North Carolina § 168-1 - Purpose and definition.

§ 168-1. Purpose and definition.

The State shall encourage and enable persons with disabilities to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State and to engage in remunerative employment. For purposes of this Article, the term "person with a disability" shall have the same meaning as set forth in G.S. 168A-3(7a). History (1973, c. 493, s. 1; 2000-121, s. 33; 2005-450, s. 1.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2008-83, s. 2, provides: "The UNC-CH Division TEACCH Autism Program (TEACCH), in consultation with the School of Government and the Autism Society of NC, shall develop a video to raise awareness of autism for those involved in government and public service, including information on recognizing the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, and contacts for further information on appropriate responses to individuals with autism." Session Laws 2009-264, s. 1, provides: "It is the intent of the General Assembly to refer to a person with a disability as a person first when directing the drafting of statutes and resolutions. The Legislative Services Office shall incorporate into its drafting training of legislative drafters the preference to avoid language that implies a person as a whole is disabled, equates a person with his or her condition, or is regarded as derogatory or demeaning. The Arc of North Carolina shall provide a list of nationally recognized descriptors to the Legislative Services Office to be used in this training." Session Laws 2009-264, s. 2, provides: "The General Statutes Commission shall recommend to the 2010 reconvened session of the 2009 General Assembly and to the 2011 Regular Session of the General Assembly any statutory changes and drafting policies needed to make the General Statutes and administrative rules refer to a person with a disability as a person first. The goal of such revisions shall be to avoid language that implies a person as a whole is disabled, equates a person with his or her condition, or is regarded as derogatory or demeaning. In making recommendations, the General Statutes Commission shall distinguish those instances where a word or phrase is required by federal law or regulation, is describing a medical diagnosis, or is referring to nonliving entities such as facilities, organizations, programs, services, or zone designations." Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2005-450, s. 1, effective September 1, 2005, rewrote the section. Legal Periodicals. - For survey of 1979 administrative law, see 58 N.C.L. Rev. 1185 (1980). For comment on exclusionary zoning of community facilities, see 12 N.C. Cent. L.J. 167 (1980). For note on employment discrimination against the handicapped, see 16 Wake Forest L. Rev. 836 (1980). For note on AIDS and employment discrimination, see 23 Wake Forest L. Rev. 305 (1988).