We sent a Candidate Survey to all Candidates/Legislators who will be running in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. We will begin posting unedited responses to the survey here starting September 15, 2026. If you are a candidate and you did not receive the survey link, please email: Beth.Field@disabilityactionnc.org.
2026 Candidate Survey
Jim HarrisNC House District 16
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
A colleague in the Pender Democratic Women's Organization has an autistic son, aged 29, who lives at home.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
A disability does not disqualify an individual from ownership of their rights and abilities to lead a productive life.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Yes, to the fullest extent of the legislation referenced above, or other legislation that continues to remove barriers to such activities.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
I once met and discussed such actions with the National Center for the Blind in Washington, DC Executive Director, who himself was legally blind.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Yes, there are a number of programs and projects in NC that effectively cure homelessness, and which can serve as models for future inclusion as needs demand.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
As in ACA, we need to focus on routine inspection, monitoring, and preventative care for all citizens, rather than continue to invest in Mega-Health System reimbursement once someone is diagnosed with a critical illness.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
Our current administration, especially the DOJ, is a mockery of the rule of law.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
I have four - mental health and crisis support, behavioral health, nutrition, and physical developmental health.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have pledged to support Mental Health, Women's Health, and the full intent/extent of the ACA, and will work to rebalance Federal and State resources to ensure full support of educational, employment, housing, and nutrition needs for all eligible recipients.
Tim MerrickNC House District 20
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
1. Addressing affordability
2. Balanced, responsible growth
3. In eating in public school, small businesses, and real pathways for families to get ahead.
2. Balanced, responsible growth
3. In eating in public school, small businesses, and real pathways for families to get ahead.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
1. As an autistic candidate, I bring lived experience with disability to public service.
2. Public education and service are deeply rooted in my family, from my father and mother who were educators to my grandfather who testified in the Brown v. Board of Education case.
3. I believe independence requires access to healthcare, essential services, and strong communities.
Wellie JacksonNC House District 22
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: UNSURE
I am not sure what you are asking. My aunt lives in a normal brick house in a neighborhood with 4 other disabled ladies. They have at a minimum 2 caretakers at all time. This is through Skill Creations. This is where my grandmother and our whole family wants her not in an institution. They go out to eat and go shopping and attend events. We call it the sorority house. This is what I believe in. This is her home and she loves it.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have an aunt who is born with cerebral palsy and has been on a wheel chair her whole life.
I understand the requirements and all the red tape of having a family member with a disability
I understand that their definition of a normal day is different than mine but is no less of a day to them as mine is to me.
Dr. Lorenza WilkinsNC House District 25
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Yes, I personally know and have worked with individuals who have disabilities that ranged from PTSD to depression and anxiety to employees with speech and physical disabilities. Oftentimes, these individuals can thrive in work environments and excel with proper care/engagement and support. As a robotics coach, I have directly mentored/coached high school students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPS) and led them to the State Finals in FIRST Robotics.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
People with developmental disabilities deserve the same right to choose how and where they live as anyone else. I'll support the funding and oversight that make real community-based choice possible.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
1. Expanding access to affordable, community-based healthcare and opposing Medicaid cuts that would hit disabled North Carolinians and their families hardest.
2. Strengthening public education, including real funding for inclusive practices and accommodations so every student graduates ready for a full life.
3. Fighting rising costs for working families, including protections for caregivers who are often stretched thinnest by both jobs and caregiving responsibilities.
2. Strengthening public education, including real funding for inclusive practices and accommodations so every student graduates ready for a full life.
3. Fighting rising costs for working families, including protections for caregivers who are often stretched thinnest by both jobs and caregiving responsibilities.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
1. I have a consistent record of opposing Medicaid cuts and fighting for the healthcare funding that community-based services and HCBS depend on.
2. My education background means he understands what real accommodation and inclusion require in practice, not just in policy language.
3. I’m committed to bringing people with disabilities and their families into the policymaking process directly, not treating their input as an afterthought.
2. My education background means he understands what real accommodation and inclusion require in practice, not just in policy language.
3. I’m committed to bringing people with disabilities and their families into the policymaking process directly, not treating their input as an afterthought.
1. I have a consistent record of opposing Medicaid cuts and fighting for the healthcare funding that community-based services and HCBS depend on.
2. My education background means he understands what real accommodation and inclusion require in practice, not just in policy language.
3. I’m committed to bringing people with disabilities and their families into the policymaking process directly, not treating their input as an afterthought.
2. My education background means he understands what real accommodation and inclusion require in practice, not just in policy language.
3. I’m committed to bringing people with disabilities and their families into the policymaking process directly, not treating their input as an afterthought.
1. I have a consistent record of opposing Medicaid cuts and fighting for the healthcare funding that community-based services and HCBS depend on.
2. My education background means he understands what real accommodation and inclusion require in practice, not just in policy language.
3. I’m committed to bringing people with disabilities and their families into the policymaking process directly, not treating their input as an afterthought.
2. My education background means he understands what real accommodation and inclusion require in practice, not just in policy language.
3. I’m committed to bringing people with disabilities and their families into the policymaking process directly, not treating their input as an afterthought.
Donna McDowell WhiteNC House District 26
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
I have passed numerous bills to increase IDD Innovation Waiver slots, Increased funding for direct service providers (DSP), a member of the IDD Caucus, I have been named legislator of the year for MARC, I have also gotten funding for the special Olympics and have gotten the legislator of the year award for the special Olympics.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
I participate in and support the Fragile X bowling community. I am very active and hands on with the autism organizations. I also participate in the special Olympics.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
I have been a sponsor and a support of Johnston County Industries and has gotten financial resources for them since being in the legislature. I have also worked extensively with the MARC organization. I have also been actively involved with the Division of Vocational Rehab within DHHS. I have also received the Johnston County Industries legislative champion award.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
I have been a very strong advocate for the My Forever Home agency and will be participating in their opening dedication for homes in Johnston County and intends to grow that throughout the state. I have also been a strong supporter of the Innovation Waivers and expanding them to cover more people.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
I have had several meetings with an organization out of UNC and DHHS to address these issues with the IDD population and am currently working on a bill for this.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
As a previous board of education member, I worked with the school system and continue to work with the school system to ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights and get quality education in their schools.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
As a former school board member, I was involved with creating the educational program for special needs students.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
Absolutely
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
I meet with the IDD Community in my office on a regular basis with the recipient of services, parents and lobbyists to make sure that they have a seat at the table for policy making.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
I not only wait for them to come to me, but I go and attend their events like the special Olympics and community bowling.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
We have regular legislative oversight committee meetings for DHHS. We need to intensify our corrective actions when we find problems within the department.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I have been a member of the Olmstead Committee within DHHS for over half my tenure in the House, we have done great work and this federal action is concerning and I will continue to monitor it.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
I worked for DHHS prior to coming to the House.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Expanding the current number of Innovation Waivers.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have been recognized as the Johnston County Industries Incorporated legislative champion award. I do this not for the awards but to help the community grow and be self-sustaining and will continue to do so if I am reelected.
I have been awarded the MARC Directors Award for supporting employment of the IDD Community. I do this not for the awards but to help the community grow and be self-sustaining and will continue to do so if I am reelected.
I was awarded the IDD Caucus Advocacy Award. I do this not for the awards but to help the community grow and be self-sustaining and will continue to do so if I am reelected.
