Bobby Dodd Institute

09/04/2026

Most people have heard of FASD, but do you know what it actually means?

Also known as Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, this condition describes a number of problems caused to a baby because of alcohol exposure before birth. Effects a baby undergoes include changes in appearance, behavior, and thinking patterns. FASD is often a lifelong condition. According to CDC, up to 1 in 20 U.S. school-aged children may have FASDs. While it may sound concerning, treatments exist, and early intervention is important. Special education support can help reduce the effects of FASDs and help people with the condition reach their full potential.

FASD is one of the many disabilities we support. Bobby Dodd Institute works with people with disabilities and their families to find the services, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Explore all services and apply today: https://bobbydodd.org/programs/

Disclaimer: This is not a medical advice. If you have any concerns, always consult with your physician.

09/03/2026

BDI's free training series is back for Season 6! This season, we're offering twice as many opportunities to explore topics designed specifically for the disability community. Join us for expert-led sessions covering everything from employment, disability benefits, special needs trusts to caregiving and independent living.

Choose a training that interests you and register today at
bobbydodd.org/bdi-empowers-webinar. You can find a list of all upcoming sessions at https://bobbydodd.org/bdi-empowers-webinar/ -sessions.

ID: A promotional graphic for Bobby Dodd Institute's free trainings for 2026 to 2027. A navy-blue banner is at the top left with the title "Bobby Dodd Institute Free Trainings 2026-2027" that is displayed in large, bold white letters. Below the title, a list of training sessions is organized chronologically by month and day, spanning from October 2026 to May 2027. Each training session includes a brief description of the topic covered, with a total of 11 sessions listed. At the bottom, there is a navy-blue rectangle with a website link on it in white text leading to Bobby Dodd Institute's webinar sign up page.

09/02/2026

Stanley enjoys spending time on his phone and expressing his creativity by drawing cartoons. He loves bringing his ideas to life through art and enjoys activities that let his imagination shine.

Stanley dreams of becoming an animator or a cartoonist. In the next five months, he will be working on improving his skills and will be excited to start exploring career opportunities. If you have a business or know someone who may need fully trained and dedicated employees, consider hiring Stanley.

You can join Elevate employer partners like HD Supply, Milner, the Atlanta Braves and Piedmont. They have already opened their doors to some of our interns and are already seeing the benefits. Our team is here to support you with the tools and resources youneed to make your workplace a great place to work for everyone.

Want to learn how to get involved? Send us a message at
https://bobbydodd.org/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate%20Interns

ID: Stanley is standing in front of a softly colored, light green wall. He is wearing a dark blue T-shirt with gray accents. Behind him, is the Bobby Dodd Institute logo and a poster. At the bottom, there is a fading navy-blue rectangle with bold, white text on it that reads, "Stanley, Elevate Academy Intern. Dreams of becoming an animator or a cartoonist."

09/01/2026

In this episode of the BDI Empowers podcast, our speaker Dana Smith, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at BDI, will go into detail about what people with disabilities and their caregivers need to know about dating with a disability, including how to start the conversation, stay in healthy dynamics in relationships, and more!

In this episode, our speaker Dana Smith, a Licensed Clinical Social...

08/31/2026

We will be at the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency - GVRA Career Connection and Resource Fair at Atlanta Technical College on September 9 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Pre-register at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/KegzwAbic8. On site registration will also be available.

ID: The image is a promotional flyer for the "Career Connections & Resource Fair" organized by the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. At the top left, the agency's logo is displayed, featuring a blue background with white text and an abstract symbol. The flyer's main text outlines the event details: it will take place on September 9, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Atlanta Metropolitan State College, located at 1630 Metropolitan Parkway SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. The event aims to connect individuals with disabilities and other community members to various industries and career opportunities.

Text accompanying the event details emphasizes the inclusivity of the fair, encouraging participation from diverse groups. Below this section, a "What to Expect" bulletin lists benefits for attendees, including a complimentary headshot, interview preparation, connections with employers, and job and community resources. The bottom section of the flyer features images of diverse groups of people engaging in conversations and activities, symbolizing community and support. The color palette includes shades of blue, white, and a range of skin tones in the images, creating a vibrant and welcoming design.

