Tools and Information

Los niños se benefician cuando los adultos que forman parte de sus vidas son capaces de observar y describir la mejor parte de ellos o de apreciar lo que es fundamental en su persona.

La primera experiencia escolar de un niño es una ocasión monumental tanto para la familia como para el niño. Uno puede preguntarse: “¿Está mi hijo listo para la escuela?” y, “¿Está la escuela lista para mi hijo?” Si bien no existe una fórmula única para garantizar la “preparación” escolar, existen muchas oportunidades para que las familias y los cuidadores promuevan y apoyen el desarrollo y el aprendizaje de un niño antes de ingresar al jardín de infantes.

Medicaid waivers “waive” certain federal Medicaid requirements, such as income requirements, to allow for people with qualifying disabilities to have access to specialized services and supports that are covered by Medicaid.

Section 504 is a federal civil rights law, banning disability discrimination in all programs that get federal funding.

Resource document by the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities that provides special education basics, tips for letter writing and sample letters to help parent's better communicate with their child's school.

The focus of this Parent Guide from Children’s Law Clinic -Duke Law School, is the federal special education law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that promises each child with a disability a “free, appropriate, public education.”

Before developing IEPs, all IEP team members, including parents, should become familiar with the general education curriculum, including the state’s academic content standards and the state testing program. In order to make informed decisions about appropriate annual goals, supports and special education needs, the IEP team should consider how your child is performing as compared to the state’s academic content standards for the grade that your child is in.

Note the student’s response to transition between activities. Is s/he disoriented, distracted, or overwhelmed visually or auditorally when moving or preparing for new activity? Is s/he agitated or anxious during the change? If so, consider these questions in addressing this difficulty.

Adaptations and modifications that can be used in the general curriculum, including volume of work, time, support, difficulty, participation, and more.

Guide for actions regarding volume of work, time, support, difficulty, participation

The Air Force Assistance Fund provides support to Air Force families in need (active duty, retirees, reservists, guard and dependents, including surviving spouses). They can help with emergency needs, educational assistanceand family support...and provide comfort and dignity to Air Force and Space Force widows and widowers.

Good special education services are intensive and expensive. Resources are limited. If you have a child with special needs, you will likely need to utilize...

Celebrating American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Army Emergency Relief provides assistance to soldiers for costs associated with home school and remote education.

Parents are distressed when they receive a note from school saying that their child won’t listen to the teacher or causes trouble in class. Sometimes these behaviors are caused by Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)...

It’s so exciting to be getting ready to bring your new baby home. You’ve been planning for this day and it’s finally here! It may be different than you expected; you may feel worried, a little nervous, or even a little scared. That’s totally natural. Almost every new parent feels like this! We realize you may have a few more things to consider. Here’s a list of questions and resources to help you get organized and feel more comfortable and confident as you head home.

A fillable tool for organizing a child's health care information.

Una Herramienta para Organizar la Información de Salud de un Niño

Además de ayudar a las familias a comprender el sistema de educación especial, también nos especializamos en ayudar a las familias a orientarse dentro del sistema de salud de Carolina del Norte.

When making choices or setting goals, it can be helpful to know whom you can count on. Different people maybe helpful in different situations. Use this worksheet to write down the names of people who you know that you can ask for support or help.

Como padre, usted es quien mejor conoce a su hijo. Si tiene alguna inquietud o preocupación sobre cómo se mueve, actúa, habla, juega o sobre su desarrollo en general, es importante que comparta esta información con el pediatra.

Los bebés y niños pequeños con discapacidades o atrasos en el desarrollo que reciben servicios de intervención temprana tienden a desarrollarse y aprender mejor que aquellos que no los reciben.

You know your child best. If your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you, your child’s teacher, or another care provider is concerned about how your child plays...

Al igual que todos los estudiantes, los niños que viven con discapacidades necesitan aprender diferentes tipos de habilidades en la escuela

A compilation of Current Opportunities in North Carolina to Tell Your Story, Use Your Voice and/or Participate in Leadership Activities

A person who is deaf-blind has a unique experience of the world. For people who can see and hear, the world extends outward as far as his or her eyes and ears can reach. For the young child...