Rodney D. PierceNC House District 27
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Public education
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I will listen. I believe people with disabilities and their caregivers should have a meaningful voice in the policies that affect their lives.
I will fight for rural access. Where you live should not determine your access to healthcare, transportation, education, employment, or other essential services.
I will stand up for independence and dignity. Every North Carolinian deserves the opportunity to live, work, participate, and make decisions as independently as possible.
D. Matthew BaileyNC House District 28
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
yes
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Why wouldnt one?
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
This is basic nuclear support.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
My ink pen of choice is a Skillcraft! I give them away to people and tell them about the facility.
🙂
🙂
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
If you have a job you need a place to stay! (Universal Housing now.!)
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
Trauma and drama are not the same thing. They need clear demarcation.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
My Responsibility as an American from North Carolina.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
This seems a basic necessity?
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
After fear, hate is mans greatest weakness.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
I recommend folks with disabilities Run for Office at every level in '28! If I do not win House Seat 28 I will run again in '28!
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Clearly you have my ear.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Love Budgets! They are key to Management!
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
Authority is currently employed to quell the divergent. It is not leadership, its fear.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
Yes
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
HR1 is blood money.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Universal Healthcare Now! Idk how. But Hillary Clinton can tell ya!
Top priorities
If Elected, #1 serve ALL the voters. (now im gonna be a big disappointment, maybe?)
Sworn Bathroom Law Enforcement Inspection Officers, Unbalanced Budgets from unbalanced minds, Free guns in the mail but no ballots... Theft from School Budgets by affluent communities? These are a few of my least favorite things... that not to support, dont make me feel bad!
But, they will have my ear and my time and i will amplify their positives voices. Theys gonna get an ear full of me too!
🙂
Sworn Bathroom Law Enforcement Inspection Officers, Unbalanced Budgets from unbalanced minds, Free guns in the mail but no ballots... Theft from School Budgets by affluent communities? These are a few of my least favorite things... that not to support, dont make me feel bad!
But, they will have my ear and my time and i will amplify their positives voices. Theys gonna get an ear full of me too!
🙂
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
1# I was in LD in Winston-Salem k-3? You never get completely out from under that label is how i feel today. Fortunately, they know where to cram the label.
2# My Mother did a "do not resuscitate" because my Dad and Brothers wouldnt let her move in with me.
3# My baby sister that has cared for my father and mother for many years will go into a home. My Brother will inherit everything and keep it and put my sister in a home and wont let her live with me either. The brother between us, maga block votes with him.
This should not be normal in the future we can create, with teamwork?
2# My Mother did a "do not resuscitate" because my Dad and Brothers wouldnt let her move in with me.
3# My baby sister that has cared for my father and mother for many years will go into a home. My Brother will inherit everything and keep it and put my sister in a home and wont let her live with me either. The brother between us, maga block votes with him.
This should not be normal in the future we can create, with teamwork?
Federal, Legislative, Judicial.
see above.
Phil RubinNC House District 40
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
My fundamental goal as a political leader is to make North Carolina a place where everyone can thrive in their local community. People with developmental disabilities should have meaningful control over their own lives, including where they live and the support they receive. I support funding home and community-based services, strengthening the workforce that provides those supports, and oversight to ensure services actually reach the people who need them. People with disabilities must have a meaningful voice in shaping these policies as well.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Yes, similar to the above, every child should have opportunities to make friends, explore their interests, and participate in community life. I support funding the services, accommodations, and trained staff that make childcare, after-school programs, parks, and camps accessible for all. Children with disabilities and their families should have a meaningful say in the activities they pursue and the support they need.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Public job-training programs should help people with developmental disabilities find and keep meaningful, fairly paid work that reflects their interests and goals, including starting a business. I support funding individualized training, job coaching, and ongoing support when needed, along with partnerships with employers. Oversight should examine whether participants secure lasting employment, earn fair wages, and are satisfied with the opportunities and support they receive.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
People with developmental disabilities should have affordable, accessible housing and meaningful choices about where and with whom they live. I support expanding housing options throughout our communities, alongside the services and transportation that make those options practical. We have tremendous work across the board to do on affordable housing, and our work in that area should be inclusive of people with developmental disabilities.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
I support affordable, accessible physical and mental health care in the community, with meaningful provider choice and consistent support over time. Early intervention can improve patients’ health and quality of life while preventing avoidable crises and reducing the need for expensive emergency care or hospitalization. Investing in timely care helps keep health care more affordable for everyone. That care should be coordinated and trauma-informed, respecting each person’s experiences, communication needs, and autonomy, with providers they trust.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
Every student deserves a well-funded public school where they belong and receive the support they need to learn. I support investing in special education teachers, specialists, and classroom supports that make meaningful inclusion possible. Schools must respect students’ rights, follow individualized education plans, and involve students and parents in decisions--and all of that requires adequate funding to make it possible.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Yes, and please see my answer above.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
I believe that rights must be enforcable in practice, meaning that we must defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws. Defending those rights means both funding and enforcement, and they translate to accessible voting, equal access to education and public services, and respect for each person’s autonomy. I support helping people understand their options and make their own decisions, with assistance they choose, while protecting them from abuse, coercion, and discrimination.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
People with developmental disabilities and their families should help set priorities, develop proposals, and evaluate whether policies are working. I support meaningful representation on boards and advisory groups across policy areas, accessible meetings and materials, and remote participation so people throughout North Carolina can contribute. In my own work, I will seek input early, listen directly to people with disabilities, and explain how their input shaped the decisions made.
More broadly, public participation is a major goal of mine for legislative work in general. The General Assembly is failing its obligation to involve the public, with rewritten bills dropped on us at the last second and with no public hearings. That's a practice we need to end.
More broadly, public participation is a major goal of mine for legislative work in general. The General Assembly is failing its obligation to involve the public, with rewritten bills dropped on us at the last second and with no public hearings. That's a practice we need to end.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Yes, very much so, and please see my answer above.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Accountability includes the General Assembly’s responsibility to fund the services it expects agencies to deliver. Budget cuts have created real challenges for schools, providers, and the people who depend on them. I will work to reverse harmful cuts and secure stable, adequate funding. I also support clear expectations, transparent reporting, and meaningful oversight of DHHS, DPI, and other entities, with people with disabilities and their families helping assess whether services are accessible, effective, and respectful of their rights.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I support Olmstead’s principle that people with disabilities should receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, regardless of changes in federal enforcement priorities. Implementing that principle requires attention to each person’s choices, individual care needs, and reliable supports. I will evaluate specific proposals carefully, including their funding, workforce requirements, quality safeguards, and effects on people receiving services.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
I support stable, adequate state funding for home and community-based services so people with disabilities can receive appropriate, reliable support in their communities. I will work to address harmful funding gaps and strengthen the workforce that delivers these services. Specific budget proposals deserve careful review of their costs, sustainability, and effects on access and quality, with input from people who rely on these supports. Sustaining HCBS should remain a priority in North Carolina’s budget.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
HR 1 has added harmful barriers to food assistance while shifting more costs onto states and counties. The General Assembly has compounded the problem by failing to adequately fund counties to handle these changes. There is a real risk that eligible people, including people with disabilities and family caregivers, will be wrongly cut off because of paperwork barriers, overlooked exemptions, or processing errors. That is unacceptable. I support state funding for adequate staffing, accessible application assistance, and accurate eligibility reviews, with oversight to prevent wrongful terminations and promptly correct mistakes. Protecting access to food assistance must be a budget priority.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
I support using state general revenue funds to help close gaps in behavioral health and developmental disability services for people who are ineligible for Medicaid or whose private insurance does not cover needed supports. Specific funding proposals should reflect unmet needs, coordinate with available coverage, and include clear standards for access and quality. I will assess their effectiveness and sustainability, with the goal of helping people receive timely support and participate fully in community life.
