Five-Year State Plan
Every five years, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) creates a State Plan. This plan helps guide its work and decide which projects to fund to improve services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina.
To make the plan, NCCDD looks closely at what people with I/DD in North Carolina need by asking for public input to better understand those needs. The plan includes clear goals, steps to reach those goals, and actions to create positive change.
Once the plan is ready, it is approved by the Councilâs 40 members and then by the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL). The plan follows the rules of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act).
Your Input is Needed for Our Next Five Year Plan!
NCCDD is developing its next Five-Year State Plan (2027â2031), and we want to hear from you! Please take our survey and/or attend one of our Listening Sessions. The input period will end on September 30, 2025.
Take a Survey
Share your thoughts on what NCCDD should prioritize by completing a short survey. You can take the survey online, or download a PDF or Word version to print and return by mail or email. Surveys accepted through September 30, 2025.
Survey in English: Online | PDF | Word
Survey in Spanish: Online | PDF | Word
Need the survey in a different format? Contact NCCDD at 984-920-8209 (Office/TTY) or Toll Free at 800-357-6916, or send an email to
Do you have questions? Contact NCCDD at 984-920-8209 (Office/TTY) or Toll Free at 800-357-6916, or send an email to
Attend a Public Input Session
July 23, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Lumberton, NC
Location: Maynor Recreation Center | 1702 West 5th Street, Lumberton, NC, 28358
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/W5WMCZuqFHPrqhyj7
August 4, 2025 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
New Bern, NC
Location: Craven County Community College, 800 College Court in the Naumann Community Room, New Bern, NC 28562
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/ANE7zWuUT8uiq6bNA
August 14, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Raleigh, NC (in-person and online)
Location: 131 Columbus Avenue, Cary, NC, 27518
Registration Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/IUWrHbg4QEeKH-vcehbc_A
August 21, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Boone, NC
Location: Appalachian State Lecture Room LLHS103, Beaver College of Health Sciences Levine Hall
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/zY3t7dQEBWnHZhJj8
August 25, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Mecklenburg, NC
Location: In-Reach Day Support Center, 520 Clanton Road, Suite A, Charlotte, NC, 28217
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/2agvMnF6Mh7EHA8V6
August 26, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Mecklenburg, NC
Location:Â BAYADA Home Health Care, 8801 J M Keynes Dr., Suite 350, Charlotte, NC 28262
Registration Link:Â https://forms.gle/xisYxPwAsbFzayR69
August 27, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Williamston, NC
Location: Martin Community College, 1161 Kehukee Park Road, Building 1, Room 14
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/8bfd1vRgYoRPiXU57
September 2, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Winston-Salem, NC
Location: Central Library Auditorium, 660 W. 5th St., Winston-Salem, NC, 277101
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/PxsKVknb8kv7g1Mu8
Asheville, NC - September 16, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Western MAHEC, 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC, 28803
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/2RzocCnFAzHTspUq9
NCCDD's Self-Advocate Discussion Series - September 17, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Virtual (ZoomGov)
Registration Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscuqsqTIuHKmNsMe66wT4whwK0hPGVAM#/registration
Statewide Virtual Public Input Session - September 30, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual (ZoomGov)
Registration Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/X8j7XU0YSp6_ccjAbZJwZA
Current State Plan (2022-2026)
The current Five-Year State Plan (2022-2026) began on October 1, 2022 and ends on September 30, 2026.
Goal 1
By 2026, increase financial security through asset development for individuals with I/DD.
Increase financial asset development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) so that they and their families have greater opportunities for choice, self-determination, independence and community engagement.
OBJECTIVE A
Increase Employment First within educational institutions, governmental entities, and society at large.
Measurement: More educational institutions, governmental entities, and the larger community will prioritize employment in the general workforce (Employment First) for citizens with disabilities in North Carolina.
OBJECTIVE B
Increase integrated competitive employment and long-term careers for people with I/DD through best and promising practices.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will have integrated, competitive employment and long-term careers through collaboration which will include education, workforce development, employment supports, employer engagement and barrier reduction.
OBJECTIVE C
Increase financial asset development and security by increasing knowledge (financial education/benefits planning), developing financial plans and implementing the planâs goals.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will have a financial plan, leading to greater financial security. Increase financial asset development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) so that they and their families have greater opportunities for choice, self-determination, independence and productivity.
Goal 2
By 2026, increase community living for individuals with I/DD.
Throughout their lifespan transition and lifespan planning, more individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) will access housing, transportation, healthcare, health and wellness; participate in employment and community life; and be respected, valued and supported in their communities.
OBJECTIVE A
Increase access to affordable, accessible, safe, and fully integrated housing that provides choice and flexibility regarding where and with whom they live.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will choose where and with whom to live in their community.
OBJECTIVE B
Increase individuals with I/DDâs access to transportation by identifying and implementing strategies to eliminate barriers through collaboration with transportation agencies, state and local agencies, organizations, and advocacy groups.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will have transportation options to support community living and employment.
OBJECTIVE C
Increase equitable access to home and community-based healthcare, preventative healthcare, wellness opportunities, and address unmet health-related resource needs through individual, family, and stakeholder education and provider capacity building.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will have timely and equitable access to, and continuity of healthcare, preventative health, and wellness opportunities through system improvement and individual, family, and stakeholder education.
OBJECTIVE D
Increase person and family-centered transition education and lifespan planning.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will take part in transition and lifespan planning to address areas of employment, education, community living, and community relationships.
OBJECTIVE D
Increase the knowledge, training, and support for professionals that provide services to people with I/DD.
Measurement: More professionals in the field of I/DD will receive professional supports and training development to support and to advance rights, options, and opportunities, of individuals with I/DD.
Goal 3
By 2026, increase advocacy for individuals with I/DD.
More individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) will lead and sustain self-directed lives through self-advocacy, family advocacy and stakeholder leadership.
OBJECTIVE A
Increase support to a statewide self-advocacy organization(s) through leadership development and coalition participation by:
- establishing or strengthening a program for the direct funding of a state self-advocacy organization(s) led by individuals with I/DD;
- supporting opportunities for individuals with I/DD who are considered leaders to provide leadership training to individuals with I/DD who may become leaders; and,
- participation in cross-disability and culturally diverse leadership coalitions.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD will knowledgeably advocate and take part in decisions that affect their lives, the lives of others and systems that affect those lives.â©
OBJECTIVE B
Increase individual, family, public and systems educational opportunities and engagement to improve the lives of individuals with I/DD and the system; with additional specific targeted disparity emphasis to increase the knowledge and engagement of members of the Hispanic/Latinx communities.
Measurement: More individuals with I/DD and family members will receive training and advocacy opportunities to better advocate on decisions that impact their lives, the lives of others and the system.
OBJECTIVE C
Increase understanding and awareness of policymakers, state leaders, and the larger community of the unmet needs of individuals with I/DD in North Carolina; with additional specific emphasis on DD Council collaboration with the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDS) and the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights System (P&A).
Measurement: The DD Network (DD Council, UCEDD, and P&A) will collaborate to develop and widely disseminate materials that explain critical aspects of the service system in a way that is easily understood and usable by people with developmental disabilities and their families.