November 8, 2021 (North Carolina) - Four North Carolina leaders in disability advocacy were honored at the annual Advocacy and Leadership Awards presentation during the November meeting of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD).

The Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award honors family members or volunteers who are advocating and building a better North Carolina for people with I/DD. This year the award was given posthumously to Kathleen Dooley Roscana, formerly of Winston-Salem, and John Rittelmeyer, formerly of Cary. 

Dooley Roscana was recognized for her work in connecting people with disabilities to needed resources throughout the state. She worked one-on-one with many families navigating the system of needed supports while also providing avenues of independence for many individuals, including her son Bryan Dooley who has cerebral palsy. Called the “quintessential parent advocate” by Disability Rights North Carolina, they point to Dooley Roscana’s support of many advocates throughout the state, guiding them through the intricacies of North Carolina’s support systems for people with disabilities. Supporters and friends of Dooley Roscana, called her dedicated, focused, and relentless.

Rittelmeyer served as Director of Litigation for Disability Rights NC and was instrumental in transitioning North Carolina’s federally mandated Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities out of state government and into Carolina Legal Assistance where he volunteered as a board member. He also helped bring a class-action lawsuit that delayed the move of patients from Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh to Central Regional Hospital in Butner, NC, until all remaining safety issues at the new hospital were resolved. He was a strong advocate for those with disabilities, including his daughter Martha who preceded him in death

The North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award, which recognizes an outstanding North Carolina self-advocate whose work has improved the quality of life for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD), was awarded to David Taylor, Jr. of Statesville. Taylor, an ADA certified coordinator, has fought for and won changes in his city to help people with I/DD navigate the town with curb cuts for wheelchairs, longer traffic lights for crossing roads, ADA signage and more. He has also worked on making voting more accessible to those with disabilities. He is active in his town’s Kiwanis organization and is a Civitan member, advocating for all people. He authored a story for the “Chicken Soup for Horse Lovers” book. In addition, Taylor spent over six years working with NASCAR.

The Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award recognizes professionals who have made lasting contributions towards improving opportunities, breaking down barriers and promoting increased quality of life for people with I/DD in North Carolina. This year’s recipient is Salisbury, NC’s Andrea Johnston Misenheimer, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions. She led the development of North Carolina’s Innovations Waiver, the first waiver in the state to offer individuals with I/DD and their families the option to self-direct their waiver services. Misenheimer has over 35 years of experience in publicly funded I/DD service systems. Misenheimer serves on the board of the College of Direct Support and is a public author in the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities.

Talley Wells, Executive Director of NCCDD, said, “Our Council is pleased to honor these individuals and their strong commitment to disability rights as human rights.  For each of them, their advocacy and impact grew out of their passion for people with disabilities in North Carolina. They each have helped move our state forward on our journey to assure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) live full and meaningful lives in the community. We applaud their efforts and determination.” 

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About the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities: The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) works to assure that people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (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, independence, productivity and inclusion in all areas of community life. Through its Five-Year Plan, the Council identifies and funds innovative projects and initiatives that promote the goals of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) for all North Carolinians.