The NC Council on Developmental Disabilities honored two lawmakers and three disability advocates at its annual awards reception.

Raleigh, NC (November 15, 2024) – Five North Carolina leaders in disability advocacy were honored at the 2024 Advocacy and Leadership Awards presentation at the November meeting of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) in Cary, NC. The awards celebrate advocates who have advanced opportunities and access for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina.

This year, five honorees were recognized at the annual reception. NCCDD also unveiled a new award, the Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award, to honor individuals whose unwavering commitment have driven transformative systems change for North Carolina’s I/DD community.

This new award celebrates the legacy of Kerri Eaker, a parent advocate from Western North Carolina and former Council Chair. Inspired by her son Dakota, Eaker was devoted to guiding families through the complex maze of disability services, healthcare, and support networks.

The first honorees of the Mountain Mover Award include Senator Jim Burgin (R - District 12) and Secretary Kody Kinsley of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In their tenure, they have worked alongside the I/DD community to expand access to disability services.

From advocating for Medicaid expansion, securing nearly $1 billion in behavioral health funding, and working to increase pay for caregivers for the I/DD community, they opened doors to essential resources statewide. Through town halls across North Carolina, they listened to families firsthand and forged connections with the I/DD community to create improvements in support and care. Their work reflects Kerri Eaker’s legacy of working together and advocating for inclusive, equitable care for all.

The North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding North Carolina self-advocate whose work has improved the quality of life for people with I/DD. Cheryl Powell, an advocate with cerebral palsy, embodies this spirit through her leadership with the Lived Experience Network Speaks (LENS) and the Leadership Alliance for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LAND) organizations.

With a bachelor’s degree in social work, Powell brings both expertise and empathy to her advocacy, empowering others through her insights and dedication to systems change. Powell, who is a former NCCDD Council Member and Vice Chair, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the I/DD community making her a leading self-advocate statewide.

The Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award honors family members or volunteers advocating for and building a better North Carolina for people with I/DD. Jessica Aguilar, originally from El Salvador, is a mother to twin boys with autism.

She channeled her lived experience into a mission for inclusivity and accessible information for Spanish-speaking families across the state. As a member of the LAND Advisory Council, and co-founder of Poder y Esperanza and the NC Child’s Parent Advisory Council, Aguilar guides state leaders in supporting diverse communities by ensuring families receive clear, timely information in their native language. Aguilar strengthened connections between English and Spanish-speaking communities to create better family engagement and broaden inclusion throughout North Carolina.

The Helen C. "Holly" Riddle Distinguished Service Award recognizes professionals who have made lasting contributions toward improving opportunities and quality of life for people with I/DD in North Carolina. Pam Shipman’s commitment to managed care has profoundly shaped North Carolina’s disability services landscape. Her advocacy and expertise played a key role in the General Assembly’s development of the public Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCO) system, now recognized as a model for integrated managed care.

Shipman consistently leveraged her expertise to address critical issues, from provider sustainability to data standardization to Direct Support Professional (DSP) initiatives while empowering families with essential tools for advocacy.

Talley Wells, Executive Director of NCCDD, said, “We celebrate the individuals whose steadfast advocacy transformed lives and brought communities together across North Carolina. Our award recipients are committed to supporting individuals in navigating the complex care and service systems in our state, while advocating for essential resources, information, and empowerment. They are creating a future where individuals with I/DD have a voice and the support to thrive in their communities.”

###

About the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities: The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) works to assure that people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families participate in the design of, and have access to needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity and inclusion in all areas of community life. Through its Five-Year Plan, the Council identifies and funds innovative projects and initiatives that promote the goals of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) for all North Carolinians. www.nccdd.org