Tuesday, October 6, 2026

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/06/2026 07:54 AM EDT

10/6/26

Visual Impairment

October is Blindness Awareness Month

October is Blindness Awareness Month, with programming coordinated by the American Foundation for the Blind (afb.org) and the National Federation of the Blind (nfb.org). The month focuses on employment, education, independence, and the expanding role of technology in the lives of the approximately 7 million Americans who have vision loss.

• October 8th is World Sight Day 

• October 15th is White Cane Day 

75th Conference on Exceptional Children

All information related to the conference, including EOE nominations, conference registration, hotel registration, and draft conference schedule can be found under the Technical Assistance and Professional Development tab on the OEC website.

SAVE the DATE for NCCVIB 2027

NC Conference on Visual Impairments and Blindness

Pre-Conference will be March 11, 2027. The Main Conference will be March 12-13, 2027. You will have the opportunity to meet with colleagues, learn from experts in the field, chat with vendors related to visual impairments, and try new resources.  Participants who attend both the Pre and Main Conference events will earn 10 contact hours (1 CEU) toward teacher license renewal and ACVREP.  More details will be coming. You can check out the conference website at www.ncaer.net.

Technical Assistance:  Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

Under IDEA, only students with an IEP that documents they are an eligible student can have files obtained from the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). Students without an IEP are not eligible for NIMAC files. Students without an IEP may be eligible for other national, state, or local sources under the provision of AEM. All requests for assistance regarding accessible formats for all students may be submitted through the Accessible Educational Materials Technical Assistance Request Form. This is not an ordering system, but a means for requesting technical assistance regarding how to meet the provision of AEM.  For additional questions or concerns regarding AEM please contact the NC DPI NIMAC State Coordinator.

The APH Hive and APH Access Academy offer FREE eLearning platform for educators and families that you can access at any time to earn ACVREP credits from the comfort of your home and office. Sign up to learn more about the HIVE and  APH Access Academy

 2026 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Satisfaction Survey

If you have purchased APH products over the last 12 months, we want to hear from you! Access  the 2026 GPRA brief survey , the response deadline is Friday, October 16.

NC APH is our Current Focus

NC APH *NEW* Parent Permission Form

A short technical assistance video has been created to support the implementation of the new parent consent process for the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census. In the 2026-27 school year, office hours supporting this implementation will also be held  Specific dates for the office hours will be shared in August 2026.  The new parent consent forms may be found in the General OEC Resources shared Google folder. These resources are “view only” and may be downloaded from the File menu for use in your PSU.  Question related to the new process may be directed to:

APH Legally Blind Registration:  Terri Terrell, ncaph@dpi.nc.gov

DeafBlind Census:  Dr. Alan Chase, alan.chase@dpi.nc.gov

NCAPH is currently out of Federal Quota Funds for the 25 funding cycle which runs from Oct to Sept. You may email orders for eligible students listed on the 2026 LBR to NCAPH@dpi.nc.gov Orders will be placed in the order that they were received starting when the 26 funding cycle opens in October 2026.

For all NC APH questions or technical assistance, please contact Terri Terrell at NCAPH@dpi.nc.gov.

Tools You Can Use

From TeachNC Financial Aid & Scholarships are available

NCDPI Calendar of Events in Calendar View

NCDPI Calendar of Events in List View

Need Technical Assistance or Support ? Do you need more than an email or resource? Then schedule a time to meet with the IDEA Consultant for Visual Impairment.

Accessibility In Action 

The National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI), pronounced “n-cademy”. Be in the know! Check out the resources on IDEA and ADA

Accessibility Before Accommodation:

A Three Part Series on Creating, Producing, and Selecting Accessible Educational Materials

Webinar Series Information and Registration

October 5, 2026

News and Updates from the DHH Team

More Community Conversations with DSDHH 

The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) has been traveling across the state this year hosting a series of listening sessions. These “Community Conversations” provide an opportunity for individuals to share their experiences with communication barriers in NC, and DSDHH is specifically interested in hearing from parents and educators of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind children to identify gaps in services and programming.

WESTERN (virtual):

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - 4:00-6:00pm

Where: Zoom Virtual Session

Please view the Community Conversation flier to learn more about how to join!

EASTERN:

When: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• 12:00 – 2:00, parent/caregiver session

• 4:00 – 6:00, educator session (teachers, interpreters, social workers, and others)

Where: Heart for ENC Training Center: 1412 S. Evans St, Greenville, NC 27834

Register Here

WESTERN:

When: Thursday, October 30, 2026 - 5:00-7:00pm

Where: Tri-County Community College - Murphy, NC

Please view the Community Conversation flier to learn more about how to join!

 Reminders

Upcoming Professional Development Offerings

Please review the 2026–2027 DHH Professional Development document for upcoming training opportunities. This year’s offerings are being developed in response to needs identified across districts, so additional opportunities may be added as they are scheduled.

Please note that space is limited, and waitlists may be used for these trainings. If you are able to attend in person, we encourage you to register early. If registration has closed, please email Virginia Madorin to request placement on the waitlist.

We look forward to learning with you!

75th Conference on Exceptional Children

All information related to the conference, including EOE nominations, conference registration, hotel registration, and draft conference schedule can be found under the Technical Assistance and Professional Development tab on the OEC website.

ASL Storytelling with DSDHH

The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) is hosting American Sign Language Storytelling Time for Children in memory of Stephanie Scott, Deaf Services Specialist, on numerous dates during the 2026-2027 school year. Each session features different Deaf ASL storytellers. 

Where: Zoom

When: Numerous Dates from 10:00-10:30am

Please view the ASL Storytelling Flier for more information. 

Professional Development: Preparing for Life After High School for Children who are DeafBlind Canvas Course

When: Asynchronous - OPEN NOW

Join us for the fourth course in a series on teaching children who are DeafBlind.

The courses within this series are being offered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - Office of Exceptional Children in conjunction with the National Center on Deaf-Blindness.  

As with all products created by the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB), this module is available for free on the NCDB website; however, the module has been integrated into Canvas in an effort to award CEUs to those North Carolina educators engaging with the content. 

Note: If you are a professional working within the public schools of North Carolina and cannot access this course via NCEES because you do not have a NCEES account, please email the course title, your name, district/LEA, and ten digit UID number to Virginia Madorin to be added via an alternate pathway.

Course 4: Preparing for Life After High School for Children who are DeafBlind

Course Registration Link

The changes that occur for a young person who is DeafBlind and their family after high school are many, but much can be done during the school years to ease the transition to young adult life. In this module, you’ll learn specific strategies educators can use to prepare and support students and their families for this major life change.

You’ll also meet a number of young people who are DeafBlind and their families, and see how some are getting ready for the transition while others are already navigating adult life.

The module covers real-life examples and essential information practitioners should know, such as 

• What options are available for students when they leave high school 

• What decisions families and students will face, and how you can help them plan and prepare for them

• How to prepare families and students for working with adult services and other types of support

• What experiences students should have during high school and the skills they need to prepare for the transition

• What is involved in planning for employment, post-secondary education, and helping in the community 

Each area will include a 30 to 40-minute lesson.  Participants will earn .3 CEUs (3 hours) for completing the course and exploring all provided resources.

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) CEUs are available! Directions for obtaining these CEUs can be found within the course.

NEW PROCESS: APH Legally Blind Registration and DeafBlind Census Parent Consent Forms

The Office of Exceptional Children is notifying PSUs of a new process for the American Printing House (APH) for the Blind Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census.

APH Legally Blind Registration:

Beginning in 2018, the APH Legally Blind Registration process required parent consent before information regarding potentially eligible students could be shared. Current eligible students already have written consent on file with their Public School Unit (PSU).

Effective July 1, 2026, a new parent consent form will be implemented statewide. This new form will replace the current consent process and must be uploaded directly into the student’s ECATS documents. Once uploaded, the form will remain with the student’s record, eliminating the need to complete a new consent form if the student transfers to another PSU.

The updated consent form authorizes NC APH to access and share applicable information with the American Printing House for the Blind for registration purposes. As a result, all current and potentially eligible students will require the new parent permission form to be completed and uploaded into ECATS. Students with an existing parent consent form on file must have the new consent form completed under the updated process.

The signed parent consent form must be attached to the most recent APH Legally Blind Registration document in ECATS using the naming convention: NC APH Parent Permission

Students included on the APH Legally Blind Registration may receive accessible educational materials and resources at no cost to the PSU, contingent upon the availability of APH funds.

For more information about the NC APH Legally Blind Registration process and who is eligible, please refer to the NC APH Legally Blind Registration Guidance document or email ncaph@dpi.nc.gov.

NC DeafBlind Census:

Effective July 1, 2026, the NC DeafBlind Census will require parent consent for an eligible student to be included on the DeafBlind Census.  This new consent form will be uploaded directly into the student’s ECATS documents.  Once uploaded, the form will remain with the student’s record, eliminating the need to complete a new consent form if the student transfers to another PSU.  All students currently included on the DeafBlind Census and new students added to the Census must have the new consent form completed and signed.

The signed parent consent must be attached to the most recent DeafBlind Census document in ECATS with the naming convention: NC DB Census Parent Permission

The NC DeafBlind Project does not provide direct service to students; rather technical assistance and professional learning is provided to school teams and families that benefit the student and improve outcomes.

For both the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census, the beginning of school open house, parent-teacher conferences, or IEP meetings may be excellent opportunities to talk to parents and gain their consent.

Technical Assistance

A short technical assistance video has been created to support the implementation of the new parent consent process for the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census. In the 2026-27 school year, office hours supporting this implementation will also be held. Specific dates for the office hours will be shared in August 2026. The new parent consent forms are provided in multiple languages and may be found in the General OEC Resources shared Google folder. These resources are “view only” and may be downloaded from the File menu for use in your PSU.  Questions related to the new process may be directed to:

• APH Legally Blind Registration: Terri Terrell, ncaph@dpi.nc.gov

• DeafBlind Census: Dr. Alan Chase, alan.chase@dpi.nc.gov

IMPORTANT LINKS:

 SSAT/DHH Canvas Hub

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Canvas Hub

Office of Exceptional Children: Professional Development Calendar

NCDPI Calendar of Events in Calendar View

NCDPI Calendar of Events in List View

October 2026

Parent and Family Updates: CORRECTION

Partnering for Student Success: The IEP team

The registration link for the 4 p.m. session, “Questions to Ask the IEP Team if Your Child Isn’t Making Progress,” was in correct. You can now successfully register using the updated registration link here and in the text below.

The Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) is offering free live webinars for families during the annual Exceptional Children’s Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 4. “How an IEP Team Thinks: Understanding the Decision-Making Process” will be presented from noon until 1 p.m. and “Questions to Ask the IEP Team if Your Child Isn’t Making Progress” will be presented from 4 until 5 p.m. Registration is required. A meeting link will be emailed after registration is completed.

• If you would like to participate in the noon session, “How an IEP Team Thinks: Understanding the Decision-Making Process,” please complete the registration linked here.

• If you would like to participate in the 4 p.m. session, “Questions to Ask the IEP Team if Your Child Isn’t Making Progress,” please complete the registration linked here.

Registration will close Oct. 30. The meeting rooms will be open 10 minutes before the start. You are welcome to join at that time.

October 2026

Parent and Family Updates

New Notice of Procedural Safeguards Available!

The Notice of Procedural Safeguards: Parent’s Rights and Responsibilities in Special Education has been updated and is now available in English and Spanish on the Office of Exceptional Children’s (OEC) Resources for Families and Students website. Additional language translation versions will be available in the next few months.

The Notice of Procedural Safeguards explains the legal rights parents have under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) throughout the special education process, including participation in meetings, access to educational records, prior written notice, independent educational evaluations, dispute resolution options, and protections related to student discipline.

Parents are encouraged to review the revised document and keep a copy for future reference as they work with their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.

Partnering for Student Success: The IEP team

The Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) is offering free live webinars for families during the annual Exceptional Children’s Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 4. “How an IEP Team Thinks: Understanding the Decision-Making Process” will be presented from noon until 1 p.m. and “Questions to Ask the IEP Team if Your Child Isn’t Making Progress” will be presented from 4 until 5 p.m. Registration is required. A meeting link will be emailed after registration is completed.

• If you would like to participate in the noon session, “How an IEP Team Thinks: Understanding the Decision-Making Process,” please complete the registration linked here.

• If you would like to participate in the 4 p.m. session, “Questions to Ask the IEP Team if Your Child Isn’t Making Progress,” please complete the registration linked here.

Registration will close Oct. 30. The meeting rooms will be open 10 minutes before the start. You are welcome to join at that time.

Trainings You Don’t Want to Miss 

The Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) has scheduled a virtual training, “The Letter of Intent – The Most Important Document You Haven’t Written”, on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. A letter of intent (LOI) outlines information on daily needs, supports, and legal and financial matters of a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). This webinar will explain what a Letter of Intent is, why it matters, and how you can start thinking about yours.

The Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) hosts virtual training regularly each month. Tool Time Tuesday is a 30-minute virtual free session that shares practical tools, resources, and strategies for families, caregivers, and professionals supporting children with disabilities or navigating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Longer evening webinars are also available. Topics include Parent’s Role in Special Education, Effective Communication, Communication and Collaboration, Thinking Critically, Reviewing Data and Progress, and Becoming Your Child’s Best/Most Effective Advocate. You can register for all of these sessions on ECAC’s Upcoming Webinars and Workshops website. ECAC is North Carolina’s Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center, funded in part by the Office of Special Education Programs with the U.S. Department of Education.

Inclusive Events for Families

The Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh is hosting a free event on October 28 for children with disabilities and their families to experience Marbles in a calmer, quieter environment. Sensory-Friendly Playtime occurs monthly throughout the year. Each event kicks off with a lights-up, sound-down IMAX movie at 5 p.m. with playtime starting at 5:30 p.m. You can register by choosing the event on the Marbles Kids Museum website linked here.

Cognition Interactive Children’s Museum & Makerspace in Mocksville hosts Sensory-Friendly Sundays, free for families with children in kindergarten through 5th grade who have sensory needs. Children can play, explore, and connect in a supportive environment. Families can connect with a professional to answer questions, provide support, and share resources. This free event is on October 25 and runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendance is limited to 25 individuals and registration is required, which is available on Cognition’s website linked here. If you miss this month’s opportunity, be sure to register for the December 27 event.

Statesville Recreation & Economic Vitality is hosting an adaptive and inclusive recreation program from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Statesville Recreation Center (The Rec). The event is open to all ages and is free. Registration is not required. Be sure to look for upcoming events at the Statesville Recreation & Economic Vitality website linked here. 

Clayton Parks and Recreation is hosting Boo Bash, a Halloween celebration for individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities and their families. The event is scheduled for October 23 at the Clayton Community Center. Boo Bash transforms the center grounds into a Halloween wonderland that includes games, music, and celebration. Costumes are not required. You can learn more about the event on the Clayton Parks & Recreation website linked here.

AI Can Help, But Ensure Information is Accurate

AI can be a helpful tool for families to learn about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), writing an email to your school team, or filing a complaint, but AI frequently gets the facts wrong. 

These examples demonstrate where AI can confuse the facts:

• AI may provide an answer that may be legally inaccurate, incomplete, or based on an outdated interpretation.

• AI may confuse federal law with state-specific requirements. IDEA establishes federal requirements but states have their own regulations, procedures, timelines, and dispute resolution options that vary state-to-state, which can lead to an answer that does not apply to North Carolina.

• AI may oversimplify a legal concept, such as least restrictive environment (LRE), free appropriate public education (FAPE), educational placement, or prior written notice, which can lead to inaccurate information.

• AI tends to have a confirmation bias and validates user assumptions even when a user is wrong.

• AI may confuse law, guidance, and best practices.

• AI is a tool that can help parents understand their rights but is not a substitute for understanding federal law or state policies and procedures.

