Tools to Support Families Through the IEP Process
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advocacy Guide
The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) develops online, self-directed training to support families and schools as they navigate the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) processes to improve team relationships and outcomes.
The Parents Guide to Using AI for Advocacy in Special Education was created to assist families in using artificial intelligence with confidence and security—empowering your advocacy efforts, safeguarding your child’s confidential information, and fostering collaborative partnerships with your child’s educational team. Keep in mind that AI makes mistakes, including about special education law and procedures. AI can choose to share information that applies to states other than North Carolina, can escalate a situation rather than help, does not know your child or their needs, and tends to have an affirmation bias that can reinforce what you say even when you are wrong. Do not include your or your child’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in an AI chat as it can be saved and potentially used to train the AI model.
Strategies for Working Through Difficult Conversations
The Working Together Series includes five interactive, self-directed courses that share a number of approaches for working together and through conflict. Topics covered are: IEP meeting strategies, listening, understanding interests, and managing emotions during difficult conversations.
Dispute Resolution Family Guides and Companion Videos
If an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team cannot come to an agreement or if there is an unresolved disagreement over identification, evaluation, or the educational placement of a child with a disability or the provision of free appropriate public education, the options for dispute resolution include facilitation, mediation, formal written complaint, and due process hearing.
CADRE’s IDEA Dispute Resolution Parent Guides and Companion explains each of the available dispute resolution options and provides examples of how each process works. The website also includes a comparison chart for all options.
These resources are available in English and Spanish.
What are FBAs and BIPs?
If a student is struggling with behaviors that interfere with his or her learning or the learning of other students, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team may determine that completing a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) would be appropriate. The FBA is used to understand the function and purpose of a child’s specific interfering behavior, and the factors that contribute to the behavior’s occurrence. The results of the FBA would be used to develop positive behavioral interventions, supports, and other strategies to reduce or eliminate the behavior.
The assessment is completed by trained school staff who conduct a review of the student’s education records, including previous behavior reports; interviews with the teacher, parent(s) and student; rating scales or questionnaires to identify and measure behaviors; and, observations to determine what happened right before the incident to trigger the behavior and what happened after the behavior that reinforces it.
The data collected through the FBA is then used to develop a written behavior intervention plan (BIP) that is proactive and focused on teaching the student new skills or replacement behaviors. The BIP includes preventative strategies to avoid the trigger, replacement behaviors that give the student options, and consequence strategies that define how the adult(s) will respond if the behavior happens. The BIP should not include punishments or punitive consequences.
Replacement behaviors could include asking for a break, a teacher or a teacher’s aide check-in with the student, using sensory tools such as a fidget toy, or taking scheduled breaks. Each BIP is specific to the student’s needs and may include multiple strategies to support the student throughout the school day.
Family Support Opportunities in the Northeast and Southeast Regions
Region 1
Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families provides programs and services for families and childcare professionals. Family support includes programs for parenting, both general and specific to fathers, evidence-based programs related to behaviors, positive parenting, and support for families as they navigate service systems. Families can be connected to resources, including a scholarship for tuition for families in need of child care.
Counties served: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Pasquotank, Perquimmans, Tyrell, and Washington
Region 2
Family Support Network of Southeastern NC provides training and resources to families of children who have special healthcare needs or disabilities, including parent-to-parent support, information and referral, support groups, inclusive community-based family activities, and workshops and training for families and service providers.
Counties served: Brunswick, Duplin, New Hanover, and Pender
Coastal BUDS - Bringing Up Down Syndrome supports, connects, and provides resources and opportunities for people with Down syndrome and their families. Programs include swim camp, a book club, mom’s night out, support meetings, a lending library for parents, and a life skills program Down to Cook.
Counties served: Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender
Additional Statewide Resources
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center ECAC is a statewide parent center with a variety of programs for families of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs, aged birth to 26. ECAC has the federal designation of being North Carolina’s Parent Center and Information Center (PTI). Parent Educators with lived experience help parents and caregivers navigate the special education process, know their rights, and connect with resources. The agency provides in-person and online training.
The Arc of North Carolina supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. They connect individuals to care management, supported employment, housing, and other services. Parents and caregivers can learn about guardianship and supporting their child through adulthood.
Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) pairs parents with an Autism Resource Specialist, who are trained parents of children or adults with Autism, to learn about available resources and services, including support through the process of developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Regional support groups are available for parents and caregivers throughout the state.
Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC) supports individuals and their families by connecting them to resources, regional and statewide support groups, education and training, and advocacy.
The CARE Project hosts retreats, family fun days, and an annual parent/professional collaborative for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Parents can connect with other parents and learn side-by-side with audiologists, early interventionists, teachers, and other hearing professionals.
Community Alternatives Program for Children (CAP/C) CAP/C is a NC Medicaid Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) program that provides a cost-effective alternative to institutionalization for Medicaid beneficiaries who are medically fragile and at risk for institutionalization if the home and community-based services approved in the CAP/C waiver were not available. If a child qualifies for CAP/C, they are eligible to receive NC Medicaid benefits with supports that can include a nurse manager and a nursing assistant.
Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia connects individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges to resources and services, including developmental therapy, daily living skills, peer support, independent living, mental health help for adults and youth, camps, cerebral palsy services, employment, residential services, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and respite care for caregivers.
Family Support Network of North Carolina (FSN of NC) connects caregivers with trained Parent Mentors who have lived experience navigating schools, insurance, and service providers. Parent Mentors share information, help caregivers navigate resources, and provide emotional support. FSN has 11 affiliate programs across North Carolina.
First in Families of North Carolina (FIFNC) complements formal services, provides support when other resources are not available, and serves as a bridge to the community. They assist families and individuals according to their self-defined needs, which may include connecting them to resources for everyday necessities such as computers, home furnishings or modifications, childcare or respite, vehicle repairs, or access to vocational, social, and educational opportunities within the community. FIFNC works with families who have a member with a developmental disability or delay, are at risk of such conditions, or have experienced a traumatic brain injury. They collaborate with the community to provide these services. Please visit the website to find a local chapter.
Learning Disabilities Association of North Carolina (LDANC) promotes awareness of the multifaceted nature of learning disabilities and supports equitable opportunities for people with learning disabilities to participate in life’s experiences. They also support parents, teachers, and other professionals.
National Alliance on Mental Illness North Carolina (NAMI NC) is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. It provides mental health advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families can build better lives.
North Carolina Assistive Technology Program (NCATP) helps individuals with disabilities access and use technology, tools, and devices that help individuals with disabilities perform tasks more easily. Services include demonstrations, device loan program, assessments to determine appropriate assistive technology, and training in assistive technology.
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) works to improve the opportunities and lives of over 180,000 North Carolinians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. The Governor-appointed Council represents and partners with agencies, service providers, and other organizations across the State that provide people with I/DD, their families, and caregivers access to services and resources needed to live in the community of their choice.
The North Carolina DeafBlind Project (NCDBP) is a federally funded grant through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and is administered through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) in the Office of Exceptional Children. The mission of NCDPI and the NC DeafBlind project is to assist educators, related service providers, and families to gain knowledge to enable children who are DeafBlind to access the general curriculum and to gain skills and experiences that prepare them to successfully transition to adult life.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) manages the delivery of health- and human-related services for all North Carolinians, especially the most vulnerable people—children, elderly, disabled and low-income families. DHHS works with healthcare professionals, community leaders and advocacy groups; local, state and federal entities; and many other stakeholders to provide services. Parents can also find information about Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship.
North Carolina Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (NC EIPD; formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation/VR) supports individuals with disabilities through a variety of programs aimed at enhancing employment opportunities and promoting independence. Services include job training, counseling, job placement, independent living through skills training and advocacy, and assistive technology.
North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance (NCDSA) supports individuals with Down Syndrome from birth to adulthood and their families. Programs include NC Parent’s First Call Program, Prenatal Program, medical outreach, UNC Down Syndrome Clinic, events for teens and adults, advocacy, The Learning Program, an annual statewide conference, and Mom’s and Dad’s Nights Out.
North Carolina Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment (NC START) is a statewide community crisis prevention and intervention program for individuals age six and older with intellectual/developmental disability and co-occurring complex behavioral and/or mental health needs. START crisis prevention and intervention services are provided through clinical systemic consultation, training, education, therapeutic respite, crisis response, and therapeutic coaching.
The State Library of North Carolina Accessible Books and Library Services (SLNC-ABLS) is a public library that circulates books and magazines made for persons who cannot use regular printed material because of a visual, physical, or reading disability.
Agencies of Interest:
Office of Special Education Programs (U.S. Department of Education)
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (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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