Topics Related to Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services invites media to two virtual events being presented in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host its Annual Assistive Technology Expo, "Breaking Boundaries, Empowering Lives," on Oct. 3, 2024. The event will take place from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center, 1101 Gorman St., Raleigh, NC 27606. There will also be a virtual option for those who cannot attend in-person.

NCDHHS' Assistive Technology Program is a state and federally-funded initiative that provides assistive technology services statewide to people of all ages and abilities. The program promotes independence for people with disabilities through access to adaptive equipment at its nine AT Centers throughout North Carolina. On May 3, NCATP hosted the third of its three AT Resource Fair Pop-Up events at the Charlotte AT Center.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services invites media to a press conference in Goldsboro announcing the new name of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. This name change marks an important milestone for the vocational rehabilitation program in North Carolina, reflecting the real progress achieved by people with disabilities over the last century and celebrating the potential and accomplishments of North Carolinians on their journey to independence.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services invites media to a press conference in Morganton announcing the new name of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. This name change marks an important milestone for the vocational rehabilitation program in North Carolina, reflecting the real progress achieved by people with disabilities over the last century and celebrating the potential and accomplishments of North Carolinians on their journey to independence.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services is announcing the division’s new name: the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. This name change reflects the division’s century-long history of critical work with North Carolinians with disabilities. NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley, EIPD Director Kathie Smith and EIPD clients will celebrate the change at a kickoff event, which will include addresses from clients, partners and division leadership on Tuesday, April 23, at 10:30 a.m. at the Haywood Building on Dorothea Dix Campus in Raleigh.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is hosting three resource fairs where adaptive equipment and resources to make recreational and leisure activities accessible to people of all ages will be showcased.

Spark is a new program within NCDHHS designed to help people who are working in sheltered work programs shift into competitive integrated employment. It gives people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the support they need so that they can work at the kinds of jobs they want

Julie Dutchess, an assistive technologist with NCDHHS, received this year’s Joy Zabala Spirit Award in recognition of her dedication and passion for utilizing assistive technology in the workplace for people with disabilities. The award was presented to her at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference last week in Orlando, Florida.