Topics Related to Disability Services

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a draft of its 2024-25 Olmstead Plan designed to assist people with disabilities to reside in and experience the full benefit of inclusive communities. The plan is open for public comment through March 7, 2024. NCDHHS encourages all interested individuals and organizations to provide comment on the draft plan. The final, two-year plan will be published in April and implemented in calendar years 2024 and 2025.

PRESS RELEASE — The 47th annual holiday parade at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at 3 p.m. This year’s theme is a “Parade of Songs.” The Center is expecting marching bands, fire trucks, floats and a visit from Santa Claus. This year’s Grand Marshal will be America’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist Dani Kerr.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is enhancing access to its buildings for people with disabilities. The NCDHHS Division of Vocational Services local office in New Bern will update its parking lot with new accessible icons on parking spots on Friday. The office will be the first to replace the old “handicapped” parking symbol with the new accessible icon with the help of the Accessible Icon Project.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $4 million to support choice and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the workforce. This award will help expand and enhance services that support individuals to work in their communities. It also furthers a top priority of the department to build a strong and inclusive workforce.

PRESS RELEASE — October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is committed to raising awareness of the contributions made by employees with disabilities through its continued focus on building a strong and inclusive workforce across North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching the Inclusion Works initiative to promote competitive integrated employment for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, because everyone in North Carolina has a right to work in an integrated setting for fair pay if that is their choice. Inclusion Works offers resources for people with disabilities seeking employment, those who are currently employed and employers who hire and retain staff with an intellectual or developmental disability.

This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, to ensure people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. During two Accessibility for All events, the state of North Carolina will honor the passage of this landmark civil rights law by highlighting how assistive technology helps the more than 1.3 million North Carolinians who have a disability gain access to these rights and opportunities, independent living and economic self-sufficiency.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of Promoting and Expanding Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Strategic Plan.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services published its Olmstead Plan, designed to assist people with disabilities who receive or are eligible for publicly-funded services to reside in and experience the full benefit of being part of day-to-day life in communities alongside those without disabilities. Developed with stakeholders from across the state, the plan’s goal is to divert people from entering institutions and to support those wishing to leave.

North Carolina is among 12 states selected by the U.S. Department of Labor to Participate in an initiative to increase employment of people with disabilities.