With the help of NC’s disability community, DRNC’s Board of Directors approved our 2026 advocacy targets! Thank you so much to all who responded to this year’s DRNC target survey. “Targets” are the legal issues we focus on to protect the rights of people with disabilities. DRNC builds this action plan by listening to the disability community, who guide us in using our limited resources wisely to help the most people and focus on the biggest problems. DRNC staff use the Targets to decide if we can provide legal representation. If we are unable to assist in that way, DRNC can still provide individual support through information, advocacy tools, and referrals. We offer a robust self-advocacy resource library to help people resolve common legal problems.
More than 700 people responded to our survey this year, more than any other in our 18 years as NC’s independent Protection and Advocacy organization. We are deeply grateful to the many respondents from all 100 NC counties! Your DRNC’s Board of Directors, Mental Health Advisory Council, and staff carefully considered your input and appreciates your help in shaping our work for the current fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2025 – Sept. 30, 2026).
DRNC’s new Advocacy Targets for FY 2026 are:
- Advocate for students with disabilities to receive Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
- Advocate for people with disabilities to have opportunities to obtain and maintain integrated jobs that pay at least minimum wage
- Advocate for people with disabilities to have opportunities to benefit from community places, programs, and services
- Reduce unnecessary institutionalization of individuals with disabilities and improve access to home and community-based services and supports (HCBS)
- Protect the housing rights of people with disabilities
- Advocate for a safe, equitable, and just criminal legal system for people with disabilities.
- Advocate for people with disabilities to control their own lives
Forty-four percent of survey respondents were people with disabilities, similar to last year’s survey. More than half of the survey participants identified as a family member or guardian of a person with a disability.
The survey responses reveal widespread concerns about many different aspects of life for people with disabilities in North Carolina. Some of the most pressing issues were inadequate funding and benefits, housing shortages, and barriers to employment. The responses speak to our communities’ deep concern about impending cuts to services at the state and federal levels.
Respondents identified a wide range of challenges affecting people with disabilities across North Carolina, including:
- The devastating Medicaid waiver waitlists, restrictive eligibility rules, lack of direct service providers, and insufficient funding for home and community based (HCBS) services, leaving thousands of people without critical supports.
- Housing is unaffordable and inaccessible.
- Employment opportunities are limited by discrimination and other barriers.
- Access to quality healthcare remains inconsistent, with respondents reporting denials of services and poorly trained providers.
- The education system was criticized for failing to uphold Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), provide adequate resources, or prevent harsh disciplinary measures against disabled students.
- Calls for stronger legal protections and advocacy were common, alongside concerns about poor oversight of residential facilities.
- The lack of accessible transportation came up repeatedly as did inaccessible community features like playgrounds and shopping areas.
- Barriers to accommodations in the criminal legal system were also mentioned.
- Comments on voting emphasized the importance of maintaining accessible voting methods and plain language materials.
Also of note this year, several responses mentioned invisible and/or chronic illness and the unique challenges people with these disabilities face.
Collectively, these responses paint a picture of widespread systemic gaps that limit independence and inclusion for people with disabilities across our state. The sentiments expressed in this year’s survey responses provide strong evidence that DRNC’s services remain critical now more than ever. In this challenging time, DRNC’s commitment to improving the everyday lives of people with disabilities is steady and strong.