CATALYST FOR CHANGE SUMMER 2015
From the Executive Director: The Road Ahead We’re getting ready to add to the solid foundation we at the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) are building together with our next Five-Year State Plan. NCCDD aligns its goals and priorities with this plan, which is developed from input received from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, leaders in the disability community and supporters. The FiveYear Plan drives the Council’s work in the community by funding innovative programs that promote inclusive and integrated communities for people with I/DD. This information will assure that people with I/DD and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination and independence. During this exciting year of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), so many of you have connected with us and shared your ideas and hopes for the future during our celebratory events throughout North Carolina. In addition, we met many of you at our State Plan listening sessions hosted around the State and are currently compiling responses from those who took the time to take the State Plan survey. We greatly appreciate your input! continued on page 3
News of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
JULY 26th ADA Celebration The Americans with Disabilities Act, the landmark legislation that was signed into law on July 26, 1990, received a yearlong celebration across the country from people with disabilities, families, caregivers and advocates. In North Carolina, anniversary celebrations were held across the State in July and into August to not only commemorate the landmark law, but to also remind the disability community that our work is not finished. In Raleigh, NCCDD collaborated with the Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living to commemorate the ADA’s 25th anniversary at the Triangle Access Awards Presentation and Reception. The awards, hosted by the Alliance, honored people, businesses and organizations for their work in increasing awareness and improving access for people with disabilities in areas such as architecture, assistive technology, attitudinal barriers, communications/sensory and universal access. In collaboration with NCCDD, the event also welcomed North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos, MD, who headlined the program and presented a proclamation from Governor Pat McCrory. continued on page 3
NCCDD Launches FiveYear Planning Process
NCCDD launched its Five-Year Planning Process to gather input from the disability community to formulate its goals for the next five years, 2017-2021. The Council’s goals for the Five-Year State Plan will be drafted from input received from leaders in the disability community, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families and supporters. The planning process began in June by hosting listening sessions and creating an online survey for the State’s disability community. continued on page 2