The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) is pleased to announce funding for an initiative in advocacy and leadership development. Organizations are invited to respond to the Request for Application (RFA) described in this document.
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities, authorized under Public Law 106-402, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), is one of 55 entities of its type in the United States and territories. The NCCDD is an independent agency located in the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Its activities are governed by a 34-member body, appointed by the governor and comprised of at least 60 percent people with developmental disabilities and their families. Other members include legislators and policymakers representing various agencies and organizations having a vested interest in persons with developmental disabilities. The Council’s quarterly meetings are open to the public.
The mission of the NCCDD is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to culturally competent services, supports and other assistance and opportunities that promote interdependence, contribution, self-determination and inclusion in the community. The NCCDD achieves this mission by promoting advocacy, leadership, capacity building and systems-change activities. It also serves in an advisory capacity, under state law, to the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
The NCCDD makes funds available to fulfill its mission in a variety of areas in accordance with the DD Act and the Council’s Five-year Plan. Funding is made available primarily through competitive bids or RFAs. A general description of the RFA is included in this document. The complete RFA package is available on the NCCDD web site (www.nccdd.org) or may be requested by mail. Please complete and submit the Notification of Intent to Apply, located on the back page of this publication, if your organization intends to apply.
“It’s my life; it’s your job,” is a remark often heard in disability communities when the subject is advocacy for change in public policy. Federal, state and local policy makers increasingly do bring people with disabilities to the table to get their input. Still, there remains an over-riding sense among the grassroots that there is a lack of opportunity for on-going, meaningful input in the policy making process, particularly around the quality of life issues given the highest priority by people with disabilities themselves. North Carolinians with disabilities have expressed the need for an organized approach to voicing common concerns and taking action. While many grassroots groups and individual advocates are active in their local communities and regions, they are not linked to each other; have limited opportunities to share information; and are often not aware of initiatives close to home, much less those at the state or national level. There is a need for a disability community-directed, statewide initiative with the leadership, organization and support necessary to organize together for change.
In 2002, the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) funded the NC Disability Action Network (NC DAN) as an internal or “in-house” initiative to respond to the needs outlined above. Since that time, NC DAN has supported the grassroots efforts of North Carolinians with disabilities in the following ways:
(Coalition Building) established a coalition of more than 800 individuals in 78 North Carolina counties and collaborated with more than 20 grassroots organizations led by people with disabilities;
(Communication) developed the beginnings of an accessible communication system to disseminate information from and about grassroots efforts;
(Information & Education) sponsored, co-sponsored, advertised and linked individuals to opportunities that increased knowledge of disability issues and enhanced advocacy skills to address those issues;
(Community Action) Linked individuals with disabilities to local or state committees, boards, task forces or advisory groups / recruited NC DAN members to attend local and statewide community forums and public policy meetings / supported rallies and other efforts to promote specific legislative issues; and
(Collaboration) developed collaborative efforts with local and statewide grassroots groups and initiatives led by people with disabilities to carry out the activities listed above.
While NC DAN has successfully supported grassroots efforts, its members desire to continue building a coalition firmly rooted in the grassroots disability community. Further, the vast majority of NCCDD-funded initiatives are time-limited. In light of the Council’s funding policy and our long-standing commitment to participant direction, the NCCDD fully supports the initiative in its desire to become an independent, disability community-directed organization. To this end, the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities is releasing funds to assist a grassroots organization in housing and managing the NC DAN initiative.
According to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 2000, section 102(8), “the term 'developmental disability' means a severe, chronic disability of an individual 5 years of age or older that:
Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;
Is manifested before the individual attains age 22;
Is likely to continue indefinitely;
Results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity;
Self-care;
Receptive and expressive language;
Learning;
Mobility;
Self-direction;
Capacity for independent living; and
Economic self-sufficiency.
Reflects the individual's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, supports, or other assistance that is of lifelong or extended duration and is individually planned and coordinated, except that such term, when applied to infants and young children means individuals from birth to age 5, inclusive, who have substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high probability of resulting in developmental disabilities if services are not provided.”
The intent of the NC Disability Action Network (NC DAN) is to bring members of the disability community together to claim their power as citizens and take ACTION as a unified force on issues of local, state and national concern for North Carolinians with disabilities.
Using effective grassroots organizing principles and leadership from people with disabilities, the objectives of this initiative are:
1) identify, engage and form cross-disability coalitions of individuals and grassroots organizations led by people with disabilities;
2) develop an accessible, comprehensive communication system to link individuals and efforts;
3) use collaborative efforts and creative strategies to educate and inform individuals about issues and successful advocacy approaches; and
4) mobilize people with disabilities across the state to support, organize and take action around issues of common concern that result in tangible, positive change.
The NCCDD seeks to fund the continuation and expansion of these NC Disability Action Network (NC DAN) objectives.
NC DAN is a cross-disability initiative that involves a statewide network made up of the following:
Adults of all ages and teens, regardless of disability type. This includes the required target population for NCCDD’s work, people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (ID/DD; see definition), additionally, it includes, but is not limited to, individuals with, physical, sensory, mental health, speech and systemic disabilities;
Local and statewide grassroots organizations led by people with disabilities across NC;
Family, friends and allies. NC DAN is majority-led and directed by people with disabilities, but includes the involvement of family, friends and allies.
This fund release seeks to engage and mobilize people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities, along with people who have other types of disabilities and those who share their concerns.
