Philip Woodward, North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities’ (NCCDD) Systems Change Manager, received the 2016 James E. Meekins Award by Raleigh Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities Awards Banquet.

The James E. Meekins Award honors an individual with a disability who is recognized for his/her outstanding achievement in the workplace and for significant contributions that increase public awareness of individuals with disabilities.

In his role at NCCDD, he manages Council-funded initiatives focused on financial asset development. Additionally, he has coordinated community events such as A Day at The Beach: Sun, Sand and Fun for All (Atlantic Beach, NC), Picnic in the Park (Danbury, NC), and ADA: Making it Work (Raleigh, NC) to increase awareness of individuals with disabilities around North Carolina.

“As a person with a disability and an advocate for people with all types of disabilities, it is important to me to bring an awareness of the needs and talents of people with disabilities and bring together a strong network of relationships among agencies, organizations and people with disabilities across our State,” said Woodward, who is Hard of Hearing and knows American Sign Language.

Woodward previously worked as the Access Specialist for the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), where he wrote a new ACCESS North Carolina travel guide printed in 2012; administered North Carolina’s voluntary service animal registration program and handled all service animal inquiries; and administered three American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contracts designed to provide employment opportunities for VR clients.

He also assumed a dual role as a Communications Project Manager for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Communications, where he assisted DVRS, the NC Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) and the NC Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) with their communications and outreach.

He currently serves as a board member for Arts Access and as the Public Information Chair for the Raleigh Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities.