Disability Rights North Carolina

02/08/2026

🚀 It’s Finally Here: The 2026 NC Brain Injury Conference!

Get ready to dive into the cutting edge of brain injury care, innovation, and research! From bridging acute care to community reintegration, to exploring the power of connection and peer support, this year’s conference is all about momentum and impact.

🎤 Keynote Alert: We’re thrilled to welcome Mimi Hayes, comedian, speaker, and author of I’ll Be OK, It’s Just a Hole in My Head. Her keynote, “Traumedy: How I Turned My Brain Injury Into a Punchline”, shows how humor can be a tool for resilience, connection, and healing.

📅 When & Where: April 13–14 | The Lumina, Wrightsville Beach, NC

💡 Why You Can’t Miss It: Thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers will share actionable strategies to drive real change in the brain injury community.

✨ Be inspired. Be energized. Be part of the momentum.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.bianc.net/2026conferencehome/

02/08/2026

A new study, published in the Independent, suggests autism diagnosis rates are “more or less equal for men and women”, significantly challenging long-held assumptions about gender disparities.

Previous understanding often cited a four-to-one ratio of men or boys to women or girls, a figure a 2017 study had already narrowed to three to one.

“We think this is important because it suggests late or underdiagnosis of ASD in females rather than there being an actual s*x difference.”

Learn more! https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/autism-diagnosis-males-females-asd-sweden-b2914367.html

Image: A young girl with medium skin tone and long dark hair smiles at the camera. She wears round black glasses and a pink long-sleeved shirt, resting her chin on folded arms atop a stack of colorful books. Across the top of the image, an orange banner reads: “A new study suggests autism diagnosis rates are ‘more or less equal for men and women.’” In the lower left corner is a black logo reading “DRNC” with a leaf-like graphic. The background is softly blurred and suggests an indoor setting.

02/06/2026

Black History Month honors the leaders and events that shaped the fight for justice in the United States. It also invites us to recognize how deeply the Disability Rights Movement is woven into the broader struggle for civil rights.

Read more about some of the Black leaders we recognize this month https://set-works.com/7-black-activists-who-shaped-disability-rights/

Image: A black and white photograph of Fannie Lou Hamer testifying at the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, N.J.

02/06/2026

Upcoming event later today!

Join Feb 6, 1 PM ET for Disabled Infrastructure, Disability Resilience, a conversation with Angela Frederick on her book Disabled Power and lessons from Winter Storm Uri and the 2021 Texas power crisis.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4kmwQsK

ID: The book cover shows, in the foreground, a line of utility trucks with orange safety cones is parked along a snow-dusted road. Tall electrical transmission towers and power lines recede into the distance, filling the background. The title, “Disabled Power,” appears in large, bold orange letters centered across the upper-middle of the cover. Above it, in smaller black text, is the subtitle: “A Storm, a Grid, and Embodied Harm in the Age of Disaster.” At the bottom, the author’s name, Angela Frederick, appears in black capital letters.

02/05/2026

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This February, in recognition of Black History Month, Mental Health America is highlighting Black and African American contributions to the mental health movement because they are oftentimes overlooked. Without recognizing the lack of representation of Black and African American people in the mental health movement, we do a disservice and continue to inflict harm.

This is a non-exhaustive list of Black and African American mental health resources.
https://mhanational.org/black-history-month/

Image :A multigenerational Black family stands close together in a joyful group hug. Adults and children smile and laugh, their arms wrapped around one another, creating a tight circle of connection.

02/05/2026

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Early voting starts next Thursday!

Early voting for the spring primaries starts next Thursday, February 12, at 8 a.m., and ends Saturday, February 28, at 3 p.m. During early voting, you can use same-day registration and vote at any early voting site in your county.

If you want to vote in person on Election Day, March 3, you have to register by this Friday, February 6, at 5 p.m. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place. If you've collected registration forms from voters, you must turn them in by the Feb 6 deadline (under penalty of law!).

02/03/2026

Dr. Jenna Mendelson, a psychologist with LeBauer Behavioral Medicine, says people may notice increased anxiety, low mood or a sense of losing control when bad weather disrupts daily life. https://www.wfae.org/2026-02-01/stuck-inside-during-winter-storms-an-expert-shares-tips-to-protect-mental-health

Image: A quiet winter landscape with fresh snow blanketing the ground, low hedges, and bare trees. Snow falls softly. Text reads 'Stuck inside during winter storms? An expert shares tips to protect mental health'

02/02/2026

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New Disabled South in partnership with Disability Rights Arizona and other partners is hosting the 2026 Virtual African-American Conference on Disabilities!

Their Black Disability Institute and Faith Organizing department are excited to support and be an active part of this powerful gathering centered on the intersection of race and disability. To kick off the conference, our presentation “Rooted in the South: Expanding Disability Justice Through Community, Faith, Storytelling, and Rural Engagement,” will take place as Session 5 on February 12th, with additional sessions from February 10 – February 17!

February 5 – February 17

Free and virtual!
Find out more and register at the link below

( bit.ly/FebAACD2026)https://givebutter.com/VirtualAACD26

Image description:
virtual event flyer with a warm beige background and curved green, orange, and yellow design accents in the top left corner. At the top, the word “Virtual” appears. Centered text reads “African American Conference on Disabilities,” with a layered icon of a person in green, orange, and yellow placed between the words “African” and “American.”
On the left side, the flyer states “Cost: Free,” followed by the session schedule: February 5 (Session 1), February 10 (Sessions 2 & 3), February 12 (Sessions 4 & 5), and February 17 (Sessions 6 & 7).
On the right side, text reads “Learn more & register today:” above a QR code. Near the bottom center is the registration link “bit.ly/FebAACD2026.”
At the bottom of the flyer, it notes that the event is hosted by Disability Rights Arizona, and provides a contact email for more information: rfowler@disabilityrightsaz.org

02/02/2026

Temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal are straining the grid and increasing the potential for temporary power outages.

Duke Energy recommends customers take these steps to ease strain on the grid:

Reduce thermostats to the lowest comfortable setting
Avoid using major appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Turn off unnecessary devices, unused plug-ins and lights
Electric vehicle owners should charge midday when demand is lower

Read more https://www.wect.com/2026/02/01/duke-energy-urges-north-carolina-customers-reduce-energy-use-amid-extreme-cold/

Image: Snowy road after a winter storm. Trees heavy with wet snow in the background. text reads 'Duke Energy urges North Carolina customers to reduce energy use amid extreme cold'.

02/01/2026

Join DRNC in celebrating Black History Month! Black History is intertwined with Disability History. This month we honor Black Americans with disabilities whose leadership, creativity, and advocacy have moved our nation forward.

02/01/2026

01/30/2026

🚨 🚨 Due to inclement weather, Renew NC intake centers in Asheville, Boone, and Marion -- and Renew NC pop-up locations, as well -- will be closed Saturday, January 31.

Stay safe, everyone. 💛