Five North Carolina leaders in disability advocacy were honored at the 2024 Advocacy and Leadership Awards presentation at the November meeting of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) in Cary, NC. The awards celebrate advocates who have advanced opportunities and access for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina.

The four prestigious awards include the Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award, North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award, the Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award and the Helen C. “Holly” Riddle Distinguished Service Award. The awards honor their namesakes and those who continue to carry out important advocacy and community work to enhance the lives and opportunities for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD).

In a press release, Talley Wells, Executive Director of NCCDD, said, “We celebrate the individuals whose steadfast advocacy transformed lives and brought communities together across North Carolina. Our award recipients are committed to supporting individuals in navigating the complex care and service systems in our state, while advocating for essential resources, information, and empowerment. They are creating a future where individuals with I/DD have a voice and the support to thrive in their communities.”

Introducing the 2024 Advocacy & Leadership Award Recipients!

Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award: Sen. Jim Burgin (R-District 12) and DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley

The Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award, a new award from NCCDD, honors individuals whose unwavering commitment has driven transformative systems change for North Carolina’s I/DD community. This new award celebrates the legacy of Kerri Eaker, a parent advocate from Western North Carolina and former Council Chair. Inspired by her son Dakota, Eaker was devoted to guiding families through the complex maze of disability services, healthcare, and support networks.

This year’s honorees include Sen. Jim Burgin (R - District 12) and Secretary Kody Kinsley of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In their tenure, they have worked alongside the I/DD community to expand access to disability services.

From advocating for Medicaid expansion to securing nearly $1 billion in behavioral health funding, they opened doors to essential resources statewide. Through town halls across North Carolina, they listened to families firsthand and forged connections with the I/DD community to create improvements in support and care. Their work reflects Kerri Eaker’s legacy of working together and advocating for inclusive, equitable care for all.

North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award: Cheryl Powell 

The North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding North Carolina self-advocate whose work has improved the quality of life for people with I/DD. Cheryl Powell, an advocate with cerebral palsy, embodies this spirit through her leadership with the Lived Experience Network Speaks (LENS) and the Leadership Alliance for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LAND) organizations.

With a bachelor’s degree in social work, Powell brings both expertise and empathy to her advocacy, empowering others through her insights and dedication to systems change. Powell, who is a former NCCDD Council Member and Vice Chair, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the I/DD community making her a leading self advocate statewide.

Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award: Jessica Aguilar

The Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award honors family members or volunteers advocating for and building a better North Carolina for people with I/DD. Jessica Aguilar, originally from El Salvador, is a mother to twin boys with autism.

She channeled her lived experience into a mission for inclusivity and accessible information for Spanish-speaking families across the state. As a member of the LAND Advisory Council, and co-founder of Poder y Esperanza and the NC Child’s Parent Advisory Council, Aguilar guides state leaders in supporting diverse communities by ensuring families receive clear, timely information in their native language. Aguilar strengthened connections between English and Spanish-speaking communities to create better family engagement and broaden inclusion throughout North Carolina.

Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award: Pam Shipman

The Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award recognizes professionals who have made lasting contributions toward improving opportunities and quality of life for people with I/DD in North Carolina. Pam Shipman’s commitment to managed care has profoundly shaped North Carolina’s disability services landscape. Her advocacy and expertise has played a key role in the General Assembly’s development of the public Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCO) system, now recognized as a model for integrated managed care.

Shipman consistently leveraged her expertise to address critical issues, from provider sustainability to data standardization to Direct Support Professional (DSP) initiatives while empowering families with essential tools for advocacy.

About the Awards

The Advocacy and Leadership Awards, hosted by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), honor the significant contributions made by advocates who are actively working to change attitudes and support greater choices and build a more inclusive North Carolina for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). Each year in late Spring, nominations are accepted for each award. For more information: https://nccdd.org/the-council/advocacy-and-leadership-awards