La ley IDEA exige que las escuelas entreguen a los padres de un alumno con discapacidad un aviso que incluya una explicación detallada de las Salvaguardias procesales (derechos legales) disponibles en virtud de la IDEA y de las regulaciones federales complementarias. Es fundamental que los padres de familia comprendan tanto sus derechos como sus responsabilidades en el proceso de educación especial.

Think of all the skills that children have to learn when they come into the world. We expect these skills to emerge naturally over time and know more or less when they should...

Learn the signs of your child’s development and act early if you ever have a concern. To complete a milestone checklist, download CDC’s FREE Milestone Tracker app or visit cdc.gov/Milestones, and talk to your child’s doctor at every well-child...

When there is an unresolved disagreement over identification, evaluation or educational placement of a child with a disability or the provision of free appropriate public education, families have informal and formal options for dispute resolution. This brochure provides information on IEP Facilitation, mediation, formal written complaint, and due process hearings,

The consultants for dispute resolution (disagreements) work with parents, traditional local educational agencies, charter schools, state operated programs and other individuals to resolve disputes. They provide information about facilitated IEP meetings, mediation, formal written complaints and due process hearings. They also investigate formal written complaints.

Our goal: To provide support to you in understanding dyslexia and how your child can get the resources they may need.

This Topic Brief by the NC Department of Public Instruction's Exceptional Children Division addresses the common myths about dyslexia in NC Schools.

February is National Parent/Family Leadership Month! In your role as a parent, you are an advocate and leader in the everyday life of your family. Your experiences and your knowledge as a family member is invaluable when educational decisions are being made. Parent Leadership Month is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the role of the parent leader whether at home, at school, in the community or at the local, state, and national level.

November is Family Engagement Month! The Family Engagement Month calendar is a list of daily activities that you can do with your child anytime. The activities are meant to be fun and to make the most of those teachable moments. Not every activity will be appropriate for every child. Children have different abilities as well as different interests. You can modify many of the activities to meet the needs of your child.

This easy to use comparison chart looks at dispute resolution processes from a variety of perspectives.

In your role as a parent you are an advocate and leader in the everyday life of your family. This survey asks you to think about what you already do and any additional skills you would like to develop.

It may sound silly or even a little confusing to think about “literacy” and your little one. But would it help to know that literacy for a very young child does not mean teaching infants and toddlers how to read? Whew!

The first three years of your infant or toddler’s life is a very exciting time for you and your family. Each day will bring new opportunities for your child to grow, learn and gain new skills.

The first three years of your infant or toddler’s life is an exciting time for you and a very important time for your child’s growth and development.

North Carolina's parent center, serving families with children (birth to 26) with disabilities or special health care needs

Centro de Capacitación e Información para Padres de Carolina del Norte (PTI)

February is National Parent/Family Leadership Month! In your role as a parent, you are an advocate and leader in the everyday life of your family. Your experiences and your knowledge as a family member is invaluable when educational decisions are being made. Parent Leadership Month is an opportunity to honor and celebrate the role of the parent leader whether at home, at school, in the community or at the local, state, and national level.

New guidance from the US Department of Education on discipline for students with disabilities.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Security Disability Income (SSDI)

A Body of Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions for Family- Facing Professionals

November is Family Engagement Month! The Family Engagement Month calendar is a list of daily activities that you can do with your child anytime. The activities are meant to be fun and to make the most of those teachable moments. Not every activity will be appropriate for every child. Children have different abilities as well as different interests. You can modify many of the activities to meet the needs of your child

November is Family Engagement Month! The Family Engagement Month calendar is a list of daily activities that you can do with your child anytime. The activities are meant to be fun and to encourage interactions between you and your preteen / teen. Not every activity will be appropriate for every child. Children have different abilities as well as different interests. You can modify many of the activities to meet the needs of your child and family.

November is Family Engagement Month! The Family Engagement Month Activity Calendar includes activities that encourage families to connect to the school and community. Supporting families to become even more engaged in their child’s learning makes us all winners.

This tool can be used by professionals as a self- assessment to reflect on their interactions with families.

Checklist to help you evaluate whether a leadership opportunity is right for you.

This checklist is designed to support families to develop policies that will help make their vision of educational equity a reality.

In addition to helping families navigate the special education system, ECAC also specializes in helping families navigate health related systems in NC.

Start by knowing you are an equal partner in your infant or toddler’s development, medical care and education!

This guide is intended to provide parents with practical information about guardianship to help them make an informed decision.

¿Cómo puede esta guía ayudarle? Participar en la educación de su hijo puede conducir a mejores resultados de aprendizaje. Esta “Guía de aprendizaje digital para padres y familias” le dirá cómo supervisar el progreso de su hijo según accede y utiliza la tecnología de aprendizaje. Esta guía tiene como objetivo ayudar a todos los padres y cuidadores, incluidos aquellos que tienen experiencia limitada con herramientas digitales, aquellos que son expertos en estas herramientas y los de conocimiento intermedio. Cada sección comienza con lo básico y se desarrolla a partir de ahí.

Got Transition, su Grupo Asesor Nacional Familiar y la colaboración de padres líderes de habla hispana de Family Voices, han desarrollado un conjunto de herramientas para ayudar y guiar a las familias en la transición de sus jóvenes en los servicios de salud pediátricos a los de adulto. Esta guía es para familias e incluye recursos en español fáciles de usar para ayudar a jóvenes y familias a ser más independientes en su cuidado de su salud y el uso de los servicios de salud. Los recursos incluyen un programa de transición, preguntas para hacerle a su proveedor, lo que significa cumplir 18 años para su salud y más.

GUÍA PARA PADRES SOBRE LA EDUCACIÓN ESPECIAL EN CAROLINA DEL - Glosario y acrónimos

La Guía se centra en la ley federal de educación especial conocida como Ley de Educación para Individuos con Discapacidades (IDEA, por sus siglas en inglés), que garantiza a todos los niños con discapacidades una "educación pública, gratuita y apropiada".

Learn about choosing a high school course of study!

Brought to you by ECAC and NC's Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information Center

A newsletter from ECAC, North Carolina's Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information Center

A newsletter from ECAC, North Carolina's Family-to-Family (F2F) Health Information Center

Questions that may assist the team to establish a review of IEP goals and objectives

Estas preguntas son a menudo utilizadas por el personal de ECAC cuando se habla con familias y profesionales. Proporcionan formas efectivas de solicitar aclaraciones en cualquier situación.

Una Guia Para Cuidadores Y Estudiantes

Activities to help Children Develop Leadership skills.

5 Quick Guides for Parents of Children & Youth

This fact sheet provides an overview of the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA).

Check out these tips to prepare for your next IEP meeting!

IEP MAPA DE LA TRAVESÍA - Para las familias

A guide featuring the North Carolina IEP forms and useful tips for parents along the way.

This tip sheet from PROGRESS Center reviews the elements of the individualized education program (IEP) and the IEP development process.

A great tool full of suggested accommodations for specific areas of difficulty.

Inclusion is an attitude and value system that encourages students to receive an appropriate and quality education in the company of their peers...

Like all students, students who experience disabilities need to learn many types of ‘skills’ in school. These include: habits of mind, basic academic skills, other content areas and functional skills.

Intellectual disability is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communication, self-care, and social skills...

Los salones de clase son lugares muy ajetreados donde todo pasa muy de prisa. Regularmente a los maestros y demás personal de la escuela, les lleva tiempo conocer y entender las necesidades especiales de su hijo. “La Instantánea del Estudiante” que ECAC ha preparado es una excelente forma de compartir con la escuela lo que a usted le ha tomado tiempo aprender de su hijo y le ayuda a comunicar al misno tiempo las áreas que le preocupan y en donde su niño pueda necesitar más ayuda.