In general, the Council seeks investment opportunities that focus on or include the participation of minority groups such as African-Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Hmong and others. The NCCDD also expresses a strong
interest in endeavors that are inclusive of older adults and youth, ages 16 years and up, with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
As suggested by current NC DAN members, listed below are strategies to consider when developing a plan to meet the objectives of this initiative. NOTE: Non-negotiable strategies--those that must be discussed in the application--are identified with an asterisk.
Develop policies and practices that assure that people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities are included in all aspects of leadership and activity of NC DAN.*
Maintain NC DAN name and identity*
Outreach to persons of all ages, including youth and older adults
Collaboration with organizations that are not disability specific, but have a vested interest in issues important to the disability community (for example: the AARP and the Jaycees).
Develop and maintain an effective, accessible, statewide communication system that includes but is not limited to the following features:
Web site that will be accessible to all forms of assistive technology, such as screen reader software, text enlargement, etc. The web site should also include features that make it accessible to persons with intellectual disabilities and to persons with disabilities who use older/slower computer equipment with dial-up internet connections.*
Information dissemination that does not rely solely on email, but includes such strategies as mailed information, phone trees, reading radio, etc., to reach people who do not have access to computers.
Provide written information in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, audio cassette, disk, etc.*
Incorporates use of media to disseminate information
At meetings and trainings, assure effective communication through the use of interpreters, assistive listening and other auxiliary aids as needed. In addition, only conduct meetings in accessible locations.*
Dedicate at least a 75% time equivalent staff position to coordinate and monitor NC DAN activities.
Recruit/hire a person with a disability to serve as the NC DAN Project Coordinator.
Develop an advisory committee, specific to NC DAN; include diverse representation from the broader disability community; ensure that the advisory understands and is committed to its role.*
Other considerations for the advisory committee include:
Include some members of the existing NC DAN advisory on the new advisory.
Provide the advisory with a defined structure with written job descriptions for their roles.*
Develop and ensure use of procedures to provide accommodations/supports to assist advisory members in carrying out assignments, and to replace advisory members who are unable to fulfill their assignments and roles.*
Work with NC DAN advisory and participants to set measurable, yearly goals and outcomes aimed at achieving tangible change for people with disabilities in local communities and in the state.*
Maximize resources by engaging in collaborative efforts with existing grassroots groups, disability-related organizations and other advocacy initiatives.
Define a clear structure for the initiative, including a clear delineation of NC DAN’s relationship to the home organization.*
Incorporate approaches that offer all NC DAN members opportunities to work on an issue
Access peer-to-peer consultation from the national, disability community experts
The NCCDD welcomes applications from organizations with the following qualifications:
Track record of planning and implementing successful, grassroots initiatives
Experience in working collaboratively with a variety of public and private agencies and organizations
Actively involves people with disabilities in all substantive, concrete aspects of project development, management and implementation
Grassroots organizations run by people with disabilities, or grassroots organizations with a proven track record of community organizing.
Capacity to fiscally manage this project
Proven track record and knowledge of disability issues
Or collaboration of more than one entity that together meet the qualifications listed above.
Council funding is time limited. Consequently, applicant agencies must begin, in the application, an exploration of strategies to help ensure long-term sustainability. Examples of such strategies include, but are not limited to, identifying a permanent, administrative “home” for the supports and service(s) developed through the project; securing alternate sources of income; and making necessary public policy changes.
To carry out the NC DAN initiative, the NCCDD will make available one grant in the amount up to $ 80,000 beginning July 1, 2007.
The quality of the grants and the discretion of the NCCDD will determine the final amount of the award. Grants are initially funded for one year with the option for renewal for two additional years, not to exceed 36 months. Declining Council/federal dollar participation will occur in years two and three.
The Council will provide start-up technical assistance during year-one of the project. Consultation and/or technical assistance from regional/national sources will be made available during years two and three.
Unless otherwise indicated in specific RFAs, all grant awards will be subject to a formula requiring non-federal matching funds from the applicant agency based on the poverty or non-poverty status of the county in which the applicant is headquartered. Also, unless otherwise stated in the RFAs, all grants designed to exceed one year in duration will be subject to declining federal/Council participation based on the poverty or non-poverty status of the county in which the applicant is headquartered. Please refer to the Council's grant application for a list of poverty counties and details on the declining federal/Council participation. All applications must reflect the active participation of people with developmental disabilities and their families in the development and implementation of grants. In addition, preference will be given to those applications demonstrating responsiveness to the beliefs, values, interpersonal styles, attitudes and cultural, ethnic, linguistic or other traits enhancing maximum participation of and benefit to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
This publication is produced by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities, established by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (PL 106-402) to promote interdependence, contribution, self-determination, integration and inclusion into the community for citizens with developmental disabilities. The NC Department of Health and Human Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
Robert J. Rickelman, Ph.D.
Chairman
Holly Riddle, J.D., M.Ed.
Executive Director
I am interested in submitting an application for:
_____ NC Disabilities Action Network Initiation
_ Send grant application packet
_ I will download the grant application packet from the web site: www.nccdd.org
All applicants are strongly urged to attend a “Bidders’ Workshop” where application details, including federal and program outcomes reporting, will be discussed. Organizations returning this form will be notified of dates and locations. Dates and locations will also be announced on the NCCDD web site.
Name(s):
Organization:
Address:
City/State/Zip Code:
Telephone Number:
FAX #:
E-mail Address:
First, please mail or fax this form by Jan 25, 2007.
Next, complete the grant application. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm, Monday, April 2, 2007 to the NCCDD office.
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
3801 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 250
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 420-7901 voice/TDD
(919) 420-7917 fax
www.nccdd.org