The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) has published its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting progress in improving supports and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across the state.
“This year, we focused on responding to and lifting the voices of people with developmental disabilities in North Carolina in response to crises and challenges. The year started with Hurricane Helene and ended with significant cuts to Medicaid,” said Talley Wells, Executive Director of NCCDD. “By the end of our reporting year, we were figuring out ways to lift the developmental disability community during an unprecedented and challenging time.”
In response to Hurricane Helene, NCCDD organized daily virtual emergency meetings that involved over 400 participants including individuals with disabilities, family members, and emergency agencies. These sessions aimed to coordinate support and share safety resources quickly within the I/DD community through various communication channels such as email, social media, and their website.
The report details how NCCDD addressed changes in disability services amid federal policy shifts like reductions in Medicaid and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Through monthly policy education meetings called Capitol and Community, 571 participants—including self-advocates, families, and stakeholders—were engaged to discuss updates about these developments.
Several initiatives are highlighted in the report. The Autism and I/DD Safety Training for First Responders provided training for 34 officers from 12 agencies in Buncombe County. Self-advocates contributed their experiences during these sessions. Plans are underway for expanding this training to more officers next year.
A Supported Living Guidebook developed by FIRSTwnc was distributed statewide to help individuals with I/DD navigate supported living options effectively.
The Advocacy Leadership Program of North Carolina (ALP-NC) expanded participation among people with I/DD who now serve as facilitators and coordinators. This program brings together a range of stakeholders focused on driving policy change at multiple levels.
The HBCU Inclusive Postsecondary Education initiative introduced PILLAR at Winston-Salem State University as a model for inclusive higher education tailored toward cultural competency.
Webinars continued throughout the year via series like Self-Advocate Discussion Series and The Council Presents. Additionally, the My Story Matters campaign enabled people affected by Medicaid cuts to share their stories directly with lawmakers.
NCCDD also released a film titled Unmet: North Carolina’s Two Developmental Disability Crises encouraging public discussions about service gaps faced by those with I/DD.
To inform its upcoming Five-Year Plan covering 2027–2031, NCCDD gathered feedback from communities across all regions through surveys and public input sessions. This process is intended to ensure that future strategies align closely with the needs identified by people living with I/DD along with their families.
The full Impact Report is available online in both English and Spanish at https://nccdd.org/about/annual-report/2024-2025-annual-report.
