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Georgia as Model Employer (GAME)

This page reviews Georgia as Model Employer (GAME) and

houses Advancing Employment's GAME resources.

What is GAME?

Georgia as Model Employer (GAME) is a policy that would require state agencies to set goals for the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities. GAME policies put the state in position to be a leading example for employers throughout the state.

Core Elements to the GAME legislation

  1. The provision of technical assistance and training for state agency human resources personnel and hiring managers for the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of qualified individuals with disabilities;   

  2. Assistance with the implementation plans of reasonable accommodations by state agencies under the Americans with Disabilities Act; and   

  3. The development of evaluation forms and reports for the purpose of data collection and analysis relating to individuals with disabilities employed by state agencies.   

 

On or before September 1, 2025, and on or before September 1 of each year thereafter,   

each state agency shall submit to the State ADA Coordinator a report which shall include:   

  1. The percentage of jobs that were filled within the most recent fiscal year by qualified individuals with disabilities at designated pay levels;   

  2. An analysis of the barriers in existing employment related policies, practices, and procedures and the adoption of strategies to address such barriers;   

  3. A description of the education and training relative to the American with Disabilities Act that is received by every individual serving in a human resources supervisory position within the state agency; and   

  4. An evaluation of whether adequate resources exist to provide any assistance needed in the event of an emergency evacuation.   

On or before December 15, 2025, and on or before December 15 of each year   

thereafter, the State ADA Coordinator shall submit a written report on the progress of state   

agencies toward meeting the employment policy goals of the state established by this   

article to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of   

Representatives, and the chairpersons of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee and   

the House Committee on Industry and Labor. 

Why GAME?

  • GAME establishes the state as a leader in inclusive hiring best-practices creating an example for private-sector employers to follow.

  • Supported employees returned an average annual net benefit to taxpayers of $3,016.08 per supported employee, and generated a benefit–cost ratio of $1.46 for every dollar spent. (Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities - TASH)

  • The National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association have both highlighted GAME as a bipartisan issue that state legislatures should adopt based on the economic opportunities presented.

  • Inclusive hiring of people with disabilities strengthens our communities by making sure that everyone has a meaningful part to play.

  • The state's benefits of enacting GAME outweigh the costs of not acting - both economically and socially.

  • Implementing GAME is the right thing to do!

GAME Milestones

  • January 2020: The Community of Practice votes to prioritize SAME

  • October 2020: First meeting of the Georgia SAME Workgroup occurs

  • January 2021: SAME becomes an official Advancing Employment Policy Imperative

  • September 2021: SAME Workgroup in Georgia meets with Tennessee Counterparts

  • October 2021: SAME webinar for Georgia during NDEAM (National Disability Employment Awareness Month)

  • January 2022: SAME is voted by CoP as part of the top three policy imperatives to focus on

  • February-August 2022: Georgia Workgroup continues to meet

  • September 2022: One-pager on SAME is created by Advancing Employment for dissemination (document is shared with politicians and attendees of GCDD’s Candidate’s Forum)

  • October 2022: As the capstone to Georgia’s NDEAM initiatives, an event is held at the Carter Center where attendees assisted with crafting a blueprint for SAME in Georgia

  • October 2022: Advancing Employment hosted a webinar about SAME efforts in other states focusing on how state agencies, not just those related to disability, can accommodate, customize, and prioritize employment initiatives that are inclusive of disability.

  • January 2023: A name is adopted for Georgia’s SAME initiative: GAME, or Georgia as Model Employer, with the tagline: Georgia’s Got GAME! A goal motto is also created: “GAME-National Champions in State as Model Employer!”

  • Next Steps: GCDD Legislative Day for Employment-disseminate one-pager and Executive Order example

  • July 2024: Billed passed! Read more here.

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