Top priorities
To restore North Carolina as a functioning democracy, with fair electoral districts, an independent and nonpartisan judiciary, meaningful checks on legislative power, and a legislative process that guarantees public notice and real opportunities for input before decisions are made.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
My background as a federal prosecutor and special deputy attorney general includes standing up for people whose rights have been violated. I bring that commitment to fairness, accountability, and the rule of law to my legislative work.
I support a government that listens to the people it serves and explains its decisions. My priorities include fair electoral districts, an independent judiciary, meaningful checks on legislative power, and guaranteed opportunities for public participation.
I have worked in a variety of challenging fields, and I know the importance of doing the homework. That means listening to experts and people with lived experience, taking the time to understand a problem and all perspectives on it, and working with them to develop solutions.
Cynthia BallNC House District 49
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
My nephew (now deceased) was challenged by several learning disabilities in both education systems (IEP) and daily living. My cousin had a traumatic brain injury 30 years ago, leaving him unable to care for much of daily living. The brother of my veterinarian has Down syndrome. A colleague of mine leads the TLC.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
All people deserve a living environment of support, inclusion, and dignity.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
We need to address the critical shortage of Innovation Waivers in NC.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
I support job training programs that ensure that people with developmental disabilities are able to succeed in jobs that are provided by employers who participate voluntarily or are in incentivized programs.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
We are in an affordable housing crisis that extends throughout, especially to those who are challenged by disabilities.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
This would be a wonderful development for our society as a whole.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
Access by everyone to a sound public education is a right, not a privilege.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Access by everyone should be guaranteed.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
I have witnessed too often the lack of respect for an individual's right to participate in their life decisions.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
We need to make significant progress!
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
I will listen to and consult with those who can provide important input.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
We should ensure that these principles are upheld and that there are funds to support associated administrative costs.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I need to study this more and understand how this can best be accomplished.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
I will stand firmly in support of adequate state budget funding.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
Absolutely! I feel it personally in the impact on the lives of my aunt and cousin.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Inclusiveness in this is very important.
Top priorities
Public education for all. Affordable healthcare. Access to quality healthcare.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
See above answers.
See above answers.
See above answers.
Renee A. PriceNC House District 50
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
I have been working on a bill pertaining to housing for a the past 2 or so years.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
The right to vote.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have been conscious of the need for equality and fairness within our communities since I was a child, and have been promoting and advocating for the rights of all people regardless of their abilities, ever since. Being in the NC House allows me to further our work against prejudice, discrimination and stigma at the state level.
I have been working with individuals and their families on legislative initiatives and look forward to continuing that work until we, together, achieve our objectives and accomplish our goals.
My work in the political realm is tied to my work with communities, so I hold fast to the title of "Representative" and will seek to represent you and your values and interests.
Joe ParfittNC House District 52
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Establishing a timely, accurate, and well-planned state budget
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
My father was a quadriplegic before I was born. I spent my entire youth assisting in his care and I am well aware of the shortcomings in our society regarding the differently-abled. I am extremely empathetic towards their daily struggle just to survive, and I will never vote for or propose any legislation without keeping this in mind.
By focusing on properly funding our public schools I will be able to ensure adequate attention is given to students with special needs. Our federal government has seen fit to reduce this funding so it will be incumbent upon us, as state legislators, to make up the shortfall
Because the alternative is directly against their own interests. The NC HB 10 takes $300 million from public schools in favor of private schools. These private schools can discriminate against any student that they choose to. Historically the first students denied are those with disabilities. I am opposed to this. Public schools must, by law, accommodate all students.
John J. KirkpatrickNC House District 55
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
I have a family member that struggles academically in school with ADHD.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
By staying informed about existing legislation and funding related to adult services for developmental disabilities. I will connect with advocacy groups that promote self-directed living and community inclusion. I would push for support for increased funding and oversight that prioritized person-centered approaches, allowing adults to choose the support they want.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Yes, by sharing stories and date about the needs in District 55. Building coalitions with families, professionals, and organizations to strengthening their voice. Seek advice from local advocacy groups with the knowledge to help make the change need in District 55.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
First, I would learn about existing public job training programs and their funding structures for people with developmental disabilities. Secondly, I would connect with advocacy groups focused on employment and entrepreneurship for District 55 communities. Followed by encouraging collaborations between government, nonprofits, businesses, and vocational rehab services to build comprehensive program options.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Making inclusive, affordable housing is a clear priority on my platform. I'm committed to pushing for increased funding specifically earmarked for housing that meets the needs of people with developmental disabilities. I will advocate for policies that ensure strong oversight to maintain quality, accessibility, and community integration.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
As a candidate, I will champion a trauma-informed healthcare system by promoting policies that train all community health providers-both physical and mental health-in trauma awareness and sensitivity. I would push for expanding access to diverse, culturally competent providers so people have real choices that fit their needs and preferences.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
I would protect and strengthen public education by expanding inclusive practices that fully respect each student's rights and needs. I would be committed to policies that ensure meaningful parental involvement in decision-making, creating strong partnerships between families, teachers, and schools. Promote resources and support that help every student--regardless of ability-to successfully graduate prepared for the next chapter in life.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
I would pledge to allocate or increase dedicated resources in school budgets specifically for these services. I would seek grants and state or local funding streams that provide assistive technologies, classroom aides, and individualized learning support. By supporting these accommodations, we help all students succeed and build stronger communities.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
Disability rights are civil rights, and every person has the right to make their own decisions, with the support when they need it. I support strong enforcement against disability discrimination in public services, schools, workplaces, housing, transportation, health care, and voting.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
By demanding transparent public reporting, meaningful input from people with disabilities and families, independent oversight, timely complaint resolution, and consequences when agencies fail to meet their obligations.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I will uphold the Olmstead principle that people with disabilities should not be unnecessarily segregated in institutions, group settings, schools, or services when they can live, learn, work, and participate in their communities with appropriate support. My policy decisions will protect community inclusion and self-determination, regardless of the federal government's enforcement posture.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
I will support reliable, recurring state funding for Home-and Community-Based Services so North Carolinians with disabilities and older adults can live work, learn, and participate in their own communities. HCBS is not only the right thing to do, it helps prevent unnecessary institutionalization, supports family caregivers, and strengthens our communities.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
No person with a developmental disability or family caregiver should lose access to food because an application is inaccessible, a renewal is confusing, or a county office is understaffed. I will support state funding that makes SNAP easier to access, maintain, and use for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
I would advocate for stable, recurring general fund investments in behavioral-health and developmental disability services for North Carolinians who are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for Medicaid, or waiting for Medicaid funded support. A person's access to crisis care, counseling, peer support, housing assistance, or community-based disability services should not depend solely on insurance status.
Top priorities
1. Affordable housing for everyone
2. Properly fund public schools
3. Safe communities
2. Properly fund public schools
3. Safe communities
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
1. Increase dedicated funding for accommodations: I would seek to provide stable funding for accessible materials and technology, communication supports, sensory-friendly spaces, classroom aides, transportation, and individualized learning support.