• AI may suggest a parent file a complaint and may not distinguish between a due process complaint/petition and a formal state complaint. If a due process petition and a formal state complaint are filed at the same time, the Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) must set aside overlapping concerns pending the results of a due process hearing.

• AI may not point you to local level resolutions, often the quickest for solving complaints.

• AI is a tool that can help parents understand their rights but is not a substitute for understanding federal law or state policies and procedures.

If you have questions and/or concerns related to the development or implementation of your child’s IEP, please attempt to address at the classroom level, address at the school level, and, if necessary, contact the Exceptional Director for your school district. Addressing concerns at the district level can be the most efficient and effective way possible.

If you need help understanding your rights or need help with a specific issue, consider contacting one of the agencies that support families through the IEP process listed under Support for Families at the end of the newsletter.

Financial Assistance for Career Training

NCWorks Commission Approves 43 Workforce Pell Programs

Workforce Pell is a new federal financial aid opportunity that can help eligible students pay for certain short-term training programs. The program, which began in July 2026, is designed to offer another pathway to careers that require a credential or specialized training without requiring students to complete a traditional two-year or four-year degree.

Eligible programs must be at least 8 weeks but fewer than 15 weeks long and include 150 to 599 clock hours and meet federal requirements for credentials, and connection to employment or further education.

North Carolina is still building its list of eligible programs. The NCWorks Commission approved the state’s first 43 Workforce Pell programs in 16 community colleges, which are currently being reviewed through the federal approval process.

Workforce Pell can be an option for families to consider when discussing Individualized Education Program (IEP) postsecondary goals for education, training, and employment. Families can talk with their child’s IEP team about career and training goals, researching community college programs, and determining if a program is eligible for the Workforce Pell. Students who plan to pursue an eligible program next year should consider completing the 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to determine eligibility for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants.

Scholarships for Training in Skilled Trades

The Mike Rowe Works Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship Program helps individuals who want to work in skilled trades, including welding, plumbing, electrical, construction, automotive technology, energy technology, information technology, farming and agriculture, licensed practical nurse, veterinary technology, cosmetology, and culinary arts, and more. The funding is designed to assist with tuition, fees, books, and necessary tools for approved vocational schools or technical programs.

The scholarship is open until October 31 for high school seniors, high school graduates, or individuals with a General Education Development (GED) certificate. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, enrolled or plan to enroll in an approved trade-related program at an accredited two-year college, vocational, technical school, or other approved technical institute. Four-year degree programs are not eligible. Former scholarship recipients can apply for second-year funding. The scholarship opens annually with four different dates throughout the year to apply. You can learn more about the scholarship, eligible programs, and how to apply at the Mike Rowe Works Foundation website linked here.

Policy Corner: Parent Participation

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Section 300.322 details parent rights and the responsibilities of a school district to ensure parents have an opportunity to participate in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process:

• The school district must take steps to ensure that one or both of the parents can attend each IEP Team meeting or are given the opportunity to participate. Schools must notify parents of the meeting early enough to ensure parents have an opportunity to attend, and schedule the meeting at a mutually agreed upon time and place.

• The invitation to the meeting must detail the purpose, time, and location of the meeting and who will attend. Parents must be informed of other individuals on the IEP Team who have knowledge or special expertise about the child and, when appropriate, the Part C service coordinator or other representatives of Part C at the initial IEP Team meeting for a child who received early intervention services and is turning 3 years old.

• Schools must ensure the parents understand the proceedings of the IEP Team meeting, including providing an interpreter for parents who are Deaf or parents whose native language is other than English.

• The school district is required to invite students with a disability once the student turns 16, or younger if determined appropriate. The invitation should state the purpose of the meeting to consider postsecondary goals and transition services for the student and identify any other agency that will be invited, which can include a representative of the Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD).  

• If neither parent can attend the meeting in person, the district must use other means to ensure parents have the opportunity to participate, including telephone calls or virtual meetings. The IEP Team can meet without a parent in attendance if the public agency is unable to convince the parents to attend. The district must document attempts to schedule a mutually agreed upon time and place. These can include records of telephone calls made or attempted and the outcomes, copies of correspondence sent to parents and any responses, and records of visits made to the parents' home or place of employment and the results of those visits.

• The IEP Team must give a copy of the IEP to the parent at no cost. 

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 

Support for Families: 

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 us 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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Coaching: Educational Interpreters

The Office of Exceptional Children is pleased to continue a coaching program for educational interpreters for the 2026-2027 school year. This program is intended for educational interpreters who are directly employed by the PSU and have an EIPA score of less than a 3.5.  The coaching program is designed to help improve the overall interpreting product to improve student outcomes. During coaching, strengths and needs are identified and an individualized plan will be developed to support skill development. If you would like to apply to participate in the coaching program, please complete the survey or email Antwan Campbell for more information.

EIPA Testing

Registration for EIPA Testing for this quarter will be opening soon and available here in NC. Make sure you sign up on the Task12 website in order to reserve your testing date and spot now. 

New PD Opportunity: Educational Interpreters

Make sure you and your colleagues are registered for our listserv as we will be launching some exciting news concerning PD for this year in the weeks ahead. You won't want to miss this announcement so stay tuned!!

