April Houston is the new RADD director. Photo by Janet Sutton / Neuse News

By Janet Sutton

April Houston is eager to make a difference for those with special needs. As the new executive director for Raising Awareness for the Developmentally Disabled (RADD) organization, she's applying her leadership and disability advocacy training to establish new partnerships and services.

"We're a resource for the community and I'm really hoping to expand that," Houston said.

At RADD, she's responsible for grant writing, activities, assessing the programs needs and community engagement. In addition to raising awareness, she recently collaborated with fellow South Lenoir High School alum Jillian Wilson to create an eye-catching new logo. She hopes the brightly colored image will tell people who RADD is and what they are all about.

RADD includes any and all special needs; it serves approximately 5,000 individuals annually and is funded in part by the Lenoir/Greene United Way. Formerly known as the Arc of Lenoir County in Kinston, RADD was founded in May of 2007 to build skills and support the developmentally disabled and their families.

The nonprofit provides a variety of activities, including crafts, painting and special needs athletics such as basketball, baseball, disc golf and bowling for free or minimal cost to families.

Along with social activities, RADD advocates and provides services to the community.

"I'm always looking for more ways to help us," she said.

Next year, she'll begin workshops for parents, therapists, teachers or anyone interested in interacting with the developmentally disabled. The training will cover how parents can write individualized education plans, school to adult transition, inclusion along with workshops for siblings of children with special needs and advocacy.

"I'm passionate about this," she said recently while sitting in her Hull Road office. "I've been waiting a long time for an opportunity to get back into this field. This blessing came along and I'm grateful."

Houston is credentialed in Early Childhood Education from Lenoir Community College and is furthering her education online through Brigham Young University-Idaho for Marriage and Family Studies. When she's not working, Houston loves to cook and said she's known for her homemade sweet pickles.

She recently became a Master Gardener with the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office. She enjoys spending time on her small homestead in Deep Run with her husband and three children where they have chickens, dairy goats and grow their own vegetables and herbs.

She's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is a cross country mom who loves to watch her children run.

She personally knows the impact RADD has on families.

"I have children with (the) diagnosis, that's what got me involved in the special needs world to begin with and that's why it's so close to my heart," she said.

RADD is currently looking for volunteers and board members, You can contact Houston at 252-522-2814.