2. Fund training for educators and staff: I would invest in ongoing, paid professional development for teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, bus staff, and school-based health professionals.
3. Improve staffing and retention: I would back competitive pay, manageable caseloads, and recruitment pipelines for special educators, paraprofessionals, school psychologists, therapists, and behavior-support staff.
Matthew Patrick ClementsNC House District 56
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Part of the North Carolina State Constitution guarantees a sound basic education and job training and vocational education has to be part of that guarantee.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
Adding red tape and hoops for folks to jump thru for aid is cruelty in action and a waste of time and resources for both those whom are monitoring and those whom are in need of help.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Abolish the ABC
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I believe that every resident of North Carolina deserves life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That includes the disabled and their families and caregivers. Life - having the same opportunity to participate and be heard.
Liberty - having your rights protected.
Pursuit of happiness: providing opportunities to live, thrive and develop.
Elma HairstonNC House District 59
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Strong Public Education; Affordable healthcare; Attainable housing
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
As your representative, I will listen to people with disabilities and their families to remove barriers to make sure their voices are heard in Raleigh. Specifically I believe: (1)People with disabilities should have equal opportunity to work learn and live independently (2) People with disabilities deserve to be gainfully employed to become valuable contributors to the economy (3) I support public education that is designed to help these students reach their potential.
As your representative, I will listen to people with disabilities and their families to remove barriers to make sure their voices are heard in Raleigh. Specifically I believe: (1)People with disabilities should have equal opportunity to work learn and live independently (2) People with disabilities deserve to be gainfully employed to become valuable contributors to the economy (3) I support public education that is designed to help these students reach their potential.
As your representative, I will listen to people with disabilities and their families to remove barriers to make sure their voices are heard in Raleigh. Specifically I believe: (1)People with disabilities should have equal opportunity to work learn and live independently (2) People with disabilities deserve to be gainfully employed to become valuable contributors to the economy (3) I support public education that is designed to help disability students reach their potential.
Jennifer WilesNC House District 75
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Living Wages
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
Frontline Healthcare Experience Navigating the Broken Care System
With twenty years of clinical experience as a nurse and nurse practitioner, I have seen firsthand the systemic failures that North Carolinians with disabilities and their families face every day. I know what it looks like when care is fragmented, when critical services are denied, and when families are left to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies without adequate support. In the General Assembly, I will not treat healthcare and disability services as abstract budget line items; I will bring clinical insight and direct patient-advocacy experience to ensure state policies reflect the real, everyday needs of individuals and their caregivers.
With twenty years of clinical experience as a nurse and nurse practitioner, I have seen firsthand the systemic failures that North Carolinians with disabilities and their families face every day. I know what it looks like when care is fragmented, when critical services are denied, and when families are left to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies without adequate support. In the General Assembly, I will not treat healthcare and disability services as abstract budget line items; I will bring clinical insight and direct patient-advocacy experience to ensure state policies reflect the real, everyday needs of individuals and their caregivers.
Commitment to Eliminating Waitlists and Funding the Innovations Waiver
Tens of thousands of North Carolinians remain trapped on the Innovations Waiver waitlist, often waiting years, or even decades, for essential Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). This delay forces family members into unpaid, unsustainable caregiving roles and leaves individuals without the support required to live independently. I will actively fight to expand recurring state funding for Innovations Waiver slots and strengthen Medicaid infrastructure so that every person with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) has access to the community-based care they deserve.
Tens of thousands of North Carolinians remain trapped on the Innovations Waiver waitlist, often waiting years, or even decades, for essential Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). This delay forces family members into unpaid, unsustainable caregiving roles and leaves individuals without the support required to live independently. I will actively fight to expand recurring state funding for Innovations Waiver slots and strengthen Medicaid infrastructure so that every person with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) has access to the community-based care they deserve.
Championing Fair Wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Supporting Caregivers
Community inclusion and independent living are only possible if we have a stable, well-compensated care workforce. Direct Support Professionals do vital, demanding work, yet persistently low Medicaid reimbursement rates have created severe staffing shortages and high turnover. I will champion meaningful, recurring wage increases for DSPs to ensure providers can recruit and retain dedicated caregivers. At the same time, I will advocate for expanded family caregiver respite programs, tax relief, and resources that recognize and protect the well-being of family caregivers across North Carolina.
Community inclusion and independent living are only possible if we have a stable, well-compensated care workforce. Direct Support Professionals do vital, demanding work, yet persistently low Medicaid reimbursement rates have created severe staffing shortages and high turnover. I will champion meaningful, recurring wage increases for DSPs to ensure providers can recruit and retain dedicated caregivers. At the same time, I will advocate for expanded family caregiver respite programs, tax relief, and resources that recognize and protect the well-being of family caregivers across North Carolina.
Johnnie JonesNC House District 83
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: UNSURE
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
I feel that everyone need to be careful for. That folks with disabilities need the best care possible
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Children need to be most of all need support. To be able to share in all activities. To help enrich their lives
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
I love the fact that there are several businesses near me that support. Hiring folks with disabilities. Down for Donuts in Mooresville NC. Is a place that we frequent often. Just for that reason
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Yes. Everyone need to have good quality care
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
We should be allowed to visit a doctor or medical center of our choice
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
Children in NC should have the best schools in the county. But it requires that they have a well funded school budget. To hire the best teachers possible
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Every child deserves to be able to go to school and have staff that are qualified to take care of the every need
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: DECLINE TO ANSWER
Absolutely.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
If elected. I will make sure everyone has a seat at the table. So their voices are heard
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Yes. I will work with and talk to everyone. That need to be cared for by state funding. To make their lives better.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
As a legislators I will make sure that the funding will be sustainable to keep funding HCBS
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
Making sure that ALL folks have the ability to provide meals for themselves and their families is very near to my heart
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Yes of course. Every one in this state should be cared for regardless of the financial circumstances
Top priorities
Well funded educational system. Where our students are give the best opportunity to excel
Buy paying our teacher a fair and reasonable salary. To not give public school funds away
Buy paying our teacher a fair and reasonable salary. To not give public school funds away
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I will be a representative for all of NC. Not the few.
Being a grandparent of a 7 year old granddaughter since she was 5 months old. Has made me realize what true love and care is required to make her life the best it can possibly be
My wife has been in a battle with cancer for almost 6 years now. She was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and liver cancer. A nine hour surgery and five years of chemotherapy
Has taught me that taking care of her when she is weak from chemo. Is what is truly meant by IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH means. She is the love of my life.
Has taught me that taking care of her when she is weak from chemo. Is what is truly meant by IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH means. She is the love of my life.
