(SAVANNAH, GA) Coastal Center for Developmental Services (CCDS) is proud to announce that CCDS Executive Director Kathy Thomson and board member Daniel Massey were each recently honored by The Service Providers Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD) at their spring conference in Augusta.
Thomson was selected to receive the SPADD Trail Blazer Award which honors an organizational leader who has, through leadership, advocacy, program development or some other meaningful contribution, has made a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities within their own community, or across the state. Thomson, who will be celebrating 40 years with CCDS this year, has not only advocated strongly for individuals at CCDS, but also across the state by serving on several committees and boards that determine state policy on service. Additionally, during her time as executive director, CCDS developed three new programs to meet its people’s needs, moved the agency onto a stronger technological path, and encouraged strong community partnerships for all facets of the agency.
Massey received the inaugural SPADD Employer of the Year Award for hiring, supporting, and advocating for people with disabilities in his business. Currently, he is the Clerk of Superior Court for Chatham County, an office he has held since 2004. In his current role, Massey has made significant improvements in technology availability and data sharing in the court system, even moving to a paperless environment for one division. Massey has served on the CCDS Board of Directors since 2010 and has hired two individuals through the CCDS Community Employment program.
Both Thomson and Massey were recognized at awards ceremony the last evening of the SPADD conference.
About CCDS
Coastal Center for Developmental Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501©(3) agency that provides training and employment-related services to more than 400 individuals with developmental disabilities. With the goal of empowering our people to make life choices, CCDS is dedicated to the rights and responsibilities of full community citizenship. This is achieved through education, advocacy, services and supports, and driven by individual choice. To learn more, to volunteer, or to donate, visit www.ccds-sav.org or call (912) 644-7500.
About SPADD
The Service Provider Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD) was founded in April 2002. SPADD members meet regularly to share information regarding issues that impact the services of individuals with developmental disabilities. SPADD works as an inclusive association of both public and private providers of any community based MR/DD service for the purpose of improving services to persons with developmental disabilities in Georgia. As a professional organization, SPADD is committed to its mission which includes Education of Providers on Best Practice, Advocacy and Education Regarding Public Policy.
Contact
Jarrell Dickey
Phone:(912)644-7497
E-mail:jdickey@ccds-sav.org