them.
For a child, ask for a free check of how your child is developing. Babies Can't Wait serves children under 3, and the public school serves children 3 and older. Parent to Parent of Georgia, 800-229-2038, connects you with parents who have been through it. FOCUS supports families of children with disabilities and medical needs.
Empowerline is run by the Atlanta Regional Commission. It helps older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in metro Atlanta. You can call and talk to a certified counselor for free, or search a database of local services.
Georgia Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled is a free library for Georgia residents who cannot read regular print. It mails audio and braille books, magazines and players to your home, and you can also download books to your phone or tablet. There is a walk-in library in Atlanta where staff can help you in person.
The Central Training Center is one of three day training centers run by Fulton County for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It offers group training in daily living, social skills, getting around, and community life. To use it, a person first needs a Georgia NOW or COMP waiver.
The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) helps Georgians with disabilities get ready for, find, keep, or return to work. Its assistive work technology team checks what tools a person needs, looks at the worksite, and can help with home and vehicle changes. Tools for Life is a separate program at Georgia Tech. It lets people learn about assistive devices and borrow some to try, and it runs a device reuse program and a loan program to help people get devices.
Hanger Clinic makes and fits artificial limbs, braces and other supports. The Atlanta clinic on Peachtree Park Drive is open on weekdays. You can call or text to ask for a free evaluation.
DBHDD is the State of Georgia agency for mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. It runs a 24-hour crisis phone line and points people to crisis centers, local providers, and regional field offices. It also handles court-ordered forensic evaluations and runs transitional housing and deaf services.
This is Georgia's state agency for mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. It manages services that other community providers deliver, and its regional field offices help people find and sign up for them. In a crisis you can call or text 988, or call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line.
disABILITY LINK is a Center for Independent Living, which means it is run by and for people with disabilities. It serves Metro Atlanta and nearby counties. It offers peer support, skills training, advocacy, job help, assistive technology, travel training, and help applying for SNAP food benefits.
The North Training Center is one of three day programs run by Fulton County for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It offers group training in daily living, social, communication and community skills, plus work-readiness support. A person needs a Georgia NOW or COMP waiver before they can join.
Refugee Family Assistance Program was started in 2006 by refugee mothers of children with special needs. It helps refugee and immigrant families in the Atlanta area. Help includes support for families with a disabled child, services for older refugee women, housing counseling, and job training for women.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit that works with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In Georgia it offers friendship programs, help finding jobs, leadership training, inclusive living, and support for families. People with and without disabilities take part together.
The Atlanta Regional Commission is a regional planning agency for metro Atlanta. It runs services for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. It also runs WorkSource Atlanta Regional, which helps job seekers with career help and training. It plans transportation and communities with local governments and helps people find ways to commute.
Shepherd Center is a rehabilitation hospital in Atlanta. These pages show a concussion clinic, a chronic pain clinic, and recreation therapy events for people with brain, spine and other nerve-related injuries or conditions. You can call or fill out a form to ask for an appointment at the clinics.
Vision Rehabilitation Services of Georgia teaches people who are blind or have low vision how to live on their own. They offer a low-vision eye evaluation, training for daily tasks, safe travel, computers and job skills, and counseling. They also have programs for ages 14 to 24 and for adults 55 and older.
Inspiritus (once called Lutheran Services of Georgia) helps people whose lives have been upended. It helps new refugees and immigrants settle in, find jobs and get legal help. It also finds foster homes for children with serious medical or behavior needs, and host homes for people with developmental disabilities. After natural disasters, it helps families rebuild.
FODAC is a nonprofit in Tucker that gives refurbished wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and other home medical equipment to adults and children with disabilities. It also repairs equipment by appointment, sells refurbished computers at its thrift store, and runs a loan program for assistive technology. It has other locations in Savannah and Griffin.
FODAC gives refurbished wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other home medical equipment to children and adults with disabilities. New clients pay a one-time $25 sign-up fee, and the equipment is free. FODAC also runs a thrift store, repairs equipment by appointment, and offers low-interest loans for assistive technology through CreditAble.
Atlanta Area School for the Deaf is a free state day school in Clarkston for deaf and hard of hearing students ages 3 to 22. Staff and teachers use American Sign Language and English all day. A student's local school system refers them, and the school also offers therapy and other student services, sports, clubs, and career classes.
Easterseals North Georgia is a nonprofit that helps babies and young children, with and without disabilities, and their families. It runs childcare and early learning centers, early intervention, autism services and mental health care for young children. It also offers family support and money help for children with special needs.
EnABLE Home Solutions is a team led by a licensed occupational therapist, Cindy Lourie. She looks at how a person moves and lives at home, then suggests changes to make the home safer and easier to use. She can also connect families with handymen, equipment suppliers and contractors to do the work.
