June 2025 Highlights and Hot Topics
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- Message from the Executive Director
- Public Policy Update (as of 6/23/25)
- Public Input for NCCDD’s Five-Year Plan Extended to September 30th
- The Council Presents: Conversations for Change
- July Self-Advocate Discussion Series: 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Boletín en español
- Newsletter in Accessible Audio
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Message from the Executive Director
Talley Wells, Executive Director, GCDD
An Unfathomable Tragedy in Minnesota
The horrible shootings in Minnesota in June impacted one of the most extraordinary families of disability rights advocates in our country. Senator John Hoffman had been the Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disability, which is that state’s DD Council.
While much of the focus and our sympathies have rightly been on the tragic assassination of Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, we must also provide support and attention to Senator John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, and their daughter Hope. John and Yvette were both seriously wounded in the shootings. Hope was home with them and called 911 to get them the quick medical attention they needed. Yvette is now out of the hospital, but at last check Senator Hoffman was still going through additional surgeries.
Hope is a disability rights advocate. She has done considerable advocacy to protect Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She uses social media to advocate for disability rights.
Senator Hoffman has continuously championed independence, inclusion, and dignity for people with developmental disabilities through systemic reform. He did this in the Minnesota Senate, in his public service and private sector jobs, and through his leadership of the Minnesota DD Council.
This is a challenging time for all of us across the country. Many of us have strong political feelings and concerns. Many in our own families have differences of opinion. What makes us a great nation is that we can advocate, debate, and vote differently while continuing to support one another as neighbors, families, and citizens.
This is a critical time in our country’s history. We must speak up and speak out. Critical decisions are being made at the federal, state, and local level. But we can do this without violence and harm to our fellow citizens.
Please keep the Hoffman and Hortman families in your thoughts and prayers. Please also continue to do the critical work that John, Yvette, and Hope Hoffman have been doing for all of us.
Talley Wells, NCCDD Executive Director
Public Policy Update (as of 6/23/25)
Read a summary of recent public policy updates that may be of interest to North Carolinians with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD). These updates are current as of June 23, 2025.
STATE
Budget
The House budget overall spending is the same as the Senate’s: $32.6 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year and $33.2 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year. As we know, neither of these budgets included Innovations or TBI slots nor DSP wage increases. There are potential proposed cuts to single stream funding to the MCOs, as well as the elimination of the Healthy Opportunities Program. The proposed cuts to the Governor’s Task Force could affect the successful re-entry program for people with I/DD. Lack of additional funding for Vocational Rehabilitation affects this agency’s ability to pull down needed federal dollars.
While the total spending is the same in the House and Senate proposed budgets, there are several areas of difference between the two budgets. These areas include tax policy and differences in state employee and teacher salaries. Also, the Senate budget proposal includes a Division of Value, Accountability and Efficiency (DAVE) program to be helmed by State Auditor Dave Boliek which is similar to DOGE at the federal level. The House budget does not include this.
In addition, the state is waiting on determining the impact of the federal budget on Medicaid and other programs such as SNAP (food stamps).
A Conference Committee has been appointed to iron out differences, but the House and Senate seem to be far apart in negotiations. It will likely be this Fall before we have a budget.
Bills
Healthcare Workforce Reforms (HB67 - previously HB562 Community College Behavioral Health Workforce Act): Includes language that would change qualification requirements for positions related to I/DD services. Changes to requirements for associate professionals and qualified professionals:
- Associate Professional may be a graduate of a community college with an associate degree in a human services field with less than two years of experience with the population served.
- Qualified Professional (QP) may be a graduate of a community college with an associate degree in a human services field and has two years of supervised mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services experience with the population served.
A QP is currently required to have a four-year degree. This would allow them to have an associate degree in human services from a community college.
Related to this legislation, the NC Community Colleges are partnering with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) to develop apprenticeships for DSPs and QPs and create more of a career path in this area of employment.
Driver’s License Designation/Autism (HB21): This bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop a designation of autism on licenses, upon request. This is a voluntary program for people who want to inform officers that they have autism. It also includes training for officers. It passed the House and is in the Senate rules committee.
Since the writing of this policy update, the Senate proposed a mini-budget that would fund the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, you can find more about that here.