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News and Updates from the DHH Team

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/28/2026 08:00 AM EDT

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September 28, 2026

News and Updates from the DHH Team

New

No new updates this week, but please pay attention to these reminders:

Reminder: WNC Community Conversation with DSDHH 

The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) is collecting stories across NC to learn where communication barriers affect Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals. These sessions are now geared toward parents and educational professionals in order to learn more about the challenges faced in school and other settings. ASL Interpreters and CART captioning will be provided. RSVP is required. 

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - 4:00-6:00pm

Where: Zoom Virtual Session

Please view the Community Conversation flier to learn more about how to join!

Reminder: Upcoming Professional Development Offerings

Please review the 2026–2027 DHH Professional Development document for upcoming training opportunities. This year’s offerings are being developed in response to needs identified across districts, so additional opportunities may be added as they are scheduled.

Please note that space is limited, and waitlists may be used for these trainings. If you are able to attend in person, we encourage you to register early. If registration has closed, please email Virginia Madorin to request placement on the waitlist.

We look forward to learning with you!

Reminder: 75th Conference on Exceptional Children

All information related to the conference, including EOE nominations, conference registration, hotel registration, and draft conference schedule can be found under the Technical Assistance and Professional Development tab on the OEC website.

 Reminders

ASL Storytelling with DSDHH

The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) is hosting American Sign Language Storytelling Time for Children in memory of Stephanie Scott, Deaf Services Specialist, on numerous dates during the 2026-2027 school year. Each session features different Deaf ASL storytellers. 

Where: Zoom

When: Numerous Dates from 10:00-10:30am

Please view the ASL Storytelling Flier for more information. 

Duke Hears Workshop: Social Development and Well-Being in Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Duke is offering a free, in person workshop focused on social development and well-being in children who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

When: Friday, October 2, 2026; 9:00 am - 3:00pm 

See the Duke Hears Flier for more information.

Professional Development: Preparing for Life After High School for Children who are DeafBlind Canvas Course

When: Asynchronous - OPEN NOW

Join us for the fourth course in a series on teaching children who are DeafBlind.

The courses within this series are being offered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - Office of Exceptional Children in conjunction with the National Center on Deaf-Blindness.  

As with all products created by the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB), this module is available for free on the NCDB website; however, the module has been integrated into Canvas in an effort to award CEUs to those North Carolina educators engaging with the content. 

Note: If you are a professional working within the public schools of North Carolina and cannot access this course via NCEES because you do not have a NCEES account, please email the course title, your name, district/LEA, and ten digit UID number to Virginia Madorin to be added via an alternate pathway.

Course 4: Preparing for Life After High School for Children who are DeafBlind

Course Registration Link

The changes that occur for a young person who is DeafBlind and their family after high school are many, but much can be done during the school years to ease the transition to young adult life. In this module, you’ll learn specific strategies educators can use to prepare and support students and their families for this major life change.

You’ll also meet a number of young people who are DeafBlind and their families, and see how some are getting ready for the transition while others are already navigating adult life.

The module covers real-life examples and essential information practitioners should know, such as 

• What options are available for students when they leave high school 

• What decisions families and students will face, and how you can help them plan and prepare for them

• How to prepare families and students for working with adult services and other types of support

• What experiences students should have during high school and the skills they need to prepare for the transition

• What is involved in planning for employment, post-secondary education, and helping in the community 

Each area will include a 30 to 40-minute lesson.  Participants will earn .3 CEUs (3 hours) for completing the course and exploring all provided resources.

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) CEUs are available! Directions for obtaining these CEUs can be found within the course.

NEW PROCESS: APH Legally Blind Registration and DeafBlind Census Parent Consent Forms

The Office of Exceptional Children is notifying PSUs of a new process for the American Printing House (APH) for the Blind Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census.

APH Legally Blind Registration:

Beginning in 2018, the APH Legally Blind Registration process required parent consent before information regarding potentially eligible students could be shared. Current eligible students already have written consent on file with their Public School Unit (PSU).

Effective July 1, 2026, a new parent consent form will be implemented statewide. This new form will replace the current consent process and must be uploaded directly into the student’s ECATS documents. Once uploaded, the form will remain with the student’s record, eliminating the need to complete a new consent form if the student transfers to another PSU.

The updated consent form authorizes NC APH to access and share applicable information with the American Printing House for the Blind for registration purposes. As a result, all current and potentially eligible students will require the new parent permission form to be completed and uploaded into ECATS. Students with an existing parent consent form on file must have the new consent form completed under the updated process.

The signed parent consent form must be attached to the most recent APH Legally Blind Registration document in ECATS using the naming convention: NC APH Parent Permission

Students included on the APH Legally Blind Registration may receive accessible educational materials and resources at no cost to the PSU, contingent upon the availability of APH funds.

For more information about the NC APH Legally Blind Registration process and who is eligible, please refer to the NC APH Legally Blind Registration Guidance document or email ncaph@dpi.nc.gov.

NC DeafBlind Census:

Effective July 1, 2026, the NC DeafBlind Census will require parent consent for an eligible student to be included on the DeafBlind Census.  This new consent form will be uploaded directly into the student’s ECATS documents.  Once uploaded, the form will remain with the student’s record, eliminating the need to complete a new consent form if the student transfers to another PSU.  All students currently included on the DeafBlind Census and new students added to the Census must have the new consent form completed and signed.

The signed parent consent must be attached to the most recent DeafBlind Census document in ECATS with the naming convention: NC DB Census Parent Permission

The NC DeafBlind Project does not provide direct service to students; rather technical assistance and professional learning is provided to school teams and families that benefit the student and improve outcomes.

For both the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census, the beginning of school open house, parent-teacher conferences, or IEP meetings may be excellent opportunities to talk to parents and gain their consent.

Technical Assistance

A short technical assistance video has been created to support the implementation of the new parent consent process for the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census. In the 2026-27 school year, office hours supporting this implementation will also be held. Specific dates for the office hours will be shared in August 2026. The new parent consent forms are provided in multiple languages and may be found in the General OEC Resources shared Google folder. These resources are “view only” and may be downloaded from the File menu for use in your PSU.  Questions related to the new process may be directed to:

• APH Legally Blind Registration: Terri Terrell, ncaph@dpi.nc.gov

• DeafBlind Census: Dr. Alan Chase, alan.chase@dpi.nc.gov

IMPORTANT LINKS:

SSAT/DHH Canvas Hub

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Canvas Hub

Office of Exceptional Children: Professional Development Calendar

NCDPI Calendar of Events in Calendar View

NCDPI Calendar of Events in List View

/15/26

Visual Impairment

Update your information

It is time to update your educator information, get new routines and schedules in place. Please share this with any educators serving students with visual impairments in North Carolina.

Together, let's make this a transformative year. ~ Crystal Patrick, IDEA Consultant for Visual Impairment (Please note there was an error with the previous link. Crystal.Patrick@dpi.nc.gov  is CORRECT 

September is CVI Awareness Month

Go see the great resources at Perkins CVI Now

75th Conference on Exceptional Children

All information related to the conference, including EOE nominations, conference registration, hotel registration, and draft conference schedule can be found under the Technical Assistance and Professional Development tab on the OEC website.

NC APH is our Current Focus

NC APH *NEW* Parent Permission Form

A short technical assistance video has been created to support the implementation of the new parent consent process for the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census. In the 2026-27 school year, office hours supporting this implementation will also be held  Specific dates for the office hours will be shared in August 2026.  The new parent consent forms may be found in the General OEC Resources shared Google folder. These resources are “view only” and may be downloaded from the File menu for use in your PSU.  Question related to the new process may be directed to:

APH Legally Blind Registration:  Terri Terrell, ncaph@dpi.nc.gov

DeafBlind Census:  Dr. Alan Chase, alan.chase@dpi.nc.gov

NCAPH is currently out of Federal Quota Funds for the 25 funding cycle which runs from Oct to Sept. You may email orders for eligible students listed on the 2026 LBR to NCAPH@dpi.nc.gov Orders will be placed in the order that they were received starting when the 26 funding cycle opens in October 2026.

For all NC APH questions or technical assistance, please contact Terri Terrell at NCAPH@dpi.nc.gov.

Day of Learning at the AT Expo

The AT Expo is happening September 17 and is free and open to the public! This year’s event offers an excellent opportunity for educators and students to explore assistive technology (AT) and discover practical tools and strategies that support accessibility and independence. Participants can attend in person at the McKimmon Center or virtually, with 48 exhibitors and four hybrid educational sessions featuring speakers whose topics may connect directly to classroom instruction and student needs. Also returning this year is the popular Makers Room, where individuals will showcase their innovative AT creations. Consider sharing this opportunity with your students and colleagues! See the attached fliers for more information. 

26 AT Expo

26 Speakers

Support Program for New EC Teachers: 2026/2027 Cohort Application Now Open

The Office of Exceptional Children is pleased to announce applications are now being accepted for the Exceptional Children Beginning Teacher (EC BT) Support Program. The EC BT Support Program is focused on supporting new EC teachers who are working toward obtaining a NC Professional Educators License in an Exceptional Children's area through various NCDPI approved licensure pathways as well as EC teachers with an Initial License. This program is intended to provide an additional layer of support for EC teachers who are in their first, second, or third year of teaching and does not replace or duplicate local district BT programs.

Pre-K-12 EC teachers in their first to third year of teaching who would like to receive targeted support through a Support Partnership model are invited to apply for the 2025/2026 OEC EC BT Program Cohort. This program includes monthly one hour topic centered virtual meetings, professional learning opportunities, and monthly check-ins with the BTs’ assigned Support Partner using both synchronous and asynchronous communication structures. Additionally, there is an optional opportunity for teachers selected for this year’s cohort to attend the OEC Fall Conference on Exceptional Children in Greensboro during November 4-6, 2026, at no cost to the teacher or employing PSU.

Please note that the EC Teacher applications must include pre-approval by the teacher’s direct supervisor in order to participate in the program. This approval will be documented by the signed Statements of Assurance document which is included in the application.

The NCDPI OEC EC BT Support Program application will close on September 25, 2026, and qualifying teachers and their direct supervisors will be notified by September 30th.

For complete information on the program including the licensure requirements for applicants, please access this Overview of the NCDPI OEC EC Beginning Teacher Support Program.

Please direct any questions to Nancy Childress, IDEA Personnel Development Consultant, at nancy.childress@dpi.nc.gov

Click to edit this placeholder text.

Technical Assistance:  Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

Under IDEA, only students with an IEP that documents they are an eligible student can have files obtained from the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). Students without an IEP are not eligible for NIMAC files. Students without an IEP may be eligible for other national, state, or local sources under the provision of AEM. All requests for assistance regarding accessible formats for all students may be submitted through the Accessible Educational Materials Technical Assistance Request Form. This is not an ordering system, but a means for requesting technical assistance regarding how to meet the provision of AEM.  For additional questions or concerns regarding AEM please contact the NC DPI NIMAC State Coordinator.

