North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities - NCCDD

Why is NCCDD funding this initiative?

• The unemployment rate for persons with a disability, at 12.6 percent in 2020, increased by 5.3 percentage points from the previous year. Their jobless rate continued to be much higher than the rate for those without a disability.
• Jobs are truly life-changing events for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A job can make a huge difference in their lives and dramatically improve their lifestyle and standard of living over their lifetime.
• Misconceptions can stand as major barriers to job opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What are the major goals and objectives?

• Develop a standardized, core curriculum that will be customized to address the needs of employers in NC about how recruit, hire and retain people with developmental disabilities.
• Increase access to a unique pool of potential employees with a diversity of skills who are eager, reliable and committed to succeeding in a competitive, integrated workforce.
• Provide education and strategies for employers to create inclusive work environments
• Investment by the NCCDD could be a short term initiative beginning in March 2022.

What activities will this initiative set out to do?

• Develop a series of online webinars targeting employers who are interested in learning how to recruit, hire, and retain qualified applicants with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Develop a training curriculum in collaboration with employment focused state agencies (e.g. Chambers of Commerce, DVRS)
• Help employers craft job descriptions that highlight the strengths of individuals with I/DD
• Contractor will maintain a database of employers who have completed the curriculum as a resource to the community of employers who are prepared to appropriately support employees with I/DD.

What has been achieved to date?

• The Working Together campaign in Louisiana has successfully developed a training curriculum and webinar series specific to their state.
• Webinars were well attended and helped inform employers in different areas of their state on the importance and benefits of recruiting and hiring individuals with developmental disabilities.

What long-term changes are expected as a result of this initiative?

• Build on the momentum of Employment First in NC and the success of the Employment and Transition webinars offered by the NCCDD from April until September 2022 

How can I get involved? 

Contact Tamira White, Systems Change Manager, [email protected] for more information on becoming involved in one or more of the above elements.

Who can I contact for questions?

NCCDD: Tamira White, Systems Change Manager, [email protected]

Additional Resources

Click here to download a pdf of the new initiative: Employer Virtual Forum

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Sa