For further information, contact:
Melissa Swartz, NC Council on Developmental Disabilities, 919-850-2901
Roy Wallace, The Wallace Group, 877-832-4548 or roy@wallacegroup.com
STATE COUNCIL SEEKS VIEWS OF CITIZENS
ON POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST
PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Online survey among tools used by North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities to get views of people with disabilities, families, professionals and citizens on merits of support programs
To better serve the needs of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, their families and all citizens, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) is gathering views on policies and programs that will help shape its new five-year plan.
A series of information gathering activities will occur in coming months, including an online survey of attitudes and opinions regarding programs affecting people with disabilities, their families, professionals in the field, and the general public. NCCDD representatives also will be participating in meetings of disability community organizations around the state to gain input on the policies and programs that are most effective and areas where significant change is desirable. Efforts will also be made to reach out to the public directly for comment on issues of importance in providing supports for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
The online survey of attitudes on programs and policies affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is currently underway, and may be accessed by going to the Council website, nccdd.org. The survey will continue through October 15, 2020. Those wishing to contribute their views may also contact the Council by calling toll-free 1-800-357-6916.
The country’s 55 councils on developmental disabilities, supported primarily through the U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities, are required to develop operating plans every five years. The 2011-2016 plan will outline system-wide areas to be addressed and emphasized through policy recommendations, NCCDD-funded grants and educational efforts.
“This outreach effort will allow us to tap the best thinking on disability issues from a range of perspectives, including those of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, professionals in the field, and the public,” said Holly Riddle, executive director of the Council. “Our plan development process is central to advancing the system-wide changes that matter most to the people we represent: people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.”
The Council does not begin the process from scratch, but builds upon its current five-year plan, a document that covers the areas of employment, education, housing, advocacy and leadership, primary health care and transportation, among others.
The current NCCDD five-year plan is available in both English and Spanish on the Council’s website, www.nccdd.org, and all are invited to contribute their thoughts. Those interested in receiving a copy of the five-year plan are urged to contact Melissa Swartz, at 919-850-2901, or by e-mail at melissa.swartz@dhhs.nc.gov.
The 34-member North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities was established in 1973 and seeks to support effective, innovative initiatives that improve the lives and promote community inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Council awards grants for systems change, advocacy and capacity building activities to grass roots advocacy groups, government agencies, disability nonprofits and other community organizations.
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