The APH Hive and APH Access Academy offer FREE eLearning platform for educators and families that you can access at any time to earn ACVREP credits from the comfort of your home and office. Sign up to learn more about the HIVE and  APH Access Academy

New Horizons: eBraille with Duxbury

Thursday September 17, 2026, 1:00-2:00PM ET

As the first braille transcription tool to offer comprehensive born-eBraille support, Duxbury is making it easier for everyone to make and use eBraille!  Join us for a webinar with Willow Free, a creator of eBraille, for a practical look at how to make the most of the eBraille file format with Duxbury's latest update, including: thinking differently about styles, adding externals links, and incorporating tactile graphics. This webinar will focus on the BANA and UEB rulesets and how to use SWIFT when building eBraille files, but you are welcome to follow along even if your workflow is different.Register here for New Horizons: eBraille with Duxbury

2026 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Satisfaction Survey

If you have purchased APH products over the last 12 months, we want to hear from you! Access  the 2026 GPRA brief survey , the response deadline is Friday, October 16.

Tools You Can Use

From TeachNC Financial Aid & Scholarships are available

NCDPI Calendar of Events in Calendar View

NCDPI Calendar of Events in List View

Need Technical Assistance or Support ? Do you need more than an email or resource? Then schedule a time to meet with the IDEA Consultant for Visual Impairment.

Accessibility In Action 

The National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI), pronounced “n-cademy”. Be in the know! Check out the resources on IDEA and ADA

9/1/26

Visual Impairment

September is National Guide Dog Month

🦮 read this story from TXSenseAbilities to learn about guide dog training. If you have pictures or stories to share from North Carolina Guides please email me. 

Update your information

It is time to update your educator information, get new routines and schedules in place. Please share this with any educators serving students with visual impairments in North Carolina.

Together, let's make this a transformative year. ~ Crystal Patrick, IDEA Consultant for Visual Impairment

NC APH is our Current Focus

NC APH *NEW* Parent Permission Form

A short technical assistance video has been created to support the implementation of the new parent consent process for the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census. In the 2026-27 school year, office hours supporting this implementation will also be held  Specific dates for the office hours will be shared in August 2026.  The new parent consent forms may be found in the General OEC Resources shared Google folder. These resources are “view only” and may be downloaded from the File menu for use in your PSU.  Question related to the new process may be directed to:

APH Legally Blind Registration:  Terri Terrell, ncaph@dpi.nc.gov

DeafBlind Census:  Dr. Alan Chase, alan.chase@dpi.nc.gov

NCAPH is currently out of Federal Quota Funds for the 25 funding cycle which runs from Oct to Sept. You may email orders for eligible students listed on the 2026 LBR to NCAPH@dpi.nc.gov Orders will be placed in the order that they were received starting when the 26 funding cycle opens in October 2026.

For all NC APH questions or technical assistance, please contact Terri Terrell at NCAPH@dpi.nc.gov.

The APH Hive and APH Access Academy offer FREE eLearning platform for educators and families that you can access at any time to earn ACVREP credits from the comfort of your home and office. Sign up to learn more about the HIVE and  APH Access Academy

Rethinking the Expanded Core Curriculum

Tuesday September 8, 2026, 5:00-6:30 PM ET For decades, the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) has guided instruction for students who are blind or have low vision. But as educational practices continue to evolve, so must the way we think about and implement the ECC. Rethinking the Expanded Core Curriculum is part of a webinar series that explores a modern approach to ECC instruction--one that moves beyond checklist-driven practices toward an interconnected system centered on student agency, collaborative leadership, and personalized learning. Participants will discover practical strategies for creating intentional, integrated instruction that promotes meaningful skill transfer and greater independence, while empowering school-based teams to implement the ECC as both a guiding framework and an individualized curriculum. Register here for Rethinking the Expanded Core Curriculum

New Horizons: eBraille with Duxbury

Thursday September 17, 2026, 1:00-2:00PM ET

As the first braille transcription tool to offer comprehensive born-eBraille support, Duxbury is making it easier for everyone to make and use eBraille!  Join us for a webinar with Willow Free, a creator of eBraille, for a practical look at how to make the most of the eBraille file format with Duxbury's latest update, including: thinking differently about styles, adding externals links, and incorporating tactile graphics. This webinar will focus on the BANA and UEB rulesets and how to use SWIFT when building eBraille files, but you are welcome to follow along even if your workflow is different.Register here for New Horizons: eBraille with Duxbury

2026 Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Satisfaction Survey

If you have purchased APH products over the last 12 months, we want to hear from you! Access  the 2026 GPRA brief survey , the response deadline is Friday, October 16.

Tools You Can Use

From TeachNC Financial Aid & Scholarships are available

NCDPI Calendar of Events in Calendar View

NCDPI Calendar of Events in List View

Need Technical Assistance or Support ? Do you need more than an email or resource? Then schedule a time to meet with the IDEA Consultant for Visual Impairment.

Accessibility In Action 

The National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI), pronounced “n-cademy”. Be in the know! Check out the resources on IDEA and ADA

Optional Opportunity: Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) Needs Assessment Survey

HKNC is the premier agency offering comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services for individuals who are DeafBlind at its headquarters in Sands Point NY, at locations across the country, and through virtual assessment and training opportunities. Their network of regional representatives can work with you to students with DeafBlindness.

