CHRIS' SECTION

We have now celebrated and commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 25th recognizing the great advocacy that went into the law that promotes equal opportunities for people with disabilities. We must also recognize that, while we have made great progress, we still have much to do to realize full inclusion of people in community.

This month, North Carolina experienced the ADA's influence for equal opportunity as the State joined 29 others when Governor Pat McCrory signed the ABLE Act, or Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, into law.

Now people with disabilities and their families have another option to save money and build assets without risking their Medicaid and Social Security benefits. It is a very important step toward success in asset building for people with disabilities.

The ADA gave us plenty to celebrate and advocate for with public events throughout the State with the incredible ADA Legacy Bus Tour in May and June all leading up to the national anniversary on July 26.

To celebrate, NCCDD collaborated with the Alliance of Disability Advocates to promote the Triangle Access Awards and commemorate the ADA's 25th birthday. The awards honored those in the Greater Triangle Area who are doing their part to break down barriers for people with disabilities. DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos spoke about the importance of continuing advocacy and also presented a proclamation from Governor McCrory, which declared July 26 as ADA Day across North Carolina.

The NCCDD continued efforts focused on the next Five Year Plan. During June and July, staff traveled to communities across the State to host listening sessions to learn more about the priorities of individuals, families and other stakeholders. What we learned will help us prioritize our goals and objectives for the next five years. Over the next few months, we will work to develop a draft of the plan and will invite the public to review and provide comment.

To continue our efforts to highlight the great work being done in the disability field, NCCDD will be opening nominations for the Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award and the Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award, which will be presented in November in Raleigh. Please nominate individuals that are deserving of this great honor and visit the website at www.nccdd.org for more details on the awards and nomination criteria.

What an exciting first half of 2015! Together, we will continue promoting self-determination, independence, productivity and inclusion in all areas of community life for everyone living in North Carolina!

TAKING INITIATVE: Roads to Learning and Earning (RTLE) Initiative

The Roads to Learning and Earning (RTLE) initiative funded by NCCDD has developed a web-based resource (rtle.org) for families, educators, administrators, and students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to serve as a blueprint including suggested objectives, activities, and resources that can lead to more positive post-school opportunities in the areas of work, college, community living, self-determination, and assessment of overall strengths, preferences, interests, and needs.

With this web-based resource, outreach and dissemination of information has impacted six North Carolina pilot school districts, at least 420 additional conference and meeting attendees since April 2015, and recorded 386 unique RTLE visitors, with over 320 site visits from NC residents alone. To date, the project has developed a total of 40 unique video interviews with families, students, educators, and community agencies sharing their stories of success on the RTLE YouTube channel.

In Year 3 of this initiative, we will continue working closely with the NC Department of Public Instruction on sustainability and promoting the use of this RTLE web-based resource statewide to NC educators, administrators, families, and students with intellectual disabilities in middle and high schools.

COUNCIL PERSON HIGHLIGHT

Since April, 2012, Ron Reeve of Charlotte, NC, has presided at all NCCDD and Executive Committee meetings in his role as NCCDD Chair. During that time, Reeve proudly points to the Council having raised the expectations and outcomes for individuals with disabilities to be fully included and integrated into our communities - living, working, socializing and being accepted as valued members.

Before retiring, Reeve worked at IBM for 31 years in marketing management and business development and then spent eight years at American Management Systems as a Senior Principal in financial systems consulting. He received his Engineering degree from Cornell University in 1960.

During his time on the council, Reeve says he has learned that people with disabilities "...are extremely diverse in their abilities and needs for support. And, they are still largely segregated and stigmatized. There are many barriers that prevent their full inclusion in our society." Ron and his wife, Janie, have an adult son who is on the autism spectrum.

Never without his sense of humor and always ready with a quip, when asked where his strength in life comes from, Reeve quickly answered, "Faith, Family, Friends and Carbohydrates."

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Membership & Development Ad Hoc meeting
Date:
Sep 15th 2015 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Location:
Raleigh, North Carolina
Information:
http://nccdd.org/the-council/meetings-and-minutes/ad-hoc-committees.html

Effective Communication and the ADA
Date:
Sep 16th 2015 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location:
Online
Information:
http://www.adasoutheast.org/eventscalendar.php?eventid=996

More details on any of these events and upcoming ones can be found at http://www.nccdd.org/calendar/88.html .