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.
Autistic children and adults—especially autistic people who are intellectually disabled—are underserved and discriminated against by many autism professionals, including teachers and therapists, and by government officials of both parties.
North Carolina’s continued underfunding of intellectual and developmental disability services puts generations of North Carolinians with disabilities at risk.
Ray and Nicholas Hemachandra participated in the North Carolina IDD Legislative Caucus Listening Session and subsequent press conference at the N.C. State Legislative Building on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Here’s what they said about the waitlist for IDD services, with video and photos from the day.
North Carolina discriminates against Hispanic and Latino children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). What are the critical steps needed to make the IDD system, services, and supports accessible and effective for the Hispanic and Latino population?
Carolina del Norte discrimina a niños y adultos hispanos y latinos con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo (IDD). ¿Cuáles son los pasos críticos necesarios para hacer que el sistema IDD, los servicios y los apoyos sean accesibles y efectivos para la población hispana y latina?
Hundreds of thousands of Americans with IDD—intellectual and developmental disabilities—are not getting what they need to have decent, safe, and healthy lives in their communities.
A trip to the White House for a Rose Garden event honoring professional care workers, family caregivers, and advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We need to step up our support, recognition, and advocacy both for autistic and intellectually disabled people and for the caregivers—both support workers and caregivers—who love and care for them.
What we lack most centrally in intellectual and developmental disability work and advocacy in North Carolina is the fierce urgency of now, to use and insist upon the meaning of the famous and essential phrase by Dr. King.
