Kay McMillan was recently appointed to the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) by Governor Roy Cooper.  She is no stranger to the Council, however, as she served as the creative director for the Council’s One Workforce Lookbook, which showcases the stories of individuals across the state engaged in their chosen fields of employment. “I guess you could say I fell in love with the work of the Council from that point. I want to be able to create change for individuals with disabilities and I saw joining the Council as another way that I could make positive change for people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families,” McMillan said.

McMillan, who has cerebral palsy, is the co-founder of a small nonprofit, Youth LEAD NC, that equips young people with disabilities in North Carolina with the skills they need to lead full and independent lives. She serves as the board chair and is currently leading the organization’s program called “Zooming with the North Carolina Youth Leadership Forum”, which is an online web series that focuses on topics such as disability history, leadership, and self-advocacy.

Reviewing the Council’s current initiatives, McMillan points out Rethinking Guardianship as very innovative. “I believe it is crucial that individuals living with I/DD have the self-determination to make decisions regarding their own lives as much as possible. Any initiative that promotes the autonomy of people with disabilities and encourages collaborative decision-making is a step in the right direction to make for a more inclusive society,” she said.

As for the future of NCCDD, McMillan said, “The Council must get young people with disabilities involved in their work. Youth are the next generation of leaders and must have the skills and the experience to continue the fight to break down barriers for those living with disabilities.”

A graduate of NC State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and minors in Accounting and Nonprofit Studies, McMillan is in the process of moving to Cary, NC. In her spare time, she enjoys playing boccia ball every Sunday.