Through advocacy, capacity building and systems change, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities improves the opportunities and lives of over 200,000 North Carolinians with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families.
About NCCDD
The Council works with others and provides funding to make sure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families can speak up and get the services they need to live independently and be fully included in their communities.
Our Five-Year State Plan, developed with public input, determines the projects Council will fund to improve services and supports for people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities.
Council Members and staff meet quarterly to review the Council's initiatives and contracts of its Five-Year State Plan. Meetings are open to the public.
NCCDD's 40-member Governor-appointed Council is responsible for carrying out the provisions of the DD Act and making sure that the Council is a member-driven, effective, efficient, and accountable organization.
Each year, NCCDD issues an annual report on the impact of the Councilâs initiatives to improve the lives of North Carolians with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
Meet our dedicated staff along who work closely with Council members, state agencies and non-profits to make a difference and improve the lives of individuals with I/DD.
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) staff bring their experience in human services and service to individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) to accomplish NCCDDâs mission. They work closely with Council members, state agencies and non-profits to make a difference and improve the lives of individuals with I/DD.
Bryan Dooley, NCCDD ChairTalley Wells, NCCDD Executive Director
This was a year of crisis and transformation for the intellectual and/or other developmental disability (I/DD) community in North Carolina. NCCDD has worked hard to implement and improve the systems and programs impacting the I/DD community during this critical time.
Meet the Need NC is a new initiative funded by NCCDD that aims to recognize and respond to the unmet needs of individuals with I/DD. The initiative brought diverse stakeholders together to develop a collective impact strategy to address two primary crises: the 15,000-person waiting list for the Innovations Waivers and the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce shortage. Read more from Bryan Dooley and Talley Wells here.
NCCDD Celebrates Advocates and Leaders
NCCDD honors the significant contributions made by advocates who are actively working to change attitudes and support greater choices for a more inclusive North Carolina. The Council established its Advocacy and Leadership Awards to honor leaders in the disability community who help build a better North Carolina for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The 2020 Hefner Memorial award was presented posthumously to Deborah Wooolard and Bill Donohue of Winston-Salem, NC and the Riddle Distinguished Service award was presented to Betsy MacMichael of Durham, NC. The Leadership Award was presented to Suvya Carroll of Durham, NC. Watch the videos below to learn more about the 2020 recipients.
Council Kicks Off New Five-Year State Plan (2022-2026)
NCCDDâs 2022-2026 Five-Year State Plan is advancing the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) through its pillars of self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion for individuals with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. The Council kicked off its new Five-Year State Plan priorities based on information from national and state data, stakeholder input and directly from the I/DD community.The new planâs goals, to be achieved by 2026, include: 1) Increase financial security through asset development for individuals with I/DD; 2) Increase community living for individuals with I/DD; and, 3) Increase advocacy for individuals with I/DD. Read more about the new Five-Year State Plan here.
Individuals with I/DD in North Carolina are experiencing two crises of unmet needs. The first crisis is North Carolinaâs waiting list of over 15,000 people who need Home and Community Based Services through the Innovations Waiver. The second crisis is the unmet needs of individuals who qualify for services but are not receiving them due to a workforce shortage of direct support professionals.
To help address these two crises, NCCDD has funded a four-year grant for the Mental Health Transformation Alliance (MHTA) to develop and carry out a coordinated approach to positively impact the Medicaid Innovations Waiver waiting list in North Carolina. The Leadership Alliance of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LAND), a program of MHTA, is leading the groundbreaking initiative.
Taking Initiative
Through its Five-Year State Plan, NCCDD promotes advocacy development, community living and financial asset development so people with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) have options regarding work, housing, friendships, community activities and other personally defined outcomes. The statewide initiatives are detailed in the Five-Year State Plan (2022-2026) and supported by NCCDD and its collaborative partners. Read more about the new and current initiatives supported by NCCDD.
NCCDD Meets the Community
With the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, NCCDD began offering a hybrid approach for people to attend events in person or virtually throughout the state of North Carolina. Boone and Greenville area residents gathered for story sharing events while others attended online. Mini-grants given by NCCDD to organizations from Asheville to Davidson saw a variety of activities including a movie night showing âPeanut Butter Falconâ, a booth at the farmerâs market providing hands-on employment experiences, and training for individuals working with people with disabilities. Read more about NCCDD meeting the community here.
