Ray Hemachandra’s talk upon receiving the 2025 Jack B. Hefner Memorial Award emphasizes that action to support all Americans and North Carolinians with intellectual and developmental disabilities is urgent and essential regardless of the political moment.
Should policy-directed “best outcomes” from government officials and advocacy groups reduce, rather than enhance, choice for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)—and sometimes trap them in unsafe, hostile environments?
Why might an autistic, intellectually disabled Black boy with Down syndrome be treated as much more valuable in death than in life?
Because his parents made him an organ donor.
I have been reading the proposed changes to North Carolina’s Innovations waiver services and supports, which are designed for individuals … More
I was invited again this year to give a short talk as part of the Disability Day of … More
The Day of Mourning, an event remembering and honoring disabled people murdered by family members or caregivers, is held on March … More
This year my autistic son Nicholas started calling strangers by their names. But are they listening to him?
I recently did a recorded presentation for an online class at Western Carolina University–Biltmore Campus for students working to become … More
