A Full Circle of Impact
A second-year student at Georgia Tech, Chatman is carrying on a family tradition. Chatman’s dad attended Georgia Tech, and his grandfather played football under beloved coach, and BDI namesake, Bobby Dodd. But as a student with autism, Chatman is also forging his own path, learning how to be more social and practice good hygiene in […]
Paths to Independence
McKenzie and Jason met while participating in the Getting Ready for Opportunities in Work (G.R.O.W.) program. G.R.O.W. offers an introduction to employment for students living with disabilities aged 14-22. “Jason came in very shy and quiet. McKenzie has been all over the world and has a wealth of knowledge. For them to be friends now […]
Life on the Spectrum: The Realities of living with Autism
When Lena Irish first heard from her doctor that her child had autism, she was confused, scared, and didn’t know where to begin. Her son Todd was almost 4 years old at the time. All she knew about autism was what she had seen in movies like “Rain Man.” “When we received that diagnosis, it […]
Mission Moment: Featuring David LeBaron
Look at Her Fly: A Mother’s Love
Olimpia came to BDI desperately looking for assistance with SSI. After reporting to Social Security that Maria, who has cerebral palsy, had moved into a group home, the agency responded by lowering Maria’s SSI: a threat to all they’d worked for and ultimately a threat to Maria’s independence.
The Confidence Work Gives: Linda’s Story
When you ask Linda Valdez how work is going, her response is quick and eager, “Great!” She loves the people. She loves the work. And she loves her team at McAlister’s Deli. With a desire to find work, Linda and her mom, Rebecca, joined the BDI family in 2017 after a lead from the […]
BDI Participant, Shaun Harden, Seeks to Inspire Others to Simply Be Kind in New Book, “Kaleidoscope of Social Issues in America”
BDI participant becomes an author, using his platform to inspire others to embrace diversity and inclusion.
Roderick’s Story
Roderick Peters has dreams of attending Kennesaw State University and thanks to BDI and his diligent mother, Jackie, those dreams just might become a reality. Jackie Lunde, mother of Roderick Peters, received notice from the Social Security Administration that Roderick was no longer classified as disabled and his benefits would be suspended immediately. Worried about her son’s future, Jackie sought help from BDI.
Michael’s Story
As BDI’s Benefits Consultant began working with the family to develop the letter of intent, it was clear that Michael was not receiving the appropriate level of benefits. Michael’s mother was paying thousands of dollars each year out-of-pocket for his personal care expenses, which drained her resources, and threatened his long-term security…
Charles’s story
Meet Charles. When Charles and his parents first came to BDI, he was frustrated and confused. He felt lost after aging out of school, and he couldn’t see the path to independence. BDI helped Charles and his family re-submit his NOW Waiver, which had seemingly become lost in the system…