Robert "Spider" ThompsonNC House District 89
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Volunteers on my campaign and friends have children with developmental disabilities. My wife works at J Iverson Riddle Developmental Center as a health tech and activities director. She has also been a DSP in the past. I am a 36 year educator retired and I am currently working at a behavioral interventionist in Iredell County Schools, seeing first hand the needs of those with disabilities.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
The rights and choices of People with Disabilities should always be supported.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
HCBS waivers need to be protected and expanded.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Everyone including those with disabilities should be afforded the opportunity to work in jobs that fulfill them or own a business in they so desire.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Yes. I will support policies, funding, and oversight that expand inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
Yes. I support community health care that lets people choose their own providers, catches problems early, and keeps helping over time, not just during a crisis.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
After 36 years as a public educator, I know firsthand what it takes for every student to succeed. I will protect public education by expanding inclusive practices so students of all abilities learn alongside their peers, respecting students' rights, and genuinely involving parents as partners in their children's education. Every student deserves to graduate with the skills, support, and opportunities they need for a full life.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
I've seen firsthand how the right accommodations and well-trained staff make the difference between a student who struggles and one who thrives. I will support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, along with training for teachers and staff so they understand available services and supports and can put them into practice in the classroom.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
Yes. I will defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws, including a person's right to make their own decisions about their own life. These protections exist so people with disabilities are not denied their voice because of a disability. I will oppose efforts to weaken these laws or their enforcement, and support strengthening oversight so the rights on paper are actually honored.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
I will work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not consulted after decisions are made, but involved from the start in shaping the policies, programs, and funding that affect their lives.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
I will work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not consulted after decisions are made, but involved from the start in shaping the policies, programs, and funding that affect their lives. I would welcome the input of the Disability Action Network.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
I will support and fight for real oversight, transparency, and follow-through, along with supporting the state budget funding necessary to make these commitments a reality rather than an unfunded mandate.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I will uphold the right to community-based services, no matter what the federal government does or doesn't enforce. Fortunately the DOJ opinion doesn't change the law itself, it just signals less federal follow-through. That means it's even more important for our state to keep funding and protecting people's right to live in their communities, not institutions.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
With less federal backing, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. I will continue to support the state funding needed to sustain and expand home and community-based services, so people can keep living in their communities instead of losing that support because of a federal pullback.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
I'll support the funding needed to make sure SNAP stays accessible for people with developmental disabilities and their families in North Carolina. Although most people with disabilities are exempt from the new work requirements, the extra paperwork can still cause eligible people to lose benefits by mistake. I'll push for enough staff and support to help people navigate the process so no one loses food assistance over red tape.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
I'll support state general revenue funding for behavioral health and developmental disability services for people who don't qualify for Medicaid, including those with private insurance. More broadly, I support the principle that everyone deserves access to healthcare, and no one should go without needed services because of how they're insured or what program they qualify for.
Top priorities
Fully Fund Public Education - Reinstate Leandro
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
A proven record of standing up for inclusion. As a 36-year public educator, I've spent my career making sure every student, regardless of their ability, had what they needed to succeed. I bring that same commitment to policymaking: fighting for inclusive schools, accessible housing, and community-based care instead of institutional settings.
A commitment to funding that actually reaches people. I support the state budget investments needed to sustain home and community-based services, non-Medicaid behavioral health and DD services, and SNAP access, and I understand these programs only work if North Carolina backs them with real, adequate funding, not empty promises.
A partner, not a gatekeeper. I believe people with disabilities and their families should be full partners in shaping the policies that affect their lives, not an afterthought. I will hold state agencies accountable for putting these principles into practice, and I will defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and Olmstead, regardless of shifting federal enforcement.
Michael RobinsonNC House Disrict 95
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Honesty, integrity, transparency: holding elected officials accountable, and not allow allowing back room deals
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have worked with people with disabilities since my high school days, and they can count on me to be an advocate
Park InglefieldNC House District 96
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
My uncle had severe physical and mental disabilities. My grandmother, Anita Arneson Pressly, started a school for children with disabilities in her basement in Statesville. She was awarded the the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of her work.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Public Education
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
My uncle lived with severe mental and physical disabilities. I understand the importance of supporting individuals and families in navigating care and providing individuals with disabilities dignity.
I grew up watching my mom help individuals with disabilities navigate the system as a Disability and Social Security attorney. I understand the hurdles already vulnerable people face to get the support they need.
I believe every individual deserves to live a full life with dignity and care. I will work to ensure the programs that support families and individuals living with disabilities get the funding they require to serve these populations.
Mark BurrowsNC House District 119
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
As a former board member of Transylvania Vocational Services (now Alula), I understand the importance of job-training programs and work for people with developmental disabilities.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
I served over 18 years as the Vice-Chair of the Asheville Regional Housing Coalition. During this time, we worked to make sure that housing opportunities were made available to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
My wife just retired after teaching for 41 years in the public schools and, most recently, as the Director of Teacher Education at Brevard College. I understand the importance of public education and the need to respect all students and their need to have a full life.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
The challenge that the NC Legislature has is working to prioritize how revenues are spent and who receives the benefits. I firmly believe that we need to be focused on individuals and families.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Affordability - childcare, housing, and health care.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I am a member of the American Planning Association and, more importantly, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
I have been a board member of Transylvania Vocational Services and, from that experience, understand the importance of helping individuals and their families lead fulfilling lives and work experiences.
Jessica BichlerNC Senate District 7
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
I had an aunt with downs syndrome and a close neighbor growing up with cerebral palsy.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
I will vote to add waiver slots in every budget, and to raise pay for direct support professionals, which averages under $17 an hour and is a main reason services cannot be provided even after a family is finally approved.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
A family should not need a waiver slot to get to a birthday party, a summer camp, or a Saturday at the beach. Respite care, after-school programs, and childcare that will actually accept a child with a disability should be available to every family. I would fund those policies, and I would expect programs taking state money to be open to every child.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Competitive, integrated employment should be the goal from the first day, not something people graduate into after years in a segregated setting. I support funding Vocational Rehabilitation, expanding the community college IDD workforce programs past the handful of campuses running them now, and backing people who want to start their own business.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
A person living on SSI cannot afford a one-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in New Hanover County, and our rents keep climbing. I support funding the NC Housing Trust Fund and the Targeting Program that sets aside accessible units, and I would require accessibility and visitability in developments built with state dollars.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
Trillium is the LME-MCO for New Hanover County, and network adequacy here is not what it looks like on paper. A directory full of providers who are not taking new patients is not true access. I would fund crisis services and mobile crisis teams so that an emergency room or a jail cell stops being the default, pay behavioral health providers rates that keep them in the network, and protect continuity so people are not started over with a new provider every time a contract turns over.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
North Carolina caps state special education funding at 13 percent of a district’s enrollment and pays a flat amount per student, roughly $5,300, whether a child needs speech therapy twice a month or a one-on-one aide all day. At the same time, the voucher program sends public money to private schools that are not required to provide what an IEP guarantees. I would lift the cap, fund exceptional children services based on actual need, and stop the diversion.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Yes, and it has to include the adults. Teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, and front-office staff are the people who make an inclusive school work or not, and most of them were never trained for it. I would fund that training, and I would pay EC teachers and assistants enough to keep the ones we have.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
These are rights, not programs, and they are not optional. On self-determination specifically, I will fight for supported decision-making as an alternative to full guardianship. Stripping a person of the legal right to decide should be a last resort.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
People with developmental disabilities and their families should be in the room while a bill is being drafted, not brought in to react once it is filed.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Yes, and I will take Disability ACTION Network NC up on the offer to make those connections. I would rather hear about a bad provision from a parent in Wilmington before I vote than read about it afterward.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Accountability starts with numbers the public can see. Waitlist counts by county, how long it takes from waiver approval to services actually starting, denial and appeal rates, and honest network adequacy, all published in plain language on a set schedule.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I will treat the most integrated setting as the standard in every vote I take, regardless of whatever position Washington adopts.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
I would fund caseload capacity at county DSS offices, require plain-language notices, and push the state to apply exemptions automatically where a disability is already documented in its own records, instead of making a family navigate a complex web of paperwork.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
There is a whole group of people caught in between, with too much income for Medicaid and private insurance that will not cover developmental disability services. State single-stream dollars are what covers them, and that funding has been squeezed for years. I would protect it and restore it. The alternative is families paying out of pocket until they cannot, and then a crisis the state ends up paying for anyway.
