Family Support and Advocacy
Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) – ECAC is dedicated to empowering families and improving lives, particularly for North Carolina families raising children ages 0 to 26 with disabilities
North Carolina Resources
- Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED)
The Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) in North Carolina works to close opportunity gaps for all children in P-20 education, especially children of color, with the vision that one day race will no longer be the primary predictor of educational outcomes. To advance this mission, CREED conducts evidence-based research; builds coalitions of school leaders, educators, parents, policymakers, and community members who have a shared agenda of creating equitable school systems; and supports schools and educators with technical assistance and training designed to improve educational outcomes for students of color. - NC Department of Public Instruction
- NC DPI Parent Resources
- Parent’s Rights and Responsibilities in Special Education (English) (Spanish)
- IEP Forms (NC, local forms may vary)
- Archive of Parent Newsletters from NC DPI ECD
- Determining Need for School-based PT
- Disability Rights North Carolina
- Educational Acronyms
- Educational and Clinical Models of Service Delivery (English) (Spanish)
- North Carolina Educator Standards
- No Kid Hungry NC
- Text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 to receive a text with the three drive-thru or pick up sites with meals for kids closest to you.
- NC Site Finder- Summer Meals for Children
- (NC) North Carolina Project for Children and Young Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind
- NC RAMMP Program – loans portable ramps to people with mobility difficulties
- NC RAMMP Flyer (pdf)
- North Carolina AHEC (North Carolina Area Health Education Centers)
- North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS)
National Resources
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network
- American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- 3 Tips for Backpack Safety
- Back to School: Access to Physical Therapy in the Classroom | Podcast
- The Benefits of Aquatic Physical Therapy for Children
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Family Fun: Ideas To Add Physical Activity To Your Child’s Day | Video
- Family Resources for Fun with Physical Activity and Young Children
- Fitness: Resources for Young Children
- Pediatric Physical Therapists as the Practitioner of Choice
- Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina: Recognizing and Responding Online Course
- Promoting Social Emotional Development: An Introduction for Families and Caregivers
- Promoting Your Child’s Development: Information Resources for Families of Children with Disabilities
- IDEA Partnership
- The Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning
- National Center on Accessibility – The National Center on Accessibility promotes access and inclusion for people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism.
- National Center on Deaf-Blindness – NCDB works with state deaf-blind projects and other partners to improve educational results and quality of life for children who are deaf-blind and their families. For more information, contact Kristi Probst, NCDB’s Interveners and Qualified Personnel Lead (kristi.probst@hknc.org)
- Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Developmental Disabilities and Health (RRTCDD)
- Social Security Red Book – a summary guide to employment supports for persons with disabilities under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs
- Center for Child & Family Health
- Trauma Informed Communities Project – provides a unique opportunity for North Carolina communities to develop a comprehensive, trauma-informed community response for children and families.
- Trauma Informed Communities Project Fact Sheet
- United States Access Board – The U.S. Access Board is a federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostic equipment, and information technology.
Additional Resources
- A Parent’s Guide to Section 504 in Public Schools
- Do the Math (Who Gets More Practice?)
- EC glossary
- Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Glossary of Terms
- I’m Tyler (Video) -Tyler is a typical high school student who happens to have cerebral palsy and some other challenges. He has taken on a mission to educate the world about Ability Awareness. He believes that what a person, any person, CAN do is much more important than what he/she can’t. The people in Tyler’s life who have seen this and practiced Ability Awareness have made all the difference in the world to him. His mission started as an Eagle Scout Project and has grown to a dream.
North Carolina Resources
- The Arc of North Carolina – The Arc of North Carolina is committed to securing for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play.
- Disability Rights NC
- Eat Smart, Move More NC
- Family Support Network of North Carolina – Promoting and providing support for families with children who have special needs.
- First in Families North Carolina – support individuals and families in a variety of ways, including to:
- meet current goals and plan for the future
- acquire needed goods and services
- find opportunities to give back to others
- No Kid Hungry NC
- NCPTA Special Educaiton Resources
- Special Needs Require Special Care II: A Guide for the Transportation of Preschoolers and Children with Disabilities for NC Public Schools
National Resources
- AFIRM COVID-19 Toolkit: Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times
- Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) – ECAC is dedicated to empowering families and improving lives, particularly for North Carolina families raising children ages 0 to 26 with disabilities
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
- TASH – TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs
- Transportation Services for People with Disabilities in Rural and Small Urban Communities
International Resources
- World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Advocacy
Additional Resources
- I’m Tyler (Video) -Tyler is a typical high school student who happens to have cerebral palsy and some other challenges. He has taken on a mission to educate the world about Ability Awareness. He believes that what a person, any person, CAN do is much more important than what he/she can’t. The people in Tyler’s life who have seen this and practiced Ability Awareness have made all the difference in the world to him. His mission started as an Eagle Scout Project and has grown to a dream.
- Sesame Street in Communities
- Stress and COVID-19: A Course for Teens (Boston University)
- Understanding ADHD – Information for Parents About Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder