North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities - NCCDD

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A YEAR IN REVIEW

This was a year like no other. It was a year of change, a year of impact, a year of planning, and the year of the pandemic.

The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) welcomed new leadership with Talley Wells as executive director and Kerri Eaker as council chair at the beginning of 2020. Even with these changes, NCCDD continued to move forward with its Five-Year State Plan and make an impact through its systems change work for individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD). Read more from Kerri Eaker and Talley Wells here.

NCCDD WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), with the approval of Governor Roy Cooper, announced Talley Wells as the new Executive Director of the organization effective January 21, 2020. Wells has dedicated his career to working for and with the disability community. He was most recently the executive director for the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice in Atlanta, GA. Prior to that he led the Disability Integration Project at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. He also taught disability rights at Georgia State University College of Law and worked at the Institute on Human Development and Disabilities at the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Laura, helped found the L’Arche Atlanta community where people with and without developmental disabilities live together. Read more about Executive Director Talley Wells.

HONORING ADVOCATES AND LEADERS IN NORTH CAROLINA

The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) held its annual Advocacy and Leadership Awards event on November 6, 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Cary, NC. The awards honored self-advocates, professionals, advocates and volunteers who have passionately worked and continue to work to build a better North Carolina for people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD). The 2019 Hefner Memorial award was presented posthumously to Renate Macchirole, formerly of Kill Devil Hills, NC and the Riddle Distinguished Service award was presented to Karen Luken of Oak Island, NC. Watch the videos on the right to learn more about the 2019 recipients. Read more about the 2019 Advocacy & Leardership Awards Ceremony here.

EMPOWERING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY

NCCDD is dedicated to empowering people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) by supporting self-advocacy, independence, and the right to self-determination. Through its Five-Year State Plan, the Council promotes advocacy development, community living and financial asset development so people with I/DD have options to make choices about work, where to live, friendships, taking part in the various activities of their community and other personally defined outcomes. Read more about the new and current initiatives supported by NCCDD.

BUILDING THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR STATE PLAN

The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) began work on its new Five-Year State Plan for the years 2022-2026. The Plan, developed in accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act), guides the Council regarding how staff and fiscal resources are allocated. While the Council was planning a statewide road trip, Conversations with the Council, the COVID-19 outbreak caused the Council to hold the listening sessions virtually.  The council hosted six sessions – two per region – and 415 people registered for the events. Additionally, the Council hosted a session for the LatinX community, welcoming 52 people; a self-advocates and young advocates session, 51 attendees and 33 attendees, respectively. Read more about the new Five-Year State Plan here.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF THE ADA

The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities, NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Office of State Human Resources partnered together to honor and celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, one of the United State’s most noted pieces of civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities. Also commemorating the anniversary, NCCDD launched a month-long celebration by using its ADA 30-for-30 storytelling campaign that highlighted the ADA with stories, artwork, photos and videos of and by North Carolinians with disabilities. Read more about the celebration and stories here.

GETTING THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

Just like many organizations, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities met in the spring to assess the impact of COVID-19 on our work. We were immediately aware of the importance of not only disseminating the facts on Coronavirus and its impact on people with disabilities but also of changes needed in the delivery of our initiatives’ programs and services. NCCDD launched a COVID-19 Resource section on its website for people with disabilities, families and the community-at-large. The website provided information in the areas of educational resources, self-advocates, direct support professionals, families/individuals with disabilities/stakeholders, general community and navigating benefits. Read more about our COVID-19 Resources here.

Thanks to our Council Members, Partners and Staff

North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), a 40-member body appointed by the Governor, is made up of: