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NC DeafBlind Project Heads to the Zoo

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ECAC employee at the zoo with a child that attended the event.
NC DeafBlind Project Heads to the Zoo
Published: June 5, 2023
The NC DeafBlind families attended an educational event at the NC Zoo in Asheboro, NC on Friday, May 12, 2023.
Twenty family members enjoyed a private tour of the zoo, where the guides from the NC Zoo Society provided descriptions of the animals and made stops at the elephants, lions, gorillas, giraffes and polar bears habitats. Kids had a hands-on experience touching a turtle, snake, and an elephant tooth. They enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch and learned about concept development from the ECAC and DPI staff members. Services offered by the NC DeafBlind project were also discussed.

In the words of parents:
  • "This was a fantastic event, my girls had a wonderful time, so organized and everyone was friendly and helpful."
  • "Everything was wonderful, Beautiful day."
  • "The staff were very polite, pleasant, and accommodating. They presented with the understanding that we were with a group of people with dual-sensory impairments and advised on other ways animals use their unique senses."
  • "We loved it. I love that the whole family was included."

     

Watch this video to learn more about the DeafBlind Project:

Parent Testimonial

Dear ECAC Team,

I hope this letter finds you well. I want to express a heartfelt thank you to you all for your work. To Mrs. Aimee Combs, I appreciate your continued advocacy alongside youth and young adults disabilities and for allowing me to have a place at the table. I am so thankful to have met everyone on staff, and your passion for what you all do is infectious.

When I connected with Mrs. Debra Pickens and reconnected with my friend and fellow advocate Billy Pickens, I had no clue what was ahead.  I had the honor of participating as a voice in the following events: The Duke Univ Health Equity Rounds, NCSU Family Leadership Summit, ECU Inclusion Summit and the Partners in Learning Conference, not to mention numerous YAT opportunities and events.

All of these opportunities and more have had a lasting impact on me and continue to set the standard in my relationships with other organizations as well. Thank you for investing in me, and the mission that I was called to fulfill through advocating, creating and serving our shared communities of disabilities. I look forward to more opportunities to build upon the relationships established, and more opportunities to assist, collaborate and learn from you all as you continue to impact our state, my generation as well as present and future advocates.

Sincerely,
Mayia Warren