ECAC's Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) is funded through the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs and has been providing services to North Carolina families of children with disabilities, their teachers and other professionals since 1983. Our Parent Educators and PTI staff are here to help you navigate the Special Education Maze and provide you with the information and tools you need to be a informed and active participant in your child’s education. Read more about our Purpose and our services (below). Download a PDF of our current Fact Sheet in English or our Fact Sheet in Spanish.
All services are provided at no cost to NC parents and families!
Our Purpose
The purpose of the PTI project is to help North Carolina parents and families:
- Better understand the nature of their children’s disabilities and their children’s educational, developmental, and transitional needs;
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with their child’s educators and other professionals;
- Participate in decision-making processes, including those related to their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP);
- Understand about the range, type and quality of options, programs and services, technologies, practices and interventions that are based on scientifically based research;
- Understand the resources available to assist their children at school and home;
- Understand their rights as provided under IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004);
- Participate in activities at the school level that benefit their children; and to
- Participate in school reform activities.
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Parent Education Workshops
ECAC provides workshops and training opportunities on a variety of topics across North Carolina including:
- Informed Effective Parents
- Writing Effective IEPs (Individualized Education Programs)
- Positive Behavior Supports
- Becoming Your Child's Best and most Effective Advocate!
- I'm Growing Up! - Transition to Preschool and/or Kindergarten Services
- Life is a Journey...Prepare for the Trip! - Transition to Adulthood
- EVERYONE Belongs: Inclusion
- Literacy for All!
- Writing a Good 504 Plan for Your Child
- Assistive Technology
- Effective Communication Skills - Keep communication between home and school on the right track!
- and more!
For more information or to schedule a workshop in your area, call 1-800-962-6817, ext. 10 or 17
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IEP Partners
Would you like assistance preparing for your child’s IEP Meeting or need someone to attend with you? Or would you like to volunteer to help another parent get ready for their child’s IEP meeting? If so, ECAC’s IEP Partners can help.
ECAC’s IEP Partners are volunteers who are trained by ECAC Parent Educators to help parents prepare for IEP meetings and provide knowledgeable support during IEP meetings when possible. ECAC offers IEP Partners Trainings throughout NC.
If you are interested in becoming an IEP Partner or would like more information about requesting an IEP Partner, call: 1-800-962-6817 and ask for Dawn Moore or Mary LaCorte.
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Info Sheets
ECAC Info Sheets provide helpful information for parents, families and eductors. Please feel free to copy and share any or Info Sheets.
Get the Latest on IDEA
In 1975, the United States Congress passed legislation providing for the education and protection of children with disabilities in public schools. The law must be examined and reauthorized every five years and was most recently reauthorized as The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act Amendments of 2004 (IDEA ’04). It is also known as P.L. 108-446.
This new law went into effect on July 1, 2004 and includes many changes designed to ensure that children with disabilities receive a high quality, free and appropriate education (FAPE).
 On August 3, 2006 the final regulations implementing Part B of IDEA 2004 were made public. To aid the education of parents, families, educators and administrators, the US Department of Education has launched a new website. Items are being added to the IDEA website daily and a section on Early Childhood is being developed – so be sure to visit often!
This site was created to provide a "one-stop shop" for resources related to IDEA and its implementing regulations. It is a "living" website and will change and grow as resources and information become available. When fully implemented, the site will provide searchable versions of IDEA and the regulations, access to cross-referenced content from other laws (e.g., the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), etc.), video clips on selected topics, topic briefs on selected regulations, links to OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&D) Network and a Q&A Corner where you can submit questions, and a variety of other information sources.
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Reading and Literacy is for ALL Students
 ECAC believes that is never too late and people are not too anything — not
too learning disabled, not too mentally retarded, not too autistic, not too
physically impaired, not too emotionally challenged, not too economically
disadvantaged — to be literate. All children, regardless of their age, their
culture, economic background, age or the severity of disability, should have
access to stories and books and instruction in reading and writing.
The following worksheets can be used to help you gather specific information
about YOUR child's performance in the areas of reading, writing, spelling
and testing. Schedule time with your child's teacher to review his or her
progress and areas of difficulty. The worksheets are designed so that you
have a place to write down each answer. Remember if you do not understand
something, ask to have it explained thoroughly.
Summer is a great time to get in some extra reading. Here are some Summer Reading Tips.
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Top Website Picks
- North Carolina Organizations:
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