Top priorities
Fully funded public schools. Stop the increase in public funds diverted to private schools, lift the 13 percent special education funding cap, fund exceptional children services based on what students actually need, and pay teachers and teacher assistants a professional salary.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have been on the receiving end of these programs. There were stretches when my family relied on food assistance and Medicaid, and I know the difference between a benefit existing and a benefit you can actually get. Administrative burden is not an abstraction to me.
I live in a multigenerational household and I run a small business, so caregiving and staffing and the cost of both are part of my daily life, not a briefing topic. My son was born prematurely at three pounds, the day before New Hanover County learned its drinking water was contaminated. I know what it is to need a system to work and find out it did not.
I will show up and stay reachable. I am not a career politician and I have no political aspirations beyond representing this district well. That means answering the phone, meeting families where they are, and voting the same way in Raleigh that I talk in Wilmington.
Pat LeGrandNC Senate District 10
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
One of my cousins had brain damage from the use of forceps during a lengthy labor years ago. She passed away from cancer.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Yes. Many people with disabilities have the to live independent lives if given the proper training.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
My cousin I mentioned previously was able to have a job at Goodwill sorting donations. She loved feeling that she was contributing, which she was.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Yes. Housing is expensive for everyone. There needs to be help for people with physical and mental disabilities.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
I will fight for Healthcare for all.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
I am concerned about how we are taking so much money from public schools for private school vouchers. This makes it hard to hire nurses, teachers who focus on special education, and other programs for all children.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
No one should suffer discrimination of any kind.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
I will work across the aisle to get laws passed that will help the disabled.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
I'd be happy to have that conversation.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Your concern is valid. Sometimes we make good laws, but fail to enforce them.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
When I'm elected, I welcome face to face meetings to discuss and learn about what is needed.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
In pains me when I hear Republicans say we can't afford school lunches or make it more difficult to get SNAP benefits, all while lowering taxes for corporations and the wealthy.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
It is a shame that some people could lose benefits while the effects of this law are sorted out.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
I have a Masters in Counseling Psychology, which makes me sensitive to this issue.
Top priorities
Protect Public Education
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I care about people who didn't get the best start in life, but who will thrive under the proper education and support.
I will listen to the needs of the community and will not be a rubber stamp for the cuts to programs for the needy, to satisfy tax cuts for the wealthy.
This is my first time running for office. I know there is a lot for me to learn.I will work with my trusted fellow senators and organizations like your own, to sponsor and vote for bills that will improve life in NC for everyone.
Tanya White AndersonNC Senate District 12
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Affordability, Education, Health care, veterans, safety
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
As a disabled Veteran, and as a parent of children who are also disabled, this work means a great deal to me personally. I understand firsthand the importance of making sure every person—regardless of their abilities or challenges—is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
I am also hearing impaired, so I know how important accessibility, patience, and clear communication can be when people are trying to participate and make their voices heard.
That is why supporting our veterans, people with disabilities, and every member of our community is not just a campaign message for me—it is personal.
I will continue to stand up, speak up, and show up for those who deserve to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. 🇺🇸💙
I am also hearing impaired, so I know how important accessibility, patience, and clear communication can be when people are trying to participate and make their voices heard.
That is why supporting our veterans, people with disabilities, and every member of our community is not just a campaign message for me—it is personal.
I will continue to stand up, speak up, and show up for those who deserve to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. 🇺🇸💙
As a disabled Veteran, and as a parent of children who are also disabled, this work means a great deal to me personally. I understand firsthand the importance of making sure every person—regardless of their abilities or challenges—is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
I am also hearing impaired, so I know how important accessibility, patience, and clear communication can be when people are trying to participate and make their voices heard.
That is why supporting our veterans, people with disabilities, and every member of our community is not just a campaign message for me—it is personal.
I will continue to stand up, speak up, and show up for those who deserve to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. 🇺🇸💙
I am also hearing impaired, so I know how important accessibility, patience, and clear communication can be when people are trying to participate and make their voices heard.
That is why supporting our veterans, people with disabilities, and every member of our community is not just a campaign message for me—it is personal.
I will continue to stand up, speak up, and show up for those who deserve to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. 🇺🇸💙
As a disabled Veteran, and as a parent of children who are also disabled, this work means a great deal to me personally. I understand firsthand the importance of making sure every person—regardless of their abilities or challenges—is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
I am also hearing impaired, so I know how important accessibility, patience, and clear communication can be when people are trying to participate and make their voices heard.
That is why supporting our veterans, people with disabilities, and every member of our community is not just a campaign message for me—it is personal.
I will continue to stand up, speak up, and show up for those who deserve to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. 🇺🇸💙
I am also hearing impaired, so I know how important accessibility, patience, and clear communication can be when people are trying to participate and make their voices heard.
That is why supporting our veterans, people with disabilities, and every member of our community is not just a campaign message for me—it is personal.
I will continue to stand up, speak up, and show up for those who deserve to be seen, heard, respected, and supported. 🇺🇸💙
Dan BlueNC Senate District 14
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Education
Affordability
Jobs
Affordability
Jobs
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
Champion of workplace safety laws
Long-time supporter of Medicaid expansion and disability services
Strong advocate for equal access to education and employment
Gale AdcockNC Senate District 16
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Expanded access to healthcare, especially in underserved areas with for underserved populations.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
As a nurse practitioner, I treat everyone equally and believe state policies must reflect respect and opportunity for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.
My voting record shows my support of persons with disabilities.
I serve on Health Care, HHS Appropriations, Joint Legislative Oversight for HHS, and Joint Legislative Oversight for Medicaid--all committees that make decisions that affect persons with disabilities and their families.
Haseeb FatmiNC Senate District 18
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Tackling the affordability crisis.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
As an attorney, I have practiced disability law for many years. I used to serve as the Assistant Regional Counsel for the Social Security Administration, and I currently specialize in disability access law under the ADA. In my current practice, I provide pro bono legal services to people with disabilities. I have a proven track record of disability advocacy and I have the needed specialized knowledge to be an advocate in this space.
I have made disability access and expanding healthcare priorities in both my campaign and as a State Senator. I have a proven track record of standing up for disability rights and have stood firm on those issues regardless of party affiliation, including reaching across the aisle on important healthcare issues. I have made it a top legislative priority to expand healthcare, including mental and trauma-informed healthcare, in my district and throughout the state.
I deeply care about this issue from firsthand experience, having family members with disabilities who have been in need of care. I understand firsthand the struggle that families in this situation are facing, and I will continue to fight for them.
