Six North Carolinians Honored for Disability Advocacy and Leadership Across the State

Raleigh, NC (November 5, 2026) – Six North Carolina leaders in disability advocacy will be honored at the 2026 Advocacy and Leadership Awards presentation at the November meeting of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) in Raleigh. The awards celebrate advocates who have advanced opportunities and access for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina.

The awards include the Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award given to individuals who have driven transformative systems change for North Carolina’s I/DD community; the North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award recognizing advocates with I/DD; the Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award, recognizing family advocates; and the Holly Riddle Distinguished Service Award that recognizes professionals who work with people with I/DD.

The honorees of the Kerri Eaker Mountain Mover Award include Alexis Ratcliff, a self-advocate who helped pave the way for people with disabilities to return to community living, Kirby Morrow, an advocate with Disability Rights North Carolina, and Steve Strom, Director of North Carolina’s Money Follows the Person program. Together, their efforts have contributed to transformative change in North Carolina’s I/DD community by advancing opportunities for people with I/DD who use ventilators to successfully transition back to community living.

Ratcliff, who has quadriplegia and uses a ventilator, lived in the hospital for six years because she lacked the services and support she needed to live in the community. Ratcliff wanted to be near her friends and family, go to college and build a life outside the hospital. When the hospital took legal action seeking to remove her after she turned 18, Ratcliff fought for another path. With support from North Carolina MFP and a network of advocates and providers, Ratcliff successfully transitioned from living full-time in a hospital into her own accessible living space with a supportive care team.

Morrow has dedicated her career to helping clients of Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) obtain services, secure supportive housing and protect their right to live within their community. She worked closely with MFP, contractors, providers and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to put support in place for Ratcliff’s return to community living. Morrow has since drawn on that experience to create pathways for other North Carolinians with I/DD to remain connected with family, community, and opportunities.

Strom is the father of an adult son with Fragile X Syndrome and has dedicated both his professional career and personal life to supporting those in the I/DD community. He serves as Director of North Carolina’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. Through the federally funded program, Strom has helped North Carolinians with I/DD, including Ratcliff, transition from hospitals, nursing facilities, and other inpatient facilities into their own homes and communities with the support they need.

The North Carolina Leadership Achievement Award recognized Pamela McAfee from Lexington. McAfee’s lived experience as a person with a disability has encouraged her to advocate for engaging people with I/DD in the civic process and ensuring their voices are heard. She has continuously pushed for inclusion, access, and equity for people with I/DD at local and state levels. McAfee’s efforts have secured support for accessible voting locations, transportation equity, and disability inclusion in local political and civic initiatives. Through her advocacy, McAfee has empowered people with I/DD to make their voices heard, participate in their communities, and create a more inclusive North Carolina.

Sugey Ramírez Moreno was this year’s recipient of the Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award. Ramírez has long advocated for greater inclusion and opportunities for her son and other children with I/DD. In November 2022, she partnered with María Yáñez to found Manitas Felices INC. The organization mobilized mothers in the Asheboro area to provide parents and caregivers of children with I/DD with tailored resources, information, and tools to support their children’s development and well-being. Through her work at Manitas Felices INC, Ramírez built an environment to foster growth for children with I/DD, support families, and strengthen inclusion in the Asheboro community.

The recipient of the Holly Riddle Distinguished Service Award is Susan McSwain, a community leader who has modeled an inclusive and welcoming community for people with I/DD through her work and ministries. As Executive Director at Reality Ministries, McSwain has created a strong community in which people with and without I/DD can build meaningful relationships and share life. Over 250 adults with I/DD and over 200 volunteers share their lives through fellowship, programs, and shared experience at Reality Ministries. McSwain’s leadership at Real Ministries has raised the bar for systems in North Carolina serving individuals with I/DD to foster greater inclusion and belonging.

The award recipients were honored at NCCDD’s November Council meeting on November 5, 2026 in Raleigh.

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About North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities: The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) works with others to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families get the services and supports they need to live independently, make choices, and be part of their community. The Council listens to the I/DD community through its five-year planning process and supports projects that meet the goals of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act).