Thanks to our Council Members, Partners and Staff
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), a 40-member body appointed by the Governor, is made up of:
People with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities (I/DD)
Parent/Family member/Guardian
Representatives of State agencies
State legislators
Representatives from Disability Rights NC and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Provider and Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organization representatives
Š NCCDD 2021 Annual Report ⢠North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities ⢠820 South Boylan Avenue ⢠Raleigh, NC 27603 919-527-6500 (voice/tdd) ⢠800-357-6916 (voice/tdd) ⢠This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bryan Dooley, Chairperson (left); Talley Wells, Executive Director (right)Message from NCCDD Council Chair and the Executive Director
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) made FY 2023 a year of advocacy! This year, the Council focused on the waiting list and the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce shortage. We made significant progress with the state increasing funding for DSP rates and launching 1915(i) Medicaid, which will provide new community living supports and employment services. At the same time, there are still thousands of people in our community who are without services due to the waiting list and the workforce shortage. Read more from Bryan Dooley and Talley Wells
Awards Recognize Influential Advocates and Leaders
Each year, NCCDD honors the significant contributions made by advocates who are actively working to change attitudes and support greater choices for a more inclusive North Carolina. The Council established its Advocacy and Leadership Awards to recognize leaders in the I/DD community who help build a better North Carolina for all people with I/DD. The award recipients for 2022 were:
Kerri Eaker, Asheville, NC Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award
Matt Herr, Raleigh, NC Helen C. âHollyâ Riddle Distinguished Service Award
R.V. Kuser, Winston-Salem, NC North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award
Learn more about the 2022 recipients by watching the videos below.
Statewide Initiatives Make a Difference
This was the second year of NCCDDâs 2022-2026 Five-Year State Plan. The State Plan aims to advance the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) through its requirements of self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion for individuals with intellectual I/DD and their families. The planâs goals, to be achieved by 2026, include: 1) Increase financial security through asset development; 2) Increase community living; and, 3) Increase advocacy.
Throughout the year, NCCDD's members and staff have been out and about across the State to learn more about and advocate for the I/DD community.
For example, in March, members and staff met with North Carolina General Assembly legislators to educate them about issues that are important to the I/DD community.
And in August, over 300 people attended a statewide hybrid Town Hall Meeting held by NCCDD to discuss issues impacting people with I/DD living in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), a 40-member body appointed by the Governor, is made up of:
People with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities (I/DD)
Parent/Family member/Guardian
Representatives of State agencies
State legislators
Representatives from Disability Rights NC and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Provider and Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organization representatives (LME/MCO)
The Council represents all of North Carolina and is responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) and making sure that the Council is a member-driven, effective, efficient, and accountable organization. Serving up to two four-year terms, the membership is composed of 60 percent of people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) or family members, and the remainder with representatives from state agencies, nonprofit and professional organizations. The Council guides all initiatives and contracts. See our current list of Council Members.
Council Member Spotlight: Brendon Hildreth
Even before being appointed to the Council, Brendon Hildreth has been an impactful advocate across the state by finding success through opportunities. Read about Brendon's journey to employment.
Council Staff
NCCDDâs staff brings deep experience in human services and the field of I/DD. They work closely with Council members, state agencies and nonprofits to make a difference on individual, local, state and national levels to help better the lives of communities throughout North Carolina. Meet NCCDD's Staff.
NC DD Network Partners
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD): The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities is a comprehensive program for services, research and training relevant to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Disability Rights North Carolina: Disability Rights NC is a nonprofit organization whose team of attorneys, advocates, paralegals and support staff provide advocacy and legal services for people with disabilities across North Carolina. It is the state's federally mandated protection and advocacy system.
Individuals with I/DD in North Carolina are experiencing two crises of unmet needs. The first crisis is North Carolinaâs waiting list of over 15,000 people who need Home and Community Based Services through the Innovations Waiver. The second crisis is the unmet needs of individuals who qualify for services but are not receiving them due to a workforce shortage of direct support professionals. 
