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.

NCCDD Chair Kerri Eaker and NCCDD Executive Director Talley WellsThe 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). In Community Living, NCCDD supported systems change work in natural supports, supported living, medical health homes, and alternatives to guardianship. In Financial Asset Development, NCCDD supported trainings on NC ABLE and financial literacy. It also supported work to increase employment. In Advocacy, NCCDD supported critical initiatives to advance self-advocacy and leadership.

Three new initiatives were started in July 2020 to support successful reentry of individuals with I/DD from jails and prisons; and increase and improve benefits counseling.

In 2020, NCCDD also began preparing for its next Five-Year State Plan. It held virtual listening sessions for each region of the state, the LatinX community, young advocates and self-advocates. In each of the listening sessions, we received robust attendance with lots of ideas and feedback to shape the upcoming plan.

As the pandemic reached North Carolina, NCCDD developed a COVID-19 resource section to provide comprehensive information for the I/DD community. It was updated almost daily with new information and self-advocacy tools to make sure people had the information they needed. NCCDD also hosted webinars on telehealth and future planning. To support the community, NCCDD created an Emergency COVID-19 Relief Fund, which funded 37 community organizations to assist in filling gaps in services or activities that people with I/DD were experiencing due to the pandemic.

In public policy, NCCDD and its partners provided feedback and analysis for Medicaid Transformation, which is a significant change into managed care that will impact I/DD services and the I/DD community. The Council also worked with the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) and the I/DD community on changes to the Innovations Waiver, video health/telehealth and the many other critical ways COVID-19 impacted individuals with disabilities across the state.

Amidst all of this, we also had a reason to honor advocates and celebrate. NCCDD helped to lead an Americans with Disabilities Act 30th anniversary celebration for the state. We collected and shared stories from over 30 North Carolina individuals with disabilities on the impact the ADA has made in their lives. Additionally, NCCDD began supporting state leaders and stakeholders on the creation of a new Olmstead Plan.

The pandemic showed the critical importance of the systems change work that NCCDD and its partners do. While everyone has been impacted by COVID-19, the disability community, NC DHHS, NCCDD and countless others worked tirelessly to respond to and improve the system in ways that will have a positive impact for years to come.

Kerri Eaker, NCCDD Chair
Talley Wells, NCCDD Executive Director