Val ApplewhiteNC Senate District 19
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
A dear friend had a sister with Downs Syndrome. Unfortunately, she recently passed from complications from a medical procedure. She was 37.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
I've been an advocate for the needs of blind and the visually impared, specifically with the Vision Resource Center (VRC) of Cumberland County. Something as simple as requesting the City of Fayetteville provide free bus passes has been very impactful.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Specifically, there has been a lack of funding for EC children in our public schools system in both services and qualified staffing. I've consistently engaged County and school Board officials on this issue. Its important to continue to make this a priority for inclusion in the state budget.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
This is an area that I am continuing to learn about. Of particular interest is collaboration with Fort Bragg for opportunities.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
This is an urgent converation that I've had with many parents that are aging. One of their primary concerns is where will their children with disabilities live once they have passed on. I am not sure of what the real needs are, but affordable housing needs are urgent for everyone and even a greater challenge for people with developmental disabilities.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: UNSURE
I'm not exactley sure what this question means or how it fits into the overall healthcare system. As we continue to face healthcare cuts from the federal government, states are increasing left with picking up the costs. There is a shortage of medical providers and we have medical/healthcare deserts across the state. This issue is cetainly something I am open to learning more about.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
As stated earlier, schools face a shortage of qualified staff and funding to meet the educational needs of children with developmental disabilities. I think it is also important that parents be willing to build real partnernships with the school systems to make their children successful.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
See previous comments.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
The ADA is a foundational document that must be protected and improved to reflect the needs and rights of people that depend upon it.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
I certainly will, but I think it is increasing more important for people with disabilities and their families to be their biggest advocate by continuously showing up in the spaces that matter and bringing awareness to the issues that are important.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
I have a great relationship with the Disability Action Netwrok NC; I admire and am very supportive of their work. I look forward to growing this relationship.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
As you are aware the state budget is not just a monetary document, it is laden with policy. I will continue to hold agencies that are accountable to the Legislature to ensure these issues are addressed in policyand in funding.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: UNSURE
In theory I absolutely support this but in practice there are settings where organizations are held accountable to implement integrated settings but simply do not have the resources to do so. This potentially creates harmful and dangerous situations. I think the availability of resources and adequately trained staff are key issues that must be weighed in each situation.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
Unfortunately, elections have consequences and things will get worse before they get better. The current composition of the Legislature puts HCBS and SNAP at risk, cuts are looming. The challenge will be how do we get through these tough times.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
As stated above, unless the composition of the State Legislature changes. These programs are in jeapordy, it's one of the primary reasons I did not vote in favor of the recent NC State budget.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: UNSURE
I need to understand the need better; there are shortages that impact every facet of nearly every program. With a better understanding, I could prioritize and adequately address this issue.
Top priorities
1. Access to Healthcare 2. Affordable Housing 3. Quality public education
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
1. I've demonstrated my support of organizations that work for equity and access for people with disabilities.
I've successfully connected supportive organizations to resources from local and state government
My work in the legistaure in support of resources for EC students in public schools is unmatched.
Southey BlantonNC Senate District 25
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
My oldest son is autistic.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
Fully funding our public schools and paying teachers to ensure every child no matter where they live can have the same opportunity to learn and grow.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have lived experience as a dad to a child who is autistic so I have seen how difficult it can be to fight for accommodations.
I'm well aware that many of us are one illness or accident away from being disabled ourselves, so listening to the disabled community and taking their input into consideration will always be a priority when planning for North Carolina's future.
In my day job, I work alongside social workers so I have seen the social safety net be slowly reduced and destroyed by right wing legislators, and I refuse to allow people who need support to be ignored while I am in office.
Rod PowellNC Senate District 44
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
As a public school teacher for 30 years, I taught and worked with students with developmental disabilities and came to know many of their families. That experience taught me how much good schools, dependable services, and respect for each person’s abilities matter.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
People should have as much choice as possible about where they live, the services they receive, and the direction of their own lives. State policy should help families make that possible instead of creating more barriers.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Children with developmental disabilities should have the same chance to learn, play, participate, and belong in their communities as every other child. Families should have the support needed to make that possible.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Job training ought to lead somewhere. I support programs that prepare people for real jobs, competitive employment, apprenticeships, or starting a business according to their abilities and goals.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Housing is already difficult to afford in many parts of North Carolina. People with developmental disabilities shouldn’t face an additional shortage of safe, accessible, community-based choices.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
Health care works best when people can get help close to home before a problem becomes a crisis. I support person-centered care, continuity of services, and adequate funding for community providers.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
I spent 30 years in public education. Public schools have a responsibility to serve every child. That requires qualified staff, proper support, parental involvement, and enough funding to meet students’ individual needs.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Teachers and support staff can’t be expected to meet increasingly complex needs without training, adequate staffing, and resources. Special education should never be treated as an unfunded afterthought.
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
These are basic civil rights. I will defend equal access, reasonable accommodations, voting rights, educational rights, and the right of people with disabilities to have a meaningful say in decisions about their own lives.
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
People affected by a policy should have a seat at the table while that policy is being written. That includes people with developmental disabilities, family members, caregivers, providers, and advocates.
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Yes. One of my commitments in this campaign is to listen before making decisions. I would welcome an ongoing working relationship with people with disabilities, families, providers, and organizations such as Disability Action Network NC.
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Funding matters, but so does accountability. State agencies and contractors should be expected to show that services are reaching people, wait times are improving, and public money is being used for the purpose intended.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
Yes. When a person can safely receive services in the community and wants to do so, state policy should support that choice. North Carolina should not wait for Washington to tell us to treat people with dignity and independence.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
Home and community-based services allow people to remain close to family and participate in their communities. I support protecting those services and addressing the waiting lists that leave families without dependable help.
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
Eligible people shouldn’t lose food assistance because they couldn’t navigate a complicated form or verification process. I support adequate staffing and state administration that helps people establish eligibility accurately and efficiently.
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
A person shouldn’t fall through the cracks simply because Medicaid isn’t the right funding source for their situation. I support responsible state funding for essential developmental disability and behavioral health services when other coverage is unavailable.
Top priorities
1. Strengthen our public schools, including special education, support staff, teacher training, and services that prepare every student for life after graduation.
2. Protect access to affordable health care and home and community-based services so people can live safely and independently in their own communities.
3. Make everyday life more affordable by addressing housing, child care, jobs, wages, and the basic services working families depend on.
2. Protect access to affordable health care and home and community-based services so people can live safely and independently in their own communities.
3. Make everyday life more affordable by addressing housing, child care, jobs, wages, and the basic services working families depend on.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
First, I spent 30 years as a public school teacher and understand that every student deserves the support and opportunity to reach his or her potential.
Second, I believe government should help people live as independently as possible in their own communities, with access to health care, housing, employment, education, and the services they need.
Third, I believe in listening to the people directly affected by public policy. As a senator, I would keep an open door to people with disabilities, families, caregivers, educators, providers, and advocates and make sure their voices are heard before decisions are made.
Second, I believe government should help people live as independently as possible in their own communities, with access to health care, housing, employment, education, and the services they need.
Third, I believe in listening to the people directly affected by public policy. As a senator, I would keep an open door to people with disabilities, families, caregivers, educators, providers, and advocates and make sure their voices are heard before decisions are made.
First, I spent 30 years as a public school teacher and understand that every student deserves the support and opportunity to reach his or her potential.
Second, I believe government should help people live as independently as possible in their own communities, with access to health care, housing, employment, education, and the services they need.
Third, I believe in listening to the people directly affected by public policy. As a senator, I would keep an open door to people with disabilities, families, caregivers, educators, providers, and advocates and make sure their voices are heard before decisions are made.