08/31/2026

Xavier loves building, creating, and figuring out how things work! He enjoys playing Minecraft, building with LEGOs, completing puzzles, assembling model airplanes, and tackling hands-on projects that let his analytical mind shine.

Xavier dreams of becoming an electrician or a nuclear engineer. In the next five months, he will be working on improving his skills and will be excited to start exploring career opportunities. If you have a business or know someone who may need fully trainedand dedicated employees, consider hiring Xavier.

You can join Elevate employer partners like HD Supply, Milner, the Atlanta Braves and Piedmont. They have already opened their doors to some of our interns and are already seeing the benefits. Our team is here to support you with the tools and resources you need to make your workplace a great place to work for everyone.

Want to learn how to get involved? Send us a message at
https://bobbydodd.org/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate%20Interns

ID: Xavier is standing in front of a softly colored, light green wall. He is wearing a light blue polo shirt. Behind him, is the Bobby Dodd Institute logo and a poster. At the bottom, there is a fading navy-blue rectangle with bold, white text on it that reads, "Xavier, Elevate Academy Intern. Dreams of becoming an electrician or a nuclear engineer."

08/28/2026

Brayam is a huge fan of roller coasters, Harry Potter attractions at Universal Studios, and cheering on Team Mexico during the FIFA World Cup! He also enjoys competing in the Special Olympics, where he participates in swimming, basketball, bowling, and bocce.

Brayam dreams of working in a warehouse. In the next five months, he will be working on improving his skills and will be excited to start exploring career opportunities. If you have a business or know someone who may need fully trained and dedicated employees, consider hiring Brayam.

You can join Elevate employer partners like HD Supply, Milner, the Atlanta Braves and Piedmont. They have already opened their doors to some of our interns and are already seeing the benefits. Our team is here to support you with the tools and resources you need to make your workplace a great place to work for everyone.

Want to learn how to get involved? Send us a message at
https://bobbydodd.org/contact/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Elevate%20Interns

ID: Brayam is standing in front of a softly colored, light green wall. He is wearing a light blue shirt with an outline of a bear on it. Inside the outline, there are black, white, teal, and orange stripes. Behind him, is the Bobby Dodd Institute logo. At the bottom, there is a fading navy-blue rectangle with bold, white text on it that reads, "Brayam, Elevate Academy Intern. Dreams of working in a warehouse."

08/27/2026

Joey’s family has supported him through every step of his journey, from finding the right school to connecting with BDI and getting the services he needs. Today, Joey is surrounded by people who care about him, and his family feels more hopeful about his future.

Most people never think about how complicated disability benefits can be until they or someone they love needs them. For many people with disabilities, understanding the rules can mean the difference between keeping life-saving healthcare, personal assistants, and other supports they rely on every day or losing access to them. Every day, BDI's team spends hours learning the details of these systems so people can get the benefits they qualify for and understand how work may affect the support they depend on. Today, BDI helps over 4,000 people access the support they need. But many people just don't know this help exists. When people cannot get the right support, the impact doesn't stop with them. Problems that could have been solved early often become much bigger and much more expensive to fix, putting more pressure on the systems that we all depend on.

We can't do this work alone. Keeping this support available takes more than expertise. it takes people who want this kind of support to be there when life takes an unexpected turn. None of us knows when we or someone we love might need help. Your donation today helps make sure this help is there when needed.

https://bobbydodd.org/ways-to-give/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=ongoing&utm_content=donate&utm_term=benefits%20navigation -now

08/26/2026

It’s National Dog Day! Did you know service dogs can be trained to provide different kinds of support for people with disabilities? Guide dogs help people with visual impairments navigate safely, hearing dogs alert people to important sounds, and mobility assistance dogs can retrieve items, open doors, or help with balance. Today, we’re celebrating the incredible work service dogs do every day!

ID: A light background with a large navy-blue semicircular banner at the top displaying the text "Did You Know?" in bold, white letters. Below this banner, there is a brief informational text about service dogs written in a combination of magenta and gray words. The text reads, "According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Read the caption to learn about 3 types of service dogs and what they do!" Additionally, there are three colored circles positioned to the left and right: one small magenta circle, one small gray circle, and one larger teal circle.