by Blake Hodge

NCCDD Advocacy Award Winners 2018 (l to r) Duncan Munn, Ellen Perry and Merlie Jackson.December 26, 2018 (CARRBORO) – A Carrboro resident has been honored with an award because her “work and leadership improved the quality of life for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.”

Ellen Perry was honored with the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Leadership Achievement Award at a ceremony earlier this month in Cary.

Perry is a longtime Carrboro resident and self-advocate who has pushed for more inclusivity, specifically in transportation changes to benefit people with varying disabilities.

Former Carrboro Mayor Ellie Kinnaird joined current Mayor Lydia Lavelle and board member Randee Haven-O’Donnell in a video celebrating Perry’s work as a self-advocate who has improved access for many over the years.

Lavelle said that Perry reached out to her after Lavelle was elected mayor and took Lavelle on a tour of Carrboro to show the different challenges that exist in trying to get around town while living with a disability.

Perry said she served on the state Developmental Disabilities council for six years working on statewide initiatives.

In addition to Perry, the council honored two others for their work in various aspects of advocating for changes to help those in need.

When announcing the awards, the chairperson of the council Alex McArthur said, “Their work to educate and change attitudes throughout the State of North Carolina is outstanding. Thanks to their efforts, the talents of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities will be felt throughout our state.”

You can see the video honoring Perry below:

The original artilce appeared on December 26, 2018 on WCHL-AM Online.