Second, I believe government should help people live as independently as possible in their own communities, with access to health care, housing, employment, education, and the services they need.
Third, I believe in listening to the people directly affected by public policy. As a senator, I would keep an open door to people with disabilities, families, caregivers, educators, providers, and advocates and make sure their voices are heard before decisions are made.
First, I spent 30 years as a public school teacher and understand that every student deserves the support and opportunity to reach his or her potential.
Second, I believe government should help people live as independently as possible in their own communities, with access to health care, housing, employment, education, and the services they need.
Third, I believe in listening to the people directly affected by public policy. As a senator, I would keep an open door to people with disabilities, families, caregivers, educators, providers, and advocates and make sure their voices are heard before decisions are made.
Second, I believe government should help people live as independently as possible in their own communities, with access to health care, housing, employment, education, and the services they need.
Third, I believe in listening to the people directly affected by public policy. As a senator, I would keep an open door to people with disabilities, families, caregivers, educators, providers, and advocates and make sure their voices are heard before decisions are made.
Greg CranfordNC Senate District 45
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
Top priorities
1. Stop Vouchers for Private School Parents 2. Fully Fund Medicaid 3. Support DEI
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I am a liberal progressive Democrat. Republicans are regressive.
Tom DowningNC Senate District 50
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
I have a close friend whose son has autism and I was a special education teacher for 8 years working with students with Serious Emotional Disturbance. My wife and I facilitated a weekly art class for adults with developmental disabilities for five years.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
I will support policies, funding, and oversight as well as be a fierce advocate for everyone with developmental disabilities.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
I think that for the school setting Least Restrictive Environment is the key to ensuring that children are in the right environment in the first place so they are able to participate in everyday community activities. The same is true for all other settings.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Real, authentic jobs that are in the person's sphere of interest is the key here. The same goals that neurotypical people work to achieve.
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
We need to shorten / eliminate the waiting list for affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities. Instead of waiting years it should only be months to wait.
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
This area is where the needed changes can have the biggest impact. A required transition plan within the IEP should be developed to bring whatever community resources are needed so that upon graduation the student and their caregivers / family / support people understand exactly what is going to happen so the student can enjoy a fully life just like everyone else.
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Funding must be available so that IEP teams have what they need instead of developing a plan based upon only what they have. Beyond funding, parents, caregivers, and advocates need a cadre of ombudspeople who can ensure that school districts: follow the law; do what's best for the student; don't stonewall the parents/caregivers; respect the wishes of the student; and conduct the IEP meetings as they are supposed to be conducted -- rather than as an already-decided one-way information-sharing session. (If the general statutes don't get school decision makers attention then perhaps a civi lawsuit will?)
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
I will work as hard as I can to effectuate political change on the national level so that new personnel are working at U.S. DOJ in late January 2029.
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: UNSURE
Top priorities
Fully fund our public schools -- no public funding for private schools.
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
I have personal and professional experience with advocating for people with disabilities.
I am ready to listen to learn what I need to know.
I am not afraid to lead and try to solve difficult situations.
Kevin CorbinNC Senate District 50
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: YES
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: YES
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: YES
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: YES
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: YES
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: YES
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: YES
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: YES
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: YES
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: YES
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: YES
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: YES
NameOffice / District Sought
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Response: Part 1: “Developmental Disability-Friendly” Questions
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Lived-Experience
Developmental disabilities affect learning, communication, or daily living skills. They include conditions like autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Fragile X, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and many others not named here.
People with I/DD are our neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends.
Do you have a family member or know someone personally with a developmental disability?
Comments
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Response: Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help adults with developmental disabilities live self-directed lives, in the community, with the support they choose.
Comments
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Response: Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help children with developmental disabilities and their families take part in everyday community activities, based on what matters most to them?
Comments
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Response: Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight that help public job-training programs aim for real jobs for people with developmental disabilities - including starting a business or working for an employer - as the goal?
Comments
Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Response: Self-directed lives and real opportunity
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Will you support policies, funding, and oversight for the expansion of inclusive, affordable housing options for people with developmental disabilities.
Comments
Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Response: Health care that meets people where they are
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Will you back a trauma-informed system of physical and mental health care in the community - with providers people actually choose - so problems are caught early and support continues over time?.
Comments
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Response: A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Will you protect public education by expanding inclusive practices, respecting students' rights, involving parents, and helping every student graduate with what they need for a full life?
Comments
A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Response: A strong, inclusive public education system
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Will you support funding for developmental disability accommodations in schools, and education for teachers and staff about developmental disability services and supports?
Comments
Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Response: Freedom from discrimination and the right to self-determination
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Will you defend the rights guaranteed under the ADA, Section 504, IDEA, and voting rights laws including a person's right to make their own decisions?
Comments
A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Response: A Real Seat at ALL Tables.
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Will you work toward statewide inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their families in policymaking as full partners, not an afterthought?
Comments
Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Response: Listening and Staying Connected
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Will you commit to listening to the voices of people with disabilities and their families as you draft, review, and fund policy that affects them? The Disability Action Network NC is glad to help make those connections whenever you would like.
Comments
Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Response: Accountability
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Will you help hold NC's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction and LME-MCOs accountable for putting these principles into practice and support the state budget funding needed to do so?
Comments
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Response: Olmstead v. L.C. (1999)
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
This landmark ruling affirmed that needlessly segregating people with disabilities in institutional settings is discrimination, and that everyone has the right to services in the most integrated setting that fits their needs. On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion arguing that the ADA and Section 504 do not impose a general integration mandate on states, and that DOJ will no longer rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance in enforcement. This does not change the underlying law, but it signals a pullback in federal enforcement of the right to community living.
Will you commit to upholding the principle established in Olmstead - the right to services in the most integrated setting - in your policy decisions, regardless of the current federal enforcement posture?
Comments
State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Response: State budget funding for HCBS and SNAP
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
With federal enforcement of Olmstead weakening and federal dollars for other supports pulling back, North Carolina's own budget choices matter more than ever. Disability advocates warn that funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) could be at greater risk when the state makes its own budget decisions without a federal backstop.
Will you continue to support the state budget funding needed to sustain HCBS in North Carolina?
Comments
HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Response: HB-1
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Separately, under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1), expanded SNAP work requirements took effect in North Carolina on December 1, 2025: adults ages 18–64 without a child under 14 must now work or volunteer 80 hours a month unless they qualify for an exemption. Most people with a documented disability, or those receiving disability-related benefits, remain exempt, and adults caring for a disabled family member of any age still qualify but the general caregiver exemption has narrowed from covering any child under 18 to only children under 14. The added paperwork and verification requirements raise the risk that eligible North Carolinians with disabilities lose benefits due to administrative burden rather than actual ineligibility.
Will you support the state budget funding needed for SNAP access for people with developmental disabilities and their families?
Comments
State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Response: State and Local Non-Medicaid Funding Options
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
If an individual with developmental disabilities does not qualify for Medicaid, finding funding for services can be particularly challenging. This includes individuals who qualify for private insurance through their families.
Will you support the allocation of general revenue funds for non-Medicaid behavioral health and developmental disability services?
Comments
Top priorities
List your top 3 priorities if you are
Reasons North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support this candidacy
1. List three reasons that North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support your candidacy.
2. List three reasons that North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support your candidacy.
3. List three reasons that North Carolinians with disabilities and their families/caregivers should support your candidacy.