Special Initiatives for Disability Employment
Bridge to Success
Bridge to Success (B2S) is a new program to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) at six community colleges in North Carolina. B2S is offered by the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) in partnership with the NC Community College System with a focus on supporting students with I/DD by providing mental health resources and a comprehensive program of onsite vocational services to assist them in reaching their goal of competitive integrated employment in a career of their choice.
Students with I/DD can apply to receive services and ongoing support from a campus-based B2S case manager as they pursue their education and prepare for their career at any of the six community college locations across the state.
CIE Outreach Team
EIPD has created a new statewide team of vocational rehabilitation professionals to help individuals with disabilities learn about our services and programs, and to support them throughout the application and planning process. We want to ensure that applicants with disabilities are fully informed about their choices, understand the process, and feel encouraged to stay engaged and take advantage of all the beneficial services available to help them achieve their employment goal.
The team will focus on outreach to people who are currently employed in or considering employment in segregated and/or subminimum wage settings and will provide VR services and ongoing support to individuals with disabilities that want to find competitive integrated employment in the community.
For more information on the CIE Outreach Team, contact donna.rice@dhhs.nc.gov
Disability Benefits 101
People with disabilities often worry that they'll lose health care and other disability benefits if they earn income from work. To help people in North Carolina better understand how work and benefits can go together, we’re launching a comprehensive, state-specific online resource on May 5, 2025.
North Carolina DB101 will help you explore ways to balance your public benefits and work. It will help you understand what will happen to your current benefits if you start work or earn more money. It also has answers to frequently asked questions about benefits, tips on how to avoid common pitfalls, information on how to save money while working, and resources to help people with disabilities prepare for work.
Find out how DB101 helps people with disabilities make informed choices about work.
Employment First Internship Program
To strengthen state government efforts to recruit and hire qualified employees with disabilities, EIPD partnered with the Office of State Human Resources to create internship opportunities for EIPD clients in state government. Employment First (E1) internships are paid work experiences designed to help VR clients achieve their goals for competitive integrated employment. E1 interns gain valuable on-the-job experience and in-demand skills to build their resume, while expanding their professional network within state government. State agencies gain access to talented, motivated employees with disabilities who are eager to explore employment in public service.
E1 interns work up to 28 hours per week for up to four months, depending on the needs of the business. E1 interns will be provided with reasonable accommodations to carry out the duties of the position and will be paid at an hourly rate commensurate with entry-level wages for the position. EIPD pays 100% of intern wages and taxes and is responsible for most payroll functions.
For more information on E1 internships, contact kristy.brinson@dhhs.gov
Inclusion Works
Inclusion Works is a collaboration between the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS), the Division of Health Benefits (DHB) and EIPD. The goal of Inclusion Works is to increase opportunities for competitive integrated employment for people with I/DD in North Carolina.
Inclusion Works is achieving that goal by providing individuals with disabilities more choices and options to explore and prepare for CIE. At the same time, Inclusion Works is supporting I/DD service providers to update the tools and processes they use to help people achieve CIE.
To learn more visit the Inclusion Works page.
Project Spark
Project Spark is a program that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities move from jobs that pay less than minimum wage into a community job, where they work alongside and earn the same as their non-disabled peers. Project Spark gives people with I/DD the services and supports they need so they can work at the kinds of jobs they want.
Project Spark uses a team approach to help participants overcome barriers to CIE. Each Spark team includes a vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor, a benefits counselor, a community navigator, an employment specialist, and an I/DD Peer Mentor. The Spark Team helps each participant prepare for and find a job in the community that they enjoy and are good at doing. When they get a job, the Spark Team continues to provide support to make sure the job remains a good fit for the employer and participant. Project Spark is paid for by a 5-year, $13.8 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2022.
Visit Project Spark to learn more and to see if there is a Spark Team in your area.