All About Developmental Disabilities Names Veronica Rohrlack as Deputy Director

Contact: Mitch Leff, mitch@leffassociates.com, (404) 861-4796

All About Developmental Disabilities today announced Veronica Rohrlack has been named deputy director for the nonprofit agency. For AADD (www.aadd.org) she will report to executive director Kathy Keeley and will be responsible for overseeing the Georgia Community Trust, the Family Support Center Program, and other community based projects.

Rohrlack has almost two decades of experience in the social services field. She has experience in working with grassroots initiatives, and was recognized for her work in the area of self-sufficiency by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. She also received the Easter Seals of Southern Georgia Distinguished Service Award for her work with family support services across the state of Georgia.

“Veronica has an impressive skill set in policy and programmatic development,” said Kathy Keeley, AADD’s executive director. “I’m looking forward to seeing her bring her passion for community engagement to our outreach to Georgia families living with developmental disabilities.”

Before joining AADD, Rohrlack worked as a Family Support Administrator for the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Prior to that, she was executive director and CEO of Southeastern Youth Services in Altus, Oklahoma, and worked as a clinical counselor at Jackson Memorial Hospital, also in Altus, Oklahoma.

AADD recently took over day-to-day management of the Georgia Community Trust, a not-for-profit entity that assists with financial planning for Georgians with disabilities. The Georgia Community Trust, currently valued at approximately $12 million, with 225 active accounts statewide, is a master trust with separate accounts designed to provide individuals with disabilities with a savings venue that does not affect their state benefits. AADD will grow the trust and launch a series of classes around the state to educate families on how they can use and benefit from the trust’s services.

The AADD Family Support Center will be opening satellite offices in order to provide a dedicated space, services and programs designed to help metro Atlanta families impacted by developmental disabilities work through the challenges they face. Services are available to any family and delivered by a team of seasoned consultants. Issues the team can help families navigate include:

• Providing transition plans for young adults transitioning out of the school system

• Helping aging parents set up a long-term care plan for their adult child

• Providing strategies to address behavioral issues

• Giving waiver application assistance

Rohrlack received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and criminal justice from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

She lives in the Johns Creek neighborhood of Atlanta.

About All About Developmental DisabilitiesFounded in 1956, All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing family support, advocacy and training opportunities for individuals and families living with developmental disabilities.

Developmental disabilities are defined as severe chronic intellectual and/or physical disabilities that limit three or more critical functional abilities. Examples include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism disorders, fetal alcohol disorders and intellectual disabilities. These disabilities manifest early in life (before age 22) and last a lifetime.

Georgia relies on a disjointed system of services and support that cannot be sustained long-term.  Economic uncertainties are reducing funding support, even as the number of people in need increases.  AADD offers a range of services focusing on Family Support, Public Policy and Advocacy and Community Engagement.  For more information, go to www.AADD.org or call us at (404) 881-9777.