The 2025-2026 Parent Survey is Open
Research shows students reach higher levels of achievement when parents are actively involved in their children’s education. As a parent, family member, or guardian of a student with a disability, you know firsthand what is working and what is not. Therefore, each year, the Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) gathers feedback from families through the survey to improve services.
The 2025-2026 Exceptional Children Parent Survey is available to all families throughout the state and will remain open until June 30, 2026.
If you have more than one child with a disability receiving services, you may complete the survey for each child. The survey is open to parents with children from preschool through high school.
Completing the survey is voluntary. You will not be asked to provide your name or other personally identifiable information. The information is confidential and will not be shared with anyone. The information from all families will be compiled to create a report about your school system, the state, the efforts to involve families in their children’s education, and the impact of that involvement on educational results for students with disabilities. The report is shared with the Local Education Agencies (LEAs) so they can make improvements. We hope you will participate.
Tool Time Tuesdays: Practical Help for Families
The Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) hosts weekly training sessions for parents and students, with topics including parent and student rights in special education, communication tips, what to do if you disagree with your school team, supporting learning at home, supporting behavior at home and at school, planning for life after high school, and resources available to support children with disabilities. Presentations are 30 minutes, from noon to 12:30 p.m. Longer webinars are available in the evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. You can find information about training sessions at ECAC’s Event Calendar.
Summer Camps are Accepting Applications
It’s time to make a plan for summer! Many camps in North Carolina are already accepting registrations.
The Family Support Network of North Carolina updates their extensive list of camps throughout North Carolina each year.
Bravo Nantahala Adventure Camp is an outdoor camp in Bryson City for children who are blind or have significant visual impairments. Activities include hiking, rafting and climbing. There are 12 spaces for rising 9-12 graders for July 12 through July 16. Instructors include teachers for the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialists. No campers will be turned away because of a lack of funds. Day camps are also available in Asheville and Charlotte.
Camp G.R.A.C.E. (YMCA) in Apex is a day camp designed for children ages 5 to 18 with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other special needs. Two sessions are offered over several weeks: Social Skills sessions are designed for children that do not require one-on-one assistance while Building Blocks sessions are designed with a smaller ratio to allow for more individual attention. Financial assistance is available.
Camp Lakey Gap is a week-long residential program for autistic individuals ages 4 to 100 in Black Mountain. Campers are grouped by age and assigned to different weeks. The camp employs visually structured programming, individualized support based on information from caregivers, and 1-on-1 and 1-on-2 support from trained staff during the day. Activities include arts and crafts, hiking, swimming, outdoor activities, music and motion, and canoeing. Financial assistance is available.
Camp Royall (Autism Society of North Carolina) is accepting applications now for ages 4 through adulthood. Day/overnight options are available, with activities including swimming, arts and crafts, hiking, hayrides, boating, and more. The camp is located in Moncure. Scholarships are available.
Camp Sertoma welcomes children ages 8-16 with any type of hearing loss, communication mode, or assistive listening technology. Applications are also accepted from hearing children of a Deaf adult or siblings of a Deaf child, as long as the camper is able to fluently communicate using American Sign Language (ASL). The camp is offered June 28 to July 3 in Ellerbe. Scholarships are available.
Camp SOAR serves youth and young adults ages 8-25 with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Located in Balsam, SOAR offers multiple outdoor camps over several weeks. Financial assistance is available.
The Inclusive Summer Horse Camp is hosted by the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center (NCTRC) in Mebane. Campers ages 6-11, with or without disabilities, learn life skills through caring for horses and engaging in farm activities. Campers also participate in arts and craft sessions and experience the outdoors.
Raleigh Parks Specialized Recreation and Inclusion Services (SRIS) offers programs for individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities. Camp Friendly is open to ages 6-12 and Camp Exploration is for ages 13-21, with sensory resources available. Both include behavior, feeding, participation, toileting, and personal care support. Financial assistance is available.
Talisman Camp in Zirconia hosts young people ages 6 to 22 with autism, ADHD, and learning differences. Programs are available by age grouping and include hiking, science canoeing, field games, swimming, arts and crafts, slingshots, and rock climbing. Scholarships are available.
Victory Junction in Randleman offers traditional summer camp as well as family weekends and young adult opportunities year round for children living with complex medical and physical needs at no cost to families. Activities include boating and fishing, creative arts, archery, sports and recreation and more.
FSNC Celebrates 40 Years of Family Support
The Family Support Network of North Carolina (FSNC) launched a Free Statewide Family Workshop series to celebrate their milestone. Topics will address different social determinants of health that impact children and youth with special healthcare needs. The hour-long virtual events will be presented by different FSNC affiliates and partners throughout the state and will provide simple and quick information for families. Monthly themes include equity in healthcare access, education access, decoding diagnoses, and access to appropriate mental health services.
Office of Exceptional Children Facebook Page
The Office of Exceptional Children has launched a new Facebook page titled “NCDPI Office of Exceptional Children”. Please go like and follow to support the positives going on in special education across the state as well as to stay updated with current activities.
Agencies of Interest:
Office of Special Education Programs (U.S. Department of Education)
N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Upcoming events:
Autism Society of North Carolina
Autism Speaks
The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education
Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center
Family Support Network
National Alliance on Mental Illness
NC ABLE
NC Down Syndrome Alliance
Special Olympics North Carolina
Triangle Disability & Autism Services
Do you have an event you would like to share with the community? Please email with information.
Contact information:
Johanna Lynch, IDEA Parent Liaison
Office of Exceptional Children, NCDPI
Email: johanna.lynch@dpi.nc.gov
Historical newsletters can be found in the Parent Newsletter Google Folder.
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