Chris' Section

I often wonder what it was like to be a member of the US Congress in 1988 when the American with Disabilities bill's final author, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), used American Sign Language in his opening statement so his brother, who was deaf, could understand the importance of what was happening.

It must have been incredible to be at The White House when President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law on July 26, 1990 and hear him say:

"Three weeks ago we celebrated our nation's Independence Day. Today we're here to rejoice in and celebrate another independence day, one that is long overdue. With today's signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence and freedom."

The ADA promoted equal opportunities and access to people with disabilities in areas such as housing, transportation and employment. While we should celebrate achievements, we have much to do to exercise the full rights of individuals with disabilities.

We kicked off our Five-Year Plan, which is presenting us with a great opportunity to speak with and listen to members of the community, gather their hopes and desires about what the next five years look like, and then to act.

Through these efforts, the Council continues to promote a more inclusive and integrated North Carolina for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) – the founding principle of the ADA.

This month, organizations across the State are hosting festivals, fairs, birthday parties and more to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the legislation. Visit the NCCDD website to see what is going on around North Carolina, get involved and celebrate!

In Raleigh, NCCDD is collaborating with the Alliance of Disability Advocates to celebrate the landmark legislation at the Museum of Natural Sciences on July 21 at 6:30 PM. The evening will feature the presentation of the Triangle Access Awards honoring individuals and businesses that are breaking down barriers for people with disabilities.

Also at the event, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos, MD, will address the guests and present the Governor's Proclamation.

Continue to share this information within your communities and your networks, as we want to involve as many people as possible. The more we know, the more we can do.

Taking Initiative: NC Partners in Policymaking Leads the Nation

In 1992, North Carolina joined the Partners in Policymaking Program to start a wave of advocacy to build a strong disability community through advocacy.

Partners in Policymaking trains people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and family members to participate in the public discussion of principles and policies that affect their lives and their role in the community. In partnership with the Advocacy Institute since 2004, the initiative hopes to increase its impact through advocacy for the North Carolina disability community.

Through its efforts, North Carolina and the Advocacy Institute have built one of the leading programs in the nation for advocacy. The training programs include sessions on:

• History of Disability and Independent Movement
• Education
• Government Funded Services (Medicaid, MCO)
• Positive Behavior Support and Self Determination
• Federal Legislation (process and advocacy tips)
• State legislation and Media (mock testimony)
• Community Organizing & Employment
• Housing

The current session is underway and will be accepting new applicants in December 2015.

Staff Profile: Steve Strom

Formerly the executive director of The Arc of Wake County in North Carolina, Steve Strom has served as a systems change manager for NCCDD for the past three years. In his position, he manages initiatives related to changing how services for citizens with I/DD are delivered. His latest initiative aims to reform guardianship and how we can provide the protections of guardianship while allowing individuals to retain more of their personal rights.

Strom and his wife are also the proud parents of an 18-year-old son with Fragile X Syndrome, the most common form of an intellectual disability among boys. "Being a parent as well as a professional in the field I have learned to value the things in life that are most important – friendships, a sense of purpose in my daily work and finding joy in everyday things," he says.

With his extensive experience, Strom was elected to The Arc's North Carolina Council of Executives and was also elected to lead the Wake County United Way Partner Agency Executives.

In his spare time, Strom loves to run. "I am currently training to run my fifth marathon, the 40th annual Marine Corps Marathon on October 24th in Washington, DC. I have run past marathons here in Raleigh, Knoxville (TN) and the Outer Banks," he adds.

A little known fact about Strom is that he is also an amateur genealogist. "When my dad passed away in 2000, it made me want to trace my roots. So far I have been able to track one line of my Dad's ancestry back to the 1300s," said Strom. "It connected me to relatives to hear their stories and allowed me to appreciate the hard work and sacrifices that family members made to help their children get an education."

IN OTHER NEWS:

NCCDD Community Survey Open Until July 31
As a part of its five-year planning process, NCCDD is seeking input from individuals with disabilities, families and caregivers through a brief community survey, which is open until July 31, 2015. The survey hopes to collect information on disability services and supports in North Carolina. For more information on the survey, visit www.nccdd.org/new5yearplan.

Project SEARCH hosts trainings for instructors
Project SEARCH will host two training programs, Teaching and Coaching for Success and Lean In Project SEARCH, from July 30-31 in Asheville, NC. This training will provide strategies for job coaching, systematic instruction, job placement, teaching employability skills and working collaboratively. The workshops are open to new instructors and those with experience in Project SEARCH. For more details, visit www.nccdd.org/calendar/69.html

Upward to Financial Stability Hosts Webinar on Financial Stability
Join National Disability Institute, The Collaborative and the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities on July 28, 2015 to explore how financial stability programs enhance employment outcomes. This webinar will look at the paradigm shift that employment is one goal, but not the only goal to building economic security for individuals with disabilities. For more details, visit www.nccdd.org/calendar/77.html

Calendar of Events:

Family Group Night: Henderson County
When: July 20
Where: St. Gerard House 620 Oakland St.
Time: 5:30 PM
Contact: http://conta.cc/1gsQpyh

Triangle Access Awards
When: July 21
Where: Museum of Natural Sciences, 121 W. Jones St., Raleigh
Time: 6:30 PM
Contact: [email protected]

Breakfast for Independence
When: July 23
Where: Terraces at Sir Tyler, 1826 Sir Tyler Place, Wilmington
Time: 9 AM
Contact: www.drc-cil.org

The Adaptables Event
When: July 24
Where: Triad Park, 9652 E. Mountain Street, Kernersville
Time: 2 PM
Contact: www.theadaptables.com

Disability Partners Event
When: July 25
Where: Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Avenue, Sylva
Time: 10 AM
Contact: www.disabilitypartners.org

25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration
When: July 26
Where: French Broad River Park, 180 Amboy Road, Asheville
Time: 9 AM
Contact: Kelly Rodriguez or Eva Reynolds 828-298-1977
[email protected]

For more events, visit the NCCDD Calendar at www.nccdd.org