Exceptional Childrens Assistance Center Inc

ECAC contracted with NC DHHS Division of Employment and Independence for people with Disabilities (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation) to provide pre-employment transition services to 78 students with disabilities. Students received training and support in job exploration counseling, workplace readiness training, counseling on postsecondary options, and instruction in self-advocacy, to increase the Divisions capacity for reaching and serving students with disabilities across North Carolina.

ECAC has several contracts with the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) Office of Exceptional Children. In addition, ECAC is a funded partner of the NC DeafBlind Project to support family engagement and provide information and support to families of children with DeafBlindness. An ECAC staff member is the Co-Director of this project. Through the NC Systemic Improvement Plan (NC SIP) grant, we engage a cadre of family leaders to speak to pre-services classes for education majors in participating universities on the importance of family engagement. ECAC partners with DPI staff to create trainings and resources for families. The services are applicable to both English and Spanish families. Services include but not limited to focusing on families with children with deaf/blindness navigating the special needs services, support to families of students participating in Individualized Education Programs (IEP) meetings and understand educational equity.