The State of Georgia Steps Up Its GAME for Workers with Disabilities

In May of 2024, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 384, which seeks to develop and administer the State of Georgia as a Model Employer (GAME) Program. The GAME Program establishes a formalized, statewide framework for Georgia state agencies to develop hiring plans, reporting mechanisms, and accountability measures to increase employment and retention opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Stacey Valrie Peace, Esq., State ADA Coordinator“One of the first steps was to read the legislation and to understand the different components and to determine what responsibilities fall on our office as administrators of the bill and what responsibilities fall on the state agencies,” said Stacey Valrie Peace, Esq., who serves as the state ADA coordinator. “We also had to create a job description for the GAME employment specialist. We’re a very small office, especially before the bill passed, and we needed somebody with an HR specialist skillset to be the lead for GAME.”

In her role as state ADA coordinator, Peace will play a significant role during the implementation of GAME legislation, which includes developing the program, offering guidance and training resources for agencies, providing oversight to ensure compliance, and submitting reports to the governor’s office to demonstrate the program’s progress. Her goal is to ensure that each agency receives the necessary training and tools to recruit, hire, and retain qualified individuals with disabilities.

The training process for state agencies will begin in March. According to Peace, the training will consist of four modules:  

1. Be a GAME Changer: Outlines GAME requirements, timelines, and the reporting process. 
2. The ADA, Title I, and the Interactive Process: Explains the legal framework for GAME, the mandates of Title I, the interactive process, and best practices for recruiting, hiring, and retaining individuals with disabilities.
3. Federal Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Guidance: Covers additional regulations established by federal entities with enforcement powers over Title I of the ADA and how they may impact and inform GAME implementation.
4. Emergency Evacuation and Disability Inclusive Procedures: Teaches HR professionals how to properly plan and execute the evacuation of workers with disabilities during emergencies.

“We are not limiting this training to just HR managers,” Peace clarified. “Although the bill calls on HR managers, we feel it is important to make sure that HR directors, ADA coordinators, and executive leaders are clued in too. We encourage HR directors and ADA coordinators to share this information with everyone that may have some responsibility under GAME, so they are fully knowledgeable about what to expect.”Brad Vaughan, Legislative Director and Counsel, Lieutenant Governor’s Office

Although the implementation of the GAME Program is still ongoing, some entities have already expressed intentions to practice and uphold the legislation. Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones listed Senate Bill 384 as one of his office’s legislative priorities with hopes of being able to create and maintain a stable workforce in Georgia.

“One of the first things Lt. Gov. Jones did as President of the Senate was establish and appoint members of a Senate study committee on expanding Georgia’s workforce,” said Brad Vaughan, legislative director and counsel for the lieutenant governor’s office. “A big subject of discussion was around increasing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and we wanted to find ways to get rid of the barriers that stand between Georgians with disabilities and meaningful employment.”

The lieutenant governor’s office has already taken steps to support the implementation of the GAME program in their hiring of Martha Haythorn in the Georgia Senate Ante Room.

Martha Haythorn, GCDD Council Member“We are thrilled to work with Martha Haythorn; she is a delight,” said Vaughan. “In addition to her work as the assistant manager in the Ante Room, she has demonstrated a strong interest in public policy. She also helps with the Senate’s bill tracking system. We are happy to offer her a place to draw out her experience and give her a deeper insight into the legislative process.” 

Haythorn also currently serves as a Council member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD).

Although the GAME Program is still in its beginning stages, the efforts of state agencies and legislators offer hope that Georgians with disabilities will have an ever-growing supply of opportunities to find meaningful employment moving forward.

Learn more about Georgia as a Model Employer (GAME).