In January, Porters Neck Village received its official Gold Level IDD Inclusive Employer accreditation from Work Together NC, according to a news release.

Porters Neck Village earned the accreditation after team members completed training to become a more inclusive employer for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and to help them succeed in the modern workplace, the release stated.
 
Porters Neck Village has also volunteered to work with Work Together NC to serve as a state-funded internship site and recruit job candidates with IDD. Porters Neck Village has been actively hiring IDD employees for over a year, according to the release, and it now has at least 15 employees on staff who have self-identified as intellectually or developmentally disabled.
 
Working in partnership with UNC Chapel Hill, the Work Together NC organization helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find the community support they need to transition and thrive as adults, the release stated. This support can include finding a job or a place to volunteer, postsecondary education, housing, social and recreational opportunities and more, according to the release.
 
“Porters Neck Village has a long history of partnering with nonprofits to make a difference in the community at large,” said  Alyssa Paquin, director of human resources, in the release. “Like most modern employers, we actively promote a real dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our hiring practices. We hope this new Gold Level IDD accreditation will help the public see that Porters Neck Village is a great place to live and work."