ATLANTA -- David Blanchard, a longtime advocate, service provider, and current Executive Director of All About Developmental Disabilities in Atlanta, will be joining the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) as its new Deputy Assistant Commissioner.

“Georgia is in the midst of tremendous change as we work to serve more people closer to home,” noted Dr. Bryce McLaulin, DBHDD’s Acting Assistant Commissioner for Developmental Disabilities. “Dave brings experience and credibility in advocacy, public policy, and management to the task.”

DBHDD is the state agency that’s responsible for policies and programs that serve people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders. The agency is engaged in a five-year project to expand community services for people with developmental disabilities so that they can live as independently as possible in the most integrated settings possible and none have to be isolated in state hospitals or other institutions.

All About Developmental Disabilities (AADD) is an Atlanta-based non-profit that provides support services to families of people with developmental disabilities, allowing individuals to experience personal empowerment, family stability, and community participation. With more than 50 years of service, it’s one of the longest-serving organizations for developmental disabilities in Atlanta and the state. Blanchard has worked with AADD in various capacities since 1999 and has been Executive Director of the organization since 2009.

Blanchard is a member of the Boards of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and the Georgia American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. He holds an MS in Family Studies from Auburn University and an AB in Psychology from the University of Georgia.

Contact Information:

Tom Wilson, [email protected]