Letter From The President

Welcome From The President
Dear Friends:

SPADD is committed to quality supports for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities through our support and strengthening of the provider community. As an organization, we represent providers who support the vast majority of Georgia’s individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our feet are on the ground every day and we know what it takes to provide quality, person-centered supports. We also recognize that people have the right to choose the services they want, from providers they choose, and that a continuum of support is necessary to meet the needs and capacities of individual people.

SPADD believes that professionals in this field are advocates who have chosen to become providers.  With over 100 members, the Association, with a strong voice, believes in active participation in positive change to advance our State’s intellectual and developmental disabilities system. We are a partner at the table raising and problem solving issues, and are recognized as the voice of Georgia’s provider community.

We want to hear from you so we can continue to represent the wide array of providers and other advocates, articulately and accurately. We hope you will join, if not already a member, so we can continue to strengthen our voice.

It is an exciting time to be part of Georgia’s intellectual and developmental disability system, and we are excited by inclusive spirit at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Together we have much important work to accomplish. I hope you will join us!

Ryan Whitmire
SPADD President, 2023-2025