Jean Wolff-Rossi Fund for Participant Involvement
The Jean Wolff-Rossi Fund for Participant Involvement (Rossi Fund) empowers people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their family members with opportunities to actively participate in making decisions that impact them. Through the Rossi Fund, individuals with I/DD and their family members can receive reimbursement for specific expenses for seminars and conferences that are designed to improve their knowledge, networking, and advocacy skills.
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) makes all decisions on the disbursement of funds. Applicants receiving Rossi funds will be asked to complete a Rossi Fund Participant survey to share their knowledge.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the Rossi Fund requires distribution consistent with the Council’s mandate in federal law for commitment to systems change, advocacy building and capacity building. To qualify for funding, you must be a:
- Person with an I/DD, or the parents, family members or individual guardian of a person with an I/DD, or parents of a child at risk of I/DD.
- Resident of North Carolina
NCCDD Council members are not eligible for Rossi Funds.
Reimbursable Expenses
To allow more people with I/DD and families to participate, the Rossi Fund only partially funds the cost of attending an event. Reimbursement is provided for the following types of expenses. Individuals may apply for funds to cover up to three of these expenses on their application:
- Child Care or Respite (up to $15.60/hr., maximum $150/day)
- Personal Assistance Services (up to $15.60/hr., maximum $150/day)
- Conference/seminar registration
- Hotel/Lodging (up to $98)
- Transportation (67 cents/mile – NC State government rate is subject to change)
- Other expenses are at the discretion of the NCCDD
How Funds are Awarded
The awards are limited to $1,000 per year, per person, per household for in-state events, and up to $1,200 per year, per person, per household for out-of-state events. Regardless of how many people apply, the maximum amount available for any single activity or event cannot exceed $3,000 in-state and $3,600 out-of-state. An individual may only receive one Rossi Fund award in a 12-month period.
To allow more families of people with I/DD to attend events, NCCDD may decide to only partially fund the cost of attending an event. Individuals are encouraged to secure additional funding from other sources, such as other state agencies, private foundations, consumer or advocacy organizations, or their employer.
If the total amount of applications received at the same time exceeds the above limits, NCCDD will use the following criteria to fairly award the funds:
- Is this a first time user of the fund?
- Is this a first time attendee for this activity or event?
- Will the attendee enhance ethnic or cultural diversity?
- Is the applicant from rural or other underserved or unserved areas?
- Which applications were received first?
How to Apply
An application must be received by NCCDD 15 days prior to the first day of an in-state event and 30 days prior to first date of an out-of-state event. Applications are funded on a first-come, first-served basis. The NCCDD reviews applications frequently, and the decisions on all applications will be mailed in writing to all applicants.