FEDERAL
President's Budget
On May 30, 2025, the President released his budget, which proposes massive cuts to government departments and agencies. The budget proposes a $31.3 billion cut to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a $12 billion cut for federal education programs, including a 36% cut to the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education.
The President’s budget explicitly proposes the elimination of the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) as they have been categorized as DEI. In North Carolina, the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities serves as our UCEDD. The proposed budget also cuts $1.8 billion for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The President's budget serves as a roadmap for Congress for how the Administration wants Congress to fund the government. Congress does not have to follow the recommendations of the Administration. There is still an opportunity to fight for the programs we care about.
Federal Budget
The House passed a budget bill which would be disastrous for people with disabilities and their families, older adults, and rural communities. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill would increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion over a decade and that sixteen million people could lose health insurance if that bill becomes law. In North Carolina it is estimated that over 250,000 people would become uninsured.
The proposed changes to Medicaid include work requirements, co-pays, and increasing re-certification of eligibility to twice a year. These all put administrative burdens on individuals and on the state and local government. It will be an extra cost to states to set up tracking systems to implement these requirements. There are also potential reductions to the federal match that states receive. In NC, a change in match sets off a ‘trigger law’ that would end Medicaid expansion.
There are proposed reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which provides food to low-income citizens. The proposed budget would shift costs to states from 100% federal to 75% federal which would require NC to fund $700 million. The Senate has suggested less of a cut but would still leave NC with over $300 million to make up for the loss. It is likely that many people will lose access to food if these cuts stand.
Overall, the House bill would require that states change how they finance their programs and states will inevitably be forced to reduce benefits. People will lose health care and other services.
The Senate is working on their version of the budget bill with Senate committees submitting revisions to the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, shoring up funding for big-ticket items while making further changes to Medicaid, SNAP, student loan options and more.
While the House first proposed the new Medicaid work requirement, it exempted parents with dependents. The Senate’s version broadens the requirement to include parents of children older than 14, as part of their effort to combat waste in the program and push personal responsibility.
Already, the Republicans had proposed expanding work requirements in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) to include older Americans up to age 64 and parents of school-age children older than 10. The House had imposed the requirement on parents of children older than 7. People would need to work 80 hours a month or be engaged in a community service program to qualify.
The Senate also keeps in place the House’s proposed new $35-per-service co-pay imposed on some Medicaid patients who earn more than the poverty line, which is about $32,000 a year for a family of four, with exceptions for some primary, prenatal, pediatric and emergency room care.
The House and Senate will have to come to an agreement on a final budget. There is pressure from the President to have a final budget for signature by July 1, 2025.
Join NCCDD for its next Monthly Policy Education Meeting
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) holds monthly meetings to discuss current policy issues that impact people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD). NCCDD supports policies that encourage the integration between people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD), those who support them, and the community. NCCDD provides this information to educate and inform. We do not lobby on specific legislation.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 17th. Join the meeting here: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdu-uqD8oHpxzFX9FiES_lSmk_8OP4r4#/registration
Public Input for NCCDD’s Five-Year Plan Extended to September 30th
Want to help shape the future for people with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina? The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) is planning its priorities for the next five years — and your voice matters! Take a survey to let NCCDD know what’s important to you and the I/DD community. The survey deadline has been extended to September 30, 2025.
Every five years, NCCDD makes a plan to decide how it will support people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina. The next plan is for the years 2027 to 2031. Right now, NCCDD is asking the public to share their ideas to help create the plan.
Why Take the Survey?
- Community feedback helps NCCDD learn what people with I/DD in North Carolina need the most and what challenges they face.
- When NCCDD knows what’s important to people, it can make better goals that truly matter.
- Good goals help NCCDD choose better ways to spend money and support programs that make a real difference.
If you’re a person with I/DD, a family member, caregiver, or someone who works in the field, your feedback is important! You can take the survey online, or download a PDF or Word document to complete the survey and send it to NCCDD.
The survey is available in English and Spanish in online, Word, and PDF formats. Different formats are available on request.
The Council Presents: Conversations for Change
In June, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) launched a new webinar series called “The Council Presents: Conversations for Change.” This monthly gathering is designed to provide valuable information, resources, and discussions on intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Sessions are held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm., with sessions lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Each will feature expert insights, community updates, and opportunities for engagement with community stakeholders, professionals, and individuals with I/DD. Whether you are a self-advocate, family member, service provider, or policymaker, these sessions are designed to keep you informed and connected.
