• When Toney Allan Duvall was born with a life-threatening birth defect, his mother was forced to put him in state care to save his life. Once in the system, Toney endured major injuries and remained institutionalized for more than nineteen years. Only after he graduated from a public high school with honors was he released with the support to live in the community.
Today, Toney lives and works in Chamblee, GA. He spends much of his free time as an advocate, speaking for the rights of all people with disabilities. Toney is a witness to the harmful effects of institutionalization on children and their families. By telling his story, he advocates for community-based services and the Children’s Freedom Initiative, an alliance of disability advocates working to end the institutionalization of children with disabilities in Georgia.
Recent honors, appearances and presentations:
Statewide Better All Together Conference in Athens Georgia,
Testimony to the Georgia House Committee on Families and Children,
Guest lecturer to graduate students at The University of Georgia; and
Named 2006 Advocate of Year Award by Georgia Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.
