Speaker: Talley Wells
As the Olmstead Decision becomes reality, are there plans to educate community business owners on the value of employing people with IDD?
Talley Wells: Hi everyone, I'm Talley Wells and I'm the Executive Director of the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and it is June which means that it is the 23rd anniversary of the Olmstead Decision. So we are doing another series of the Ask Me Anything where you can ask us questions at the Council and we will answer them each month for social media. And today's first question is as the Olmstead Decision becomes reality, are there plans to educate community business owners on the value of employing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities? What an important, great question. And of course the answer is yes. Um and it's something that we have committed to as a state here in North Carolina. When Governor Roy Cooper signed a declaration saying that North Carolina is an Employment First state, which means that employment should be the first option for individuals with disabilities as they go to school as they transition from school. Um and as they enter the workforce. And so we are committed to employment in all aspects and certainly Olmstead is a critical part of that. One of the big things that's happened most recently is that the state of North Carolina has committed to competitive integrated employment for folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities and we at the Council have really jumped on that. Um we're uh engaging an organization called i2i to engage stakeholders, individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities, family members focusing maybe working at what have been traditionally adult day vocational programs, um that they make sure to include them in conversations around um what it means to move towards competitive integrated employment family members, the providers and employers. So that's just one of the areas. We are also looking at a longer term multi year proposal to put out as an RFA Around employing individuals and family members throughout the system. Um and we are also excited with Medicaid transformation and and care management teams that there are opportunities for more individuals with developmental disabilities and family members to be included on those care management teams. Finally, as the question implies, businesses need to know the value of people with intellectual developmental disabilities being part of their teams and we have an employment Lookbook on our website where you can see some great stories of individuals with developmental disabilities working. Um We know that there is tremendous value in individuals with developmental disabilities have in the workforce, but unfortunately we have a very low employment rate for people with an intellectual and developmental disabilities, but there is a need for more employees throughout our workforce and what an important time. And we at the um North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities are committed in all aspects to ensure that more people with developmental disabilities across North Carolina employed and businesses understand their value. Thanks!
