North Carolina Innovations Waiver Action Team

04/16/2026

Family and friends provide billions of hours of mostly unpaid care for adults with disabilities and other conditions across the U.S. A new report finds the value of such care tops all Medicaid spending.

04/15/2026

Voting is a basic right, but for many people with disabilities it’s often not accessible. Barriers like inaccessible polling places, lack of transportation, and strict ID rules can make it harder to register and vote. Now, Congress is considering bills that could make these barriers even worse. These decisions could impact millions of voters with disabilities.

Take action now and tell Congress to protect voting rights for people with disabilities: https://bit.ly/489Qp2L

04/14/2026

LOST BIRD in WINSTON SALEM! Kimberly is very upset that her beloved and fully-flighted parakeet Smokey Robinson Scholl accidentally got out of his Winston-Salem home and flew away April 10, 2026, in the late afternoon and has REACHED OUT TO US to be on the LOOK OUT! If someone sees him or contacts a wildlife rehabilitator in that area please give KIMBERLY a call at 917-501-0212. Smokey's PawBoost flyer, which includes his picture, is attached. He loves people, and his favorite treats are salad greens and plain popcorn (no avocado oil). He is green and yellow with a black and blue tail. HE IS LOVED! So, let's keep an eye out and PASS THE WORD! Thank you! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

04/10/2026

A reflection on welcoming communities, mutual access, and belonging—what it takes to move beyond good intentions to meaningful inclusion.

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

NC’s new foster care insurance plan aims to expand coverage, but gaps in provider networks leaves children struggling to access critical care

04/09/2026

If you care for or work with children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilites (I/DD) we still need to hear from you!

The INCLUDE NC assessment is open to learn more about how caregivers and professionals support children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilites during emergencies.

You can take the assessment here: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9HOnhKiclImelvg

Please share the assessment within your networks!

INCLUDE NC is a multi-year collaboration between the UNC School of Social Work and the NC Department of Health and Human Services to identify strategies to best support youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) during weather and/or disaster events.

04/07/2026

AUCD is deeply concerned about the President’s FY27 budget proposal, which suggests cutting important programs that help people with disabilities. This includes programs like the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) and Autism and Developmental Disabilities programs. These programs support research, help create policies, and provide services that families depend on. Cutting them would set us back many years.

‼️ AUCD is asking Congress to reject these cuts and continue to support programs that help improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families.

📢 It’s urgent that during the appropriations process, Congress acts save these essential programs!

View Statement: aucd.org/news/aucd-statement-presidents-fy27-budget



ID: Graphic showing the U.S. Capitol with a quote: “Congress must reject cuts that would destabilize critical programs and instead protect and strengthen the investments that people with disabilities and their families depend on.” Includes the AUCD (Association of University Centers on Disabilities) logo.