El camino hacia la edad adulta

El camino hacia la edad adulta

This resource from the Office of Early Learning, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is designed to support families and caregivers as they initiate the process of transitioning to kindergarten. It can best be utilized when provided at the onset of the Pre-K year.

Learn about career exploration and training in high school, as well as postsecondary education and training!

Lista de verificación del Programa de Educación Individualizado.

El camino hacia la edad adulta

Military families move between postings on a regular basis, and while reassignments can often be a boon for career personnel, they can be difficult for the children of military families. The average military student faces transition challenges more than twice during high school and most military children will attend six to nine different schools in their lives from Kindergarten to 12th grade. The Compact seeks to make transition easier for the children of military families, so they are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children, and are not penalized or delayed in achieving their educational goals.

Take this booklet with you and talk to your child’s doctor at every well-child visit about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next...

Planning for the coming year can be overwhelming, especially for military families with multiple children in various grades or after a PCS move. MCEC dove into many resources to provide you with tips and tricks to help you make the school year a success!

ECAC joins the Department of Defense and the military community in celebrating April as the Month of the Military Child with this special edition newsletter highlighting NC Military Children with disabilities and special health care needs and their families.

Learn about Month of the Military Child activities and events!

This document outlines the three areas under which schools implementing an MTSS Framework should implement supports.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society offers active duty or retired Sailors and Marines a variety of financial assistance options due to COVID-19

The Be Early Brochure provides basic information about the Infant Toddler Program and what to do if there are concerns about a child's development. Also includes a checklist of developmental milestones for the first year of life

The Be Early Brochure provides basic information about the Infant Toddler Program and what to do if there are concerns about a child's development. Also includes a checklist of developmental milestones for the first year of life

Learn about graduation requirements!

The Milestones Chart helps parents determine whether their child is meeting developmental milestones during the first three years.

The NCITP Milestones Chart helps parents determine whether their child is meeting developmental milestones during the first three years.

NC MTSS is a multi-tiered framework which promotes school improvement through engaging, research-based academic and behavioral practices as well as Social Emotional Learning (SEL). NC MTSS employs a systems approach using data-driven problem-solving to maximize growth for all.

Working Together to Support Children's Learning and Development outlines how CDSA staff and community providers use coaching to help caregivers support their children's learning and development.

Working Together to Support Children's Learning and Development outlines how CDSA staff and community providers use coaching to help caregivers support their children's learning and development.

The NCDBP is a project of the NC Department of Public Instruction, Exceptional Children Division through funding from the U.S. Department of Education - Office of Special Education Programs.

A collection of state and national resources for deaf-blind families and professionals.

A resource guide to agencies across the state.

The NC ITP Parent Handbook helps parents understand the role and philosophy of the Infant-Toddler Program and answers key questions concerning its policies and procedures.

The Nc ITP Parent Handbook helps parents understand the role and philosophy of the Infant-Toddler Program and answers key questions concerning its policies and procedures.

YEP's NCGT column is here to put a spotlight on the many talents and abilities of NC Youth & Young Adults with Disabilities ages 5 to 26. The format of submissions can be a poem, artwork, blog, video, song, essay, article, presentation, an "About me" article, you name it. ECAC's Youth Advisory Team will review the submissions and choose which ones to feature in our next newsletter. Selected entries will receive a $25 Visa gift card in the mail!

The IDEA category of orthopedic impairments contains a wide variety of disorders. Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects the largest group of students with orthopedic impairments in public schools...

Learn about informal removal of children with disabilities from public schools.

Painting the BIG Picture! This worksheet has been created as a way for any adult to help “paint the big picture” of a child they care about and know well. The worksheet guides each writer to describe the child and to provide “tips” on what works best. The tips allow you to make a connection between what YOU know and what others can do to help him/her to be successful.

