Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) advocates for state budget provisions that improve the lives and advance the legal rights of people with disabilities – all types of disabilities, children and adults, across the state. Progress occurs in our communities when programs support people with disabilities who want to live full, productive, healthy lives.
Legislative leaders are forecasting that the state budget shortfall this year means some important programs may not get the funding they need. Indeed, Governor Stein’s proposed budget includes only 200 additional Innovations Waiver slots, 75 additional TBI Waiver slots, and $5 million in nonrecurring funds for Direct Support Professionals. DRNC advises policy makers to closely consider the insufficiency of this level of investment.
Nevertheless, DRNC is pleased that Governor Stein’s 2025 proposed budget considers the aspirations of people with disabilities in many ways. Below are some key provisions:
Removal of 13% cap on school funding
When schools meet the needs of disabled students, children get educated in the most integrated, appropriate setting, which maximizes their readiness for jobs in the community and ability to lead productive lives. Now, schools receive funding for each child receiving special ed services, but only until each school’s special education population reaches 13% of the total student population. Extra funding arbitrarily ends at the 13% mark, regardless of the actual percentage of students in the school who receive special ed. This 13% cap unfairly underfunds schools with high percentages of students with disabilities. The proposed budget fixes that problem by removing the problematic 13% cap.
Funding for health access for incarcerated people starting 90 days before re-entry to the community
People with disabilities leaving prison and jail have a much greater chance of success in the community if they have access to health care prior to release. Connecting individuals with critical health care decreases the risk of recidivism and offers the needed stability to secure housing and employment. The proposed budget funds health care services through Medicaid 90 days prior to release for this population.
1915(i) funding
The important 1915(i) Medicaid program administered by managed care entities (LME/MCOs) provides non-medical, community-based behavioral health services for people with disabilities. This includes community living supports that take many forms depending on the type and degree of disability. For many reasons, including the shortage of and low pay for NC’s community-based direct care workforce, people eligible for 1915(i) services are often unable to find the help they need to work and support their communities. The proposed budget increases funding designed to help eligible people get the services to which they are entitled.
Vocational rehabilitation workforce funding
The proposed budget addresses the shortage of vocational rehabilitation professionals by increasing pay for a range of key positions by approximately 18% and stabilizing community-based provider rates. The statewide average vacancy rate for the vocational rehabilitation workforce across the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (DEIPD) and the Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) is 23%, while the vacancy rate in some rural counties is nearly 40%. This increased funding would allow for additional employees to support people with disabilities who want to develop vocational skills and join the workforce.