Tiffany Yearwood, Emergency Management Director for Charlton County, Georgia, joins Accessibility Now to break down what real disaster readiness looks like for people with disabilities. She walks through how to build a personalized go bag, why the 72-hour rule matters more than any generic checklist, and why signing up for your county's voluntary disability registry can be a lifeline before you ever need it. Tiffany also addresses the uncertainty around FEMA's changing role and what Georgia's local emergency management teams are doing to stay prepared. The resources below are a strong starting point — use them to build a plan tailored to your specific needs.

Victor McRae, Housing Policy Coordinator for the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, joins host Matt Shedd to break down the current housing landscape for people with disabilities across the state. Victor walks through practical resources, from LIHTC-funded developments and Housing Choice Vouchers to the Georgia Housing Search tool — and shares an honest assessment of where Georgia is leading nationally and where gaps still exist. You'll come away knowing your rights around reasonable accommodations, which tools to use when searching for accessible and affordable housing, and how to connect with your legislators to make your voice heard on housing policy. Subscribe to Accessibility Now for more conversations on disability rights and advocacy in Georgia.0:00 - Introduction0:22 - Current State of Housing for People with Disabilities in Georgia1:01 - LIHTC Funding: How Government-Subsidized Affordable Housing Works2:57 - Georgia Housing Search: A Free Tool to Find Accessible Rentals3:49 - Housing Choice Vouchers: How They Work and Who Qualifies5:37 - How Georgia Compares to Other States on Affordable Housing7:02 - The Most Common Housing Concerns SILCGA Hears9:13 - Renovating for Accessibility vs. Relocating: What's Realistic12:40 - Developers Embracing Accessibility as a Business Opportunity17:41 - Advocacy 101: How to Talk to Your State Legislators22:11 - What Victor Would Change About Housing Policy in Georgia23:55 - Resources and Wrap-UpLinksStatewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) — main website https://www.silcga.orgFind Your Center for Independent Living in Georgia — interactive map https://www.silcga.org/cils/find-cil-locations-in-georgia/SILCGA Accessible Housing Resources (includes Home Access Program info) https://www.silcga.org/accessible-housing/Georgia Housing Search — free statewide tool to find affordable and accessible rentals https://www.georgiahousingsearch.orgGeorgia Department of Community Affairs — Housing Choice Voucher Program https://dca.georgia.gov/housing-choice-voucher/housing-choice-voucherdisABILITY LINK — Center for Independent Living serving metro Atlanta and 12 counties https://www.disabilitylink.orgGeorgia General Assembly — Find Your Legislator by address https://www.legis.ga.gov/find-my-legislatorLDG Development — affordable housing developer mentioned for accessibility commitment https://www.ldgdevelopment.comGeorgia Affordable Housing Coalition — hosts annual conference in Savannah (likely the event Victor referenced) https://www.gahcoalition.org

In this episode, Ester DuRante, Assistant Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, shares how organizations across the state are building partnerships to close critical gaps in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. From the response to Hurricane Helene to outdated federal training materials, Ester breaks down where the system falls short and what real collaboration looks like. The conversation also digs into advocacy, self-determination, and why speaking from the heart matters more than proving your worth. If you care about disability rights in Georgia, subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.Chapters0:00 - Meet Ester DuRante and the Statewide Independent Living Council2:00 - How Hurricane Helene sparked new partnerships across Georgia3:49 - Outdated federal training tools and the push to modernize5:10 - Emergency transportation and disability safety5:44 - What gets overlooked in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities6:39 - Why communication in emergencies is never one-size-fits-all8:43 - Preparing before the storm, not just reacting after11:22 - Advocacy beyond emergency preparedness13:13 - Speaking clearly about who we are without limitations14:49 - Self-determination and the power of choice17:50 - Being heard in healthcare and valuing lived experience21:49 - Leading with heart and finding self-awareness in advocacy24:02 - Closing reflections on courage and curiosityLinksStatewide Independent Living Council of Georgia (SILCGA) — Ester DuRante's organization https://www.silcga.org/LIFE, Inc. — Living Independence for Everyone — Center for Independent Living serving Southeast Georgia https://lifecil.com/FODAC — Friends of Disabled Adults and Children — Provided equipment support during Hurricane Helene and ice storms https://fodac.org/National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) — National cross-disability grassroots organization mentioned by Matt https://ncil.org/Centers for Independent Living in Georgia — Directory of all Georgia CILs https://www.silcga.org/cils/Accessibility Now Podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/accessibility-now-stories-about-disability-rights-in/id1621302132Coastal Alliance of CILs — https://www.coastalallianceofcils.org/