Public Comment Sought on Five Year State Plan Goals and Objectives for the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities

RALEIGH, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Public comment is needed from people with intellectual and other
developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, caregivers, advocates
and the public at large by the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities
(NCCDD) on the proposed Five Year State Plan goals and objectives. The
plan includes three goals recommending increased financial security,
increased community living and increased advocacy for people with I/DD
and their families, in NC.

“Our work is guided by our Five Year Plan and we need input from the
estimated 185,000 people with I/DD in the State, as well as their
friends, parents, siblings, professional caregivers and other
stakeholders,” Chris Egan, executive director of NCCDD said. “Over the
next five years, we have an opportunity to do more to improve the
quality of life for people with I/DD and their families, and we will
focus on the changes they hope to see.”

The proposed goals and objectives are available on the Council’s website
at www.nccdd.org
and all citizens are invited to comment on the plan. Public comment is
open from December 1 through January 14, 2016.

Required by the federal Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), NCCDD is
charged to develop and adopt a strategic plan for 2017-2021 to address
the needs of the disability community when it comes to services and
supports.

The Council gathered input from the community through 13 public
listening sessions across the State and an online community survey
during the summer. The goals and objectives are based on the public
input received, and the Council will evaluate all public comment at its
quarterly meeting in February 2016. If substantial revisions are needed,
the goals and objectives will be revised and a second 45-day public
comment period will be opened to the community. Once approved, the goals
and objectives will serve as the basis for the overall Five Year Plan.

The Five Year Plan must be submitted to the Administration on
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) for approval by
August 15, 2016 and will take effect on October 1, 2016.

“This is an important form of advocacy and we want to hear from everyone
as the Council and staff strive to create a plan that will promote
inclusive and integrated opportunities for North Carolina’s I/DD
community,” added Egan.

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.

Contacts

For The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
Devika
Rao, 678-384-7836
devika@oneillcommunications.com
(C)
404-374-5231