Skip to content
The Archive of The Carrboro Citizen
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Community
  • Schools
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Mill
  • Flora
  • Print Archive
  • About
Menu

Town, state honor Ellen Perry

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Staff

by Catherine Rierson
Staff Writer

CARRBORO — You’ve probably seen Ellen Perry around downtown Carrboro. She goes almost everywhere in her wheelchair; the flags attached waving just above her head make her easy to spot. She’s also hard to forget.

Perry has done a lot to improve the quality of life of town residents with disabilities. In recognition of that, on Aug. 7 the N.C. Council on Developmental Disabilities awarded Perry the Jack B. Hefner Award.

“The award Ellen received from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities was honoring what she’s done not just in our community, but in communities all across the state,” Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton said.

To further recognize Perry’s achievements, the Board of Alderman declared Aug. 7 “Ellen Perry Day.”

Perry founded the advocacy group Real Advocates Now Emerging (RANE) based on principles of self-determination and, as a result, automatic door openers were installed at the Carrboro Town Hall and the Century Center.

Perry also played a pivotal part in the Hurricane Katrina Equipment Distribution Program for People with Disabilities and Older People, and as a member of countless developmental-disabilities leadership councils and programs she’s worked painstakingly for more housing options and improvements in transportation.

“It’s important to recognize what Ellen has done for Carrboro,” Chilton said. “Most everyone in the community recognizes her face – she’s really become a part of downtown Carrboro now.”

Web Archive

© 2025 The Archive of The Carrboro Citizen | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme