501 organizations
How disability services work in Georgia
Two honest truths up front: real help exists, and the waits for some of it are long — so start applications early and use the faster doors meanwhile.
Independent living: centers like disABILITY LINK in Atlanta are run by and for people with disabilities — practical help with housing searches, benefits, equipment, and peer support, usually free and without waitlists. Home- and community-based waivers (NOW/COMP for developmental disabilities, others for physical) pay for real support at home, but Georgia's waitlists run years — apply now regardless. Income: SSI/SSDI denials are normal the first time; appeal, and get a disability attorney — they only get paid if you win, from back pay.
What to expect when you call: be ready to describe daily-life impact ("I can't stand long enough to cook"), not just diagnoses — services are matched to function, and plain descriptions work best.
disABILITY LINK is a Center for Independent Living that helps people with disabilities of all ages live independently across metro Atlanta. They offer free help with assistive technology and equipment loans, housing and home modifications, employment, peer support, advocacy, transportation training, and moving out of nursing facilities into the community. Many services are free and you can take part in person or remotely.
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FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) is a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities stay mobile and live independently. They give out free or low-cost refurbished wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other home medical equipment, and they also build wheelchair ramps, modify vehicles, and run a community thrift store. To get equipment, you call them first to check what's available and to be matched by your height and weight.
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This is the Fulton County government department that runs outpatient mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services for adults, teens, and children — including people without insurance. They provide counseling, psychiatric care, medication-assisted treatment for opioid use, day programs for people with developmental disabilities, school-based services, and court-related mental health programs across several service centers in the county. Call the main number to find the right program and set up an appointment; walk-ins are also accepted at the centers.
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Empowerline is the Atlanta Regional Commission's Area Agency on Aging and the local Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). It is a free, one-stop "front desk" you can call to get connected to help with aging, disability, caregiving, and health needs across metro Atlanta. Specialists give free guidance and link you to vetted community programs like home care, meals, benefits, and senior centers.
Kirkwood5 services
DBHDD is Georgia's state agency that oversees public services for mental health, substance use and addiction, and developmental disabilities. It runs the state's crisis system (call or text 988, or the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at 1-800-715-4225) and funds local providers, five state psychiatric hospitals, and support programs across Georgia. Anyone in a mental health, substance use, or developmental disability crisis can call 24/7 to be connected to help.
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Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation helps Georgians who have no insurance or low income get eye and hearing care. They give free or low-cost eye exams, glasses, eye surgery, and hearing aids through their Chamblee clinic, mobile clinics, and a tele-eye-care program. (Note: this listing was mislabeled as 'Atlanta Recovery Center' — it is NOT a substance-use program; it is a vision and hearing nonprofit.)
Ridgedale Park7 services
This is one of Fulton County's three day programs (Training Centers) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, run by the county Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. The center helps adults build everyday living skills, social and communication skills, and work skills (from volunteering through pre-vocational training) so they can be more independent and active in the community. To join, you must first qualify for a Georgia DBHDD waiver (COMP or NOW).
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This is one of Fulton County's three Training Centers (day programs) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Central Training Center helps people learn daily living skills, job and vocational skills, communication, and how to take part in their community. To join, you first need approval through the state (DBHDD) with a COMP or NOW waiver, then you set up a tour and intake interview with the center.
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Empowerline is the Atlanta Regional Commission's Area Agency on Aging and the metro Atlanta Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). It is a free "front desk" that helps older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers find and connect to services for their home, health, and daily life. Trained staff give free advice and connect you to thousands of community providers, Medicare help, caregiver support, and senior centers.
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This is Fulton County's public behavioral health agency. They offer counseling, psychiatric care, and treatment for mental health, addiction, and substance use for adults, children, and teens, plus services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Care is free or charged on a sliding scale based on income, and no one is turned away because they cannot pay.
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Refugee Family Assistance Program (RFAP) was started in 2006 by refugee mothers to help refugee and immigrant families in the Atlanta area, especially families raising children with autism or other disabilities. They offer case management, school advocacy, interpretation, help understanding disability laws and Medicaid Waivers, HUD-approved housing and homeownership counseling, and programs for refugee women and elderly women.
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ISDD helps grandparents and other relatives in Metro Atlanta who are raising children when the parents cannot. They offer free case management, support groups, parenting classes, and emergency financial help, with a special focus on families caring for kids who have disabilities or health problems.
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Georgia Library Service for the Blind & Print Disabled (GLS) is a free state library for people who are blind, have low vision, or cannot read regular print because of a physical or reading disability such as dyslexia. They mail free audiobooks, braille books, magazines, and a free talking-book player to your home, postage-free, and you can also download titles through the BARD app. There is a walk-in location inside the Fulton County Central Library in downtown Atlanta.
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disABILITY LINK is the Center for Independent Living for metro Atlanta, a nonprofit run by and for people with disabilities. They help people live independently with advocacy, peer support, independent living skills, help moving out of nursing facilities, employment and benefits help, accessible housing and home modifications, assistive technology, a free loan closet for medical equipment, and travel training. Services are free and serve 12 metro-Atlanta counties.
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FODAC (Friends of Disabled Adults and Children) gives free or very low-cost wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, and other home medical equipment to people with disabilities and their families. They also refurbish and repair equipment, build wheelchair ramps, modify vehicles, and run a thrift store. Most equipment is provided at little or no cost based on need.
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Empowerline is the Atlanta region's free help line for older adults, people of any age with disabilities, and family caregivers, run by the Atlanta Regional Commission's Area Agency on Aging. You call or search online and a counselor helps you find and connect to services like home care, meals, benefits, transportation, and caregiver support from thousands of local providers. It is the 'no wrong door' starting point for navigating aging and disability needs across metro Atlanta.
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This is part of Georgia's state behavioral health agency (DBHDD), which runs crisis services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When someone is in crisis, they can get short-term help in a Crisis Respite Home (a small home that serves a few people at a time) or a Mobile Crisis Team that comes to where the person is. To reach help any time, day or night, call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line at (800) 715-4225 or dial 988.
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The Disability Law and Policy Center of Georgia was a nonprofit that fought for the legal rights of people with disabilities through education, case help, mediation, and lawsuits. It was founded in 1999 after the Olmstead Supreme Court ruling, but the organization dissolved in 2012 and no longer operates. Its records are now archived at the University of Georgia.
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NOTE: The website, phone, and address on file actually belong to Woodland Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care, not the Atlanta Regional Commission's Area Agency on Aging — this record appears mislabeled. Woodland Ridge is a non-profit senior living community in Smyrna that provides assisted living, memory care for people with Alzheimer's and dementia, and short-term respite stays. They offer in-house therapy and physician visits, pet therapy, and around-the-clock personal care for older adults who can no longer live safely on their own.
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Little Debbie's Second Chance Home is a nonprofit (founded 2004, CARF-accredited) that runs structured, home-like residential programs for displaced teens ages 14-18, including pregnant and parenting teens and their babies. They provide safe housing, life-skills and parenting training, education and job-readiness support, counseling, and foster-parent training and child placement. They also serve young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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