The first session was held on June 26, 2025. NCCDD, in collaboration with Work Together NC, provided information on a new Employment Toolkit for people with I/DD. This free and easy-to-use toolkit helps people with I/DD explore job options, get ready for work, and find inclusive employment opportunities in North Carolina.
Join us for the next session on July 24, 2025, where we will learn about North Carolina DB101 (Disability Benefits 101) with the NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD). Having the right information helps people with disabilities make informed choices about earning income from work. North Carolina's new DB101 is a user-friendly, online resource that helps people with disabilities and service providers better understand how work and benefits can go together.
Register today at https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/3IH21vtqTE2R5A5GeI3hXw#/registration.
Please contact NCCDD at NCCDDAccessibilityTeam@dhhs.nc.gov or 984.920.8201 at least four weeks prior to an event to request accessibility supports (e.g., Spanish interpretation) or disability accommodations.
July Self-Advocate Discussion Series: 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. Throughout the year and on the ADA Anniversary (July 26), the ADA National Network recognizes this landmark event and the important work to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities. Join us on July 16th at 1p.m. to celebrate, share, and learn!
The Self-Advocate Discussion Series is hosted by NCCDD every third Wednesday of the month. The series aims to keep North Carolina self-advocates informed and engaged in discussion on topics of social and systems change. Series sessions are a time to connect with others with lived experience, share common interests, develop impact strategies for telling personal stories, and stay connected with the NCCDD community. Learn more about the webinar series.
Celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, and it remains this nation’s strongest measure protecting the rights of people with disabilities.
The law bans discrimination based on disability and promises equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disability. The ADA guarantees the right to fully participate in all aspects of society – and we’re profoundly thankful for it.
Disability is one of many natural characteristics of being human. Some are born with disabilities; others acquire disabilities through accidents, illness, or the aging process. Many folks who do not presently have a disability will have one in the future (especially if we live long enough). Although there have been far-reaching improvements in access and accommodations for people with disabilities in the last 35 years, there is still a lot of work to be done.
Today more than one in four adults (28.7%) in the United States have some type of disability – that’s more than 44 million people. In 2024, people with a disability were more than twice as likely to be unemployed than people without a disability. And workers with a disability were nearly twice as likely to work part time as workers with no disability. A 2019 report found that full-time year-round U.S. workers with disabilities earned 87 cents for every dollar earned by those without disabilities. They also face poorer health outcomes and barriers in access to healthcare.
As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the ADA, let’s reflect on what the law means for the one in four Americans living with a disability and recommit to the work that still needs to be done to ensure full inclusion and participation for all people with disabilities.
10 Ways You Can Celebrate the ADA Anniversary
- Share what the ADA means to you on social media using hashtags like #ADA35, #ThanksToTheADA, #WhatTheADAMeansToMe
- Use alt-text for images and captions for videos so everyone can access your message
- In your posts, please tag @NCCouncilonDD on Facebokk and @NCDHHS on Facebook and X
- Host or attend an event – and let us know about it by filling out this brief survey.
- Learn about the ADA by signing up for a webinar on the history of the ADA; reading an overview of the ADA (Spanish); diving into disability statistics (English); and learning the difference between Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals (Spanish).
- Explore how technology can help us connect with people, activities, and our communities by attending a virtual AT4All session – check out their page for details.
- Attend a training with the ADA National Network and review your website for accessibility using a free tool like the Accessibility Checker.
- Talk to your kids about the ADA - read a guide for kids grade 5 and up.
- Educate your networks by sharing short videos about the ADA:
- Support artists with disabilities; view media created by and with people with disabilities, like Accessing Democracy, Crip Camp, CODA, Demystifying Disability, and Disability Visibility.
- Learn how the ADA protects people with “invisible” disabilities; read a book by an author with a disability, or organize a watch party featuring Judy Heumann and other disability advocates.
- Locate your regional ADA Center and tune in to ADA Live! podcast for a new episode each month
Aspectos distacados y temas de interes de junio de 2025 (muy pronto)
