The Georgia Advocacy Office

Georgia Advocacy Office, Inc. (GAO) is a private non-profit corporation. Their mission is to work with and for oppressed and vulnerable individuals in Georgia who are labeled as disabled or mentally ill to secure their protection and advocacy. GAO’s work is mandated by Congress, and GAO has been designated by Georgia as the agency to implement Protection and Advocacy within the state.

The Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO) provides a wide range of services to people with disabilities in Georgia, such as:

• Information and referral
• Technical assistance, advice, and support in self-advocacy
• Assistance in advocacy, negotiation, or mediation on behalf of individuals
• Investigation of allegations of abuse, neglect, or violations of rights
• Deflect and prevent guardianships, support individuals in the restoration of rights, and advocate for supported decision making as an alternative to guardianships
• Public information and education regarding the needs and rights of people with disabilities
• Multicultural outreach to unserved or underserved groups of persons with disabilities
• Identification of problems in the system of service delivery and advocacy for systemic change
• Legislative monitoring and technical assistance
• Technical assistance to attorneys on disability law

For more information, contact the Georgia Advocacy Office.