With a mission to include people in the design and development of services, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) funded an initiative led by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), the North Carolina Stakeholder Engagement Group (NC SEG). The NC SEG brought together a statewide cross-disability group of family members and consumers.

When the proposed changes in Medicaid were discussed, the group identified the following five outcomes a new Medicaid system should provide:
• No waiting lists
• Inclusive living
• Integrated employment
• Asset development
• System accountability

To make these outcomes a reality, the NC SEG members were charged with building support for the outcomes among the local groups they represented. Members sought the endorsement of the Consumer and Family Advisory Committee, provider agencies and other nonprofits. To date, the following organizations have endorsed the outcomes listed above:

• North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Disability Rights North Carolina
• State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee
• NC Statewide Independent Living Council
• North Carolina Substance Use Disorder Federation
• Developmental Disabilities Consortium
• North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking and
Support Organization
• First in Families of North Carolina
• The Power of The Dream

With an energized group of stakeholders and partners throughout the disability community, those most affected by changes in the Medicaid system are being given a voice in the design of the new system. This group is also highly valued by policymakers at North Carolina's Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS) because it is cross-disability and has a diverse representation of individuals from the State.

NC SEG also offered family members and self-advocates the opportunity to become well informed about Medicaid changes, and learn advocacy skills to help families and self advocates when they meet with legislative members.

Read the complete Summer 2015 Catalyst for Change here.