Advanced Bionics - Cochlear Implants

American Academy of Audiology

American Society for Deaf Children

Auditory-Verbal International

Better Hearing Institute

Cochlear Corporation -- Cochlear Implants

Equal Voice for Deaf Children (EVDC)

Exceptional Children's Assistance Center

Family Support Network of North Carolina

Gallaudet University

Hard of Hearing Kids

Language Matters Inc.

MED-EL Corporation -- Cochlear Implants

My Baby's Hearing

National Association of the Deaf

National Cued Speech Association

NC Beginnings

NIDCD Information Clearing House

The Alexander Graham Bell Association

The Arc of NC

The Deaf Education Web

The Hanen Centre

The John Tracy Clinic

US Department of Education

Organizations with Parent/Family Resources

Autism Society

• Autism Society creates connections and provides resources to empower individuals in the Autism community to live fully.

Autism Society of North Carolina

• The Autism Society of North Carolina improves the lives of individuals with autism, supports their families, and educates communities.

Autism Speaks

• Autism Speaks provides resources for families of and individuals with Autism.  Their advocacy influences policy at the state and federal government levels. 

Organization for Autism Research

• Organization for Autism Research, better known as OAR, is an organization founded and led by parents and grandparents of children with autism, who serve as the Board of Directors providing leadership, life experience, and heart.

ECAC Parent Center

• This is a training and information center that provides free information and assistance with educational issues to parents of children with disabilities. They offer a lending library, newsletter, and a Parent Info Line answered by parents.
• Telephone toll free 800.962.6817 or 704.892.1321.

Sibling Resources

Autism Speaks - A Siblings Guide to Autism

• This guide is for siblings to understand a little bit more about autism, learn what they can do to help their sibling, and how to take care of themselves. Great stories from siblings of individuals with autism are included!

  Sections include:

  • About Autism
  • Learning About the Diagnosis
  • How You Can Help
  • How to Ask for Help
  • Five Tips for Brothers and Sisters
  • Words from Autism Siblings Like You

National Autism Association - ASD & Siblings Toolkit

• NAA’s ASD & Siblings toolkit is a free guide created to help parents understand and address feelings and challenges often experienced by children who have a brother or sister with autism. 

Organization for Autism Research - Sibling Support

• OAR’s “Autism Sibling Support” initiative offers guidance for young children, teenagers, and parents on how to productively address the ups and downs that may arise for individuals who have a brother or sister with autism.

Webinars for Parents

Autism Society of NC Webinars

• Parents and caregivers of children with Autism often wish to seek out information to help them understand their child's diagnosis. They also seek to understand the role they play in supporting their child in the home and seeking out services their child may require. Webinars are available to help parents and caregivers as they navigate learning more about supporting their child.

Autism Research Institute Webinars

• Free online webinars offer autism education for individuals, parents, and professionals.  Live webinars and recorded content are available across a range of topics.

National Autism Association

• NAA is proud to offer our Autism ATRIUM program.  This educational initiative for the autism community will provide a regular schedule of learning opportunities through free online webiNAArs, a digital library of downloadable toolkits, and a series of blog entries by experts in topics affecting individuals with autism and their families.

ELS for Autism

• ELS for Autism offers a virtual classroom for online learning webinars covering a variety of topics on autism spectrum disorder. 

SPARK for Autism

• Researchers, clinicians, and advocates share their knowledge and insight with the SPARK community through free monthly webinars. They explore the topics that are important to the community—from bullying to romance to genetics to services access.

Getting Started After an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis

Autism Speaks - 100 Day Kit for Young Children

• This free resource kit will help you learn more about autism and how to access the services that your child needs. It contains information and advice collected from trusted experts on autism, autistics and parents. 

10 Guidelines for Telling Your Child about ASD

• A highly controversial topic of conversation amongst parents and professionals was the question, “Should we tell our child that she has autism?”  This article helps to provide guidance to parents around this topic.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism: Getting Started: Introducing Your Child to His Diagnosis of Autism

• Many parents are fearful that labeling their child as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will make him or her feel broken, or that they may use their label as an excuse to give up and not try. This article discusses how giving your child information on the nature of his/her differences will give them a better understanding and the motivation that is needed to drive through challenges.

National Organizations and Community Supports

Provided by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Victory Junction 

• Victory Junction enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness by providing life-changing experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering; all in a medically-sound environment at no cost to the camper or their family!
• Offers a day camp for families who have children with autism.

National Autism Center Resources for Parents 

Sesame Street Resources

Retail Me Not - Sensory Overload while Shopping

• Tips for helping loved ones with Sensory Overload enjoy shopping 

Estate Planning

• Estate Planning for parents of children with Autism

TEACCH 

• Autism website

The U.S. Department of Education - Office of Civil Rights

• Provides answers to questions most frequently asked about disability discrimination. 