¡FEBRERO es el MES NACIONAL DEL LIDERAZGO DE PADRES (FAMILIAR)! En su papel como padre, usted es un defensor y líder en la vida diaria de su familia. Sus experiencias y su conocimiento como miembro de familia son invaluables al momento de tomar decisiones en el campo de la educación. El Mes de Liderazgo de Padres es una oportunidad para honrar y celebrar el papel de los padres que son líderes, ya sea en el hogar, en la escuela, en la comunidad o a nivel local, estatal y nacional.

This guide is designed to provide educators and parent leaders with fun and engaging activities that promote student success and family involvement in education.

What can this guide do for you? Your involvement in your child’s education can lead to better learning results and outcomes. This “Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide” will inform you, as a parent or caregiver, as you monitor your child’s progress as your child accesses and uses technology for learning. This guide aims to help all parents and caregivers, including those who have limited experience with digital tools, those who are expert with these tools, and anywhere in between. Each section starts with foundational pieces and builds from there.

It is important that you understand the Procedural Safeguards (legal rights) provided for you and your child with a disability. In this document from NCDPI, you will find a new section in more user-friendly language that summarizes the rights and responsibilities of parents in the special education process. Acronyms and terms often used in special education and resources for parents are found in the appendices.

Check out this parent-teacher conference worksheet!

This resource walks parents through the signs and impacts of dyslexia, how children can be evaluated for dyslexia and ways that parent's and teachers can help children once they are diagnosed with dyslexia.

In person centered planning, groups of people focus on an individual and that person's vision of what they would like to do in the future...

Policies written by the NC Department of Public Instruction outlining how NC schools will implement NC Special Education Law which is based on IDEA.

A tool to help youth create goals in the areas of Training/Education, Employment and Independent Living as part of their Transition to Adulthood.

La dislexia es una discapacidad de aprendizaje que afecta las habilidades de lenguaje como la lectura, la ortografía y la escritura. Si su hijo tiene dificultad para leer y usted sospecha que tiene dislexia, entonces usted necesita información específica sobre cómo apoyar el progreso de lectura de su hijo y lo que significa tener dislexia. Las siguientes preguntas lo ayudarán a recopilar la información que necesita cuando asista a una conferencia de padres/ maestros o participe en una reunión de IEP (Programa de Educación Individualizado). Use el espacio proporcionado para escribir las respuestas de los maestros, especialistas de educación o del equipo de apoyo de su hijo. Seleccione y conteste las preguntas que se relacionan con su hijo.

El camino hacia la edad adulta

El Programa de Infantes-Niños Menores de Tres Años de Carolina del Norte El Programa de Infantes-Niños Menores de Tres Años de Carolina del Norte (ITP, por sus siglas en inglés) proporciona apoyo y servicios para el desarrollo de los bebés y niños pequeños con necesidades especiales o retrasos en el desarrollo hasta los 3 años de edad, y a sus familias. Las Agencias de Servicios de Desarrollo Infantil (CDSA) coordinan estos servicios a nivel local para aumentar el potencial de crecimiento y desarrollo de su hijo. Los servicios de intervención temprana no sólo ayudan a aumentar la capacidad de las familias para apoyar las necesidades de su hijo desde una edad temprana, sino que también hacen más probable que este alcance su máximo potencial.

When your child struggles in math, you need specific information to help you encourage and support your child as they develop and build their math skills...

You know your child best and your participation in the transition process is critical. The following questions will help you think about and be prepared to effectively participate in the process.

When you are the parent of a child who struggles with reading, you need specific information to support your child’s reading progress. Whether attending a parent/teacher conference, participating in writing the IEP (Individualized Education Program), or working with your child at home, use the questions that relate to your child to gather the information you need...

􀁕reguntas que los padres pueden hacer… Recuerde: Siempre pida una explicación de todo lo que no entendió. Si usted es el padre de un niño al que se le dificulta la lectura, usted necesita información específica para apoyar el progreso de su hijo. Ya sea que asista a las conferencias entre padres y maestros...

This worksheet will help you gather the specific information you need if your child struggles with reading and you suspect dyslexia.

Cuando a un niño se le dificulta la lectura, con frecuencia también se le dificulta la ortografía, escritura y las evaluaciones/exámenes...