Who Is Waiting?

The waiting lists primarily affect Georgians with physical and developmental disabilities who need support through programs like the NOW/COMP waivers and the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP).

These are people who want to work, attend school, and participate in their communities — but without access to home and community-based services, many face the risk of unnecessary institutionalization.

Families carry enormous strain while waiting: coordinating care, navigating complex systems, and often making impossible financial choices in the absence of adequate support.

For thousands of Georgians with disabilities, a Medicaid waiver is not just a line item on a state budget — it is the key to a life of independence, contribution, and community connection. Without these waivers, families are forced to make impossible choices about care, often facing institutional placement as the only option. The wait list represents real people with real dreams: earning a paycheck, living in a home of their own, pursuing postsecondary education, and being an active part of their neighborhoods. Advocates across Georgia are working tirelessly to rebalance the system, investing in community-based supports that honor the dignity and potential of every person waiting.

The UnlockTheWaitingLists campaign brings together self-advocates, families, and allies who believe that no one should have to wait years for the services they need to live fully. Through legislative action days at the Capitol, listening tours across the state, and storytelling that puts faces to the data, this movement is building momentum for change. The agenda is clear: raise waiver rates so providers can hire and retain staff, expand access to independent living and employment supports, and ensure that every dollar spent on services reflects the value of the people those services are meant to support. Change happens when voices unite.