Accredited Online Colleges

• This site provides information on accessing supports for students with disabilities for Online Colleges and Universities. 

Visual Supports

connectability.ca

• Create your own Visual Supports at home with this website.

Toilet Training

Autism Awareness Centre Inc.

• The Difficulties with Toilet Training a Person with Autism

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability in mathematics.  It is a brain-based learning difference that is categorized as difficulty achieving in mathematics correspondent with chronological age, adequate instruction, and a lack of intellectual disability.  It is marked by difficulties with visualization (visual-spatial perception, processing, and discrimination), counting, pattern recognition, sequential memory, working memory for numbers, retrieval of learned facts and procedures, directional confusion, quantitative processing speed, kinesthetic sequences, and perception of time.

 

What is Dyscalculia?

• Informational video from the National Center for Learning Disabilities about the characteristics of dyscalculia.

Symptoms of Dyscalculia

• Informational video from Understood.org that explains the symptoms of dyscalculia.

7 Common Myths About Dyscalculia

• Understood.org shares seven common misconceptions about dyscalculia.

 

Supporting Your Child in Math

Twelve Steps To Increase Your Child’s Math Achievement And Make Math Fun

• This document provides several suggestions for how to work with children in mathematics at home.  It includes suggestions for fostering mathematical mindsets as well as suggestions to support problem solving.

Math Anxiety Is Real.  Here's How to Help Your Child Avoid It.

• Math anxiety is real for kids and adults.  But parents can help!  This article shares tips to helping your child avoid/overcome math anxiety.

This Is Why It's So Hard to Help with Your Kid's Math Homework

• This article shares the reasons that parents often get frustrated with their kids' math homework, and why kids may end up thinking they are not "math people."  It provides practical advice for parents to assist their child with math homework to develop mathematically minded students.

Figure This! - Family Corner

• This website provides suggestions for families to support math at home in a variety of ways.  It includes suggestions for helping with homework, math challenges that can be completed at home, and much more.  PDFs are available in English and Spanish.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

What is Dyslexia? 

• Informational video about the characteristics of dyslexia.

Dyslexia in NC Schools

• Informational video detailing how dyslexia is addressed in North Carolina schools.  

Dyslexia Basics

• Do you think your child might have dyslexia?  This fact sheet provides a definition of dyslexia and other helpful facts, including ways to help your child. 

International Dyslexia Association Handbook - What Every Family Should Know

• The IDA Handbook provides information about dyslexia for parents and families of those with individuals with dyslexia.

Dyslexia Tool Kit from ECAC

• The Dyslexia Tool kit provides information about dyslexia and its characteristics, communicating with your child's school, special education, and helpful resources for guardians and families.

Supporting Your Child in Reading

Target the Problem

• Informational Handout from Reading Rockets.  This handout helps parents consider the difficulties their student may be having in reading and offers ways parents can help.

A Child Becomes a Reader

• Research-based ideas for parents to support a kindergarten to 3rd grade child who is learning to read.  

What Parents Can Do - Developing a Foundation for Reading

• Early good practices enrich learning and develop a foundation for later reading. Try these reading-readiness steps to engage your child.

Teach Your Monster to Read

• Free, fun-filled online game for supporting the development of early reading skills.  Free account for parents.

Dysgraphia

What is Dysgraphia?  What Should I Do If My Child Has it?

• Dysgraphia is defined and symptoms discussed in this article by WebMD

Understanding Dysgraphia

• This article provided by the International Dyslexia Association offers answers to many of the questions parents have concerning dysgraphia.

Activities to Encourage Speech/Language Development

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

F Articulation Book List

G Articulation Book List

Home Remediation of Developmental Sounds

K Articulation Book List

Speaking of Speech

The Stuttering Foundation

Tongue Thrusts

NC Vocational Rehabilitation - A Working Partnership

The NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has partnered with Union County Public Schools to assist students in making a successful transition from their school life to jobs and careers.

VR Counselors work primarily with high school seniors and second-semester juniors to provide them with vocational guidance and assist them with developing a career plan.

 The program is designed to assist individuals with physical, emotional, or educational limitations, i.e. students who receive extended time, separate testing, etc. - who require assistance to prepare for, locate, or maintain employment compatible with their interests, skills, and potential.

 If your child is eligible, we may be able to provide vocational guidance and assist with vocational training, job placement, and other services to help ensure a successful transition from school to job.

 Our assistance begins with a review of school records along with related medical or psychological information. If additional information is required, we will obtain it at no cost to you or your family.

Vocational Rehabilitation Referral Packet - English

Vocational Rehabilitation Referral Packet - Spanish