HKNC has recently undertaken a project to improve and expand services for DeafBlind youth with complex support needs, as well as the professionals, educators, family members, and home teams who support them in their communities.

As part of this effort, they are gathering input from professionals and others who support these youth.  HKNC would greatly appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete the needs assessment below. Your experience and perspective will help to better understand current needs, identify gaps in services and supports, and guide the development of future training, resources, technical assistance, and community-based supports.

If you are interested, please complete the Complete the Needs Assessment

September 1, 2026

Parent and Family Updates

When and How to Request a Team Meeting

A parent can request an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting at any time during the school year. When is it appropriate to request a meeting? 

• Your child is not making gains or not meeting their IEP goals;

• Your child has a new medical diagnosis, shows regression, or needs new or different accommodations; and

• You want to request new evaluations or discuss a change in educational placement.

If you want to ask a team to meet, make the request in writing. An email is the best form of communication for this request. Include your child’s teacher, case manager, the exceptional children’s teacher, and the school principal. The exceptional children’s teacher is often the case manager. Explain why you are requesting the meeting and which topics you want to discuss. If you do not get a response in a reasonable time, follow up with another email.

NC College Connect

The NC College Connect program offers all North Carolina public high school seniors a simplified pathway to higher education. In Fall 2026, graduating seniors will receive direct admission to select colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program. Each student's tailored list of admitted institutions is based on their weighted GPA at the close of their junior year, along with being on track to graduate, completion of a fourth-level math course, and fulfillment of program requirements. Note that the higher a student’s GPA, the more schools to which they will be directly admitted!

This year, all students on track to graduate will be eligible – yes, everyone! Here you will find resources about this program.

We are also hosting a webinar for students to answer questions in real-time – please join us on September 17, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Get Ready for the STEAM Career Showcase

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is hosting the 13th Annual STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities on October 13, 2026, at the Nature Resource Center in Raleigh. Students in grades 6-12 will meet role models with disabilities who work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). Students will learn about role models’ individual experiences, strategies for success, and future career paths and attend the Opportunity Fair with exhibitors. This event is free and requires registration. 

For those unable to join in person, the welcome and keynote speeches will be livestreamed on the Museum’s YouTube channel.

ASL interpretation and live captions will be provided for welcome, keynote presentation, and breakout sessions. If individual accommodations are needed, email Accessibility@NaturalSciences.org or call 919-707-9824.

Parent Advisory Council Meetings for 2026-2027

The Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children (CESEC) meets quarterly and advises the NC State Board of Education (SBE) with respect to the unmet needs of children with special needs and in the development and implementation of policies related to the coordination of services for students with disabilities. 

The Council quarterly meetings are open to the public. The agenda and a link to the meeting are posted on the Resources for Families and Students web page10 business days prior to the meeting. Public comments are an essential and necessary part of CESEC fulfilling its role to advise the SBE. 

The Council will meet during the 2026-27 school year on:

• September 17, 2026

• December 17, 2026

• March 16, 2027

• June 17, 2027

Interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments at any time or attend the CESEC’s quarterly meetings and register for public comment. Fifteen minutes will be reserved on the CESEC agenda for public input at each meeting. 

Public comment is limited to no more than five minutes per person in the first fifteen minutes of the morning session. Sign-in must occur by 9:30 a.m.

Any individual may submit a comment via written letter or email, which must be received at CESEC Email or Johanna Lynch, Office of Exceptional Children, 6356 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6356 by 4 p.m., 10 business days prior to the quarterly meeting. Any comments submitted after that time will be read and/or distributed at a later date. 

Additional information and requirements specific to public comment can be found on the CESEC website.

One Parent can Make a Difference: Are you Interested in Joining the Council?

The Council is seeking one parent to fill a vacant parent representative. CESEC provides recommendations to the State Board of Education (SBE) on matters related to the education of children with disabilities. Members play an important role in supporting students and families across the state. Appointments are for four-year terms.

The Council meets quarterly via Webex and occasionally in person. Member representation includes parents, school district personnel, community partners, and representatives from other agencies.

If you are interested in being considered for the appointment, please complete the Member Interest Form. If you have questions, please email Johanna Lynch.

Wrightslaw Training Coming to North Carolina

The Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) is hosting a full-day, in-person Wrightslaw training session to help parents take an active role in their children's learning. There is no cost to attend. Topics include key sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), how to participate in meetings, prepare for meetings, develop SMART Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), maintain healthy relationships with their team, and disagree. 

From Emotions to Advocacy runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Central Library – Forsyth, 660 W. 5th Street, Winston Salem. The training includes three books for each attendee: Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs. 

Participants are required to register and can find the agenda on the registration page linked here. Materials and lunch are included. Families and caregivers residing two or more hours away may be eligible for a one-night hotel stay prior to the training. If you require lodging, please indicate your interest on the registration form. An ECAC staff member will evaluate your request to determine eligibility and will reach out to verify and manage your booking, if approved.

Stay Tuned!

The Office of Exceptional Children will be offering virtual training on topics that will include transition to adulthood, how Individualized Education Program (IEP) decisions are made, how to work collaboratively with the IEP team, and how to address concerns about progress with the IEP team.

Join the 2026 Growing Well Conference at App State University – Registration Now Open!

The 2026 Growing Well Conference, “Moving Mountains for People with Special Health Care Needs,” will convene October 4 to 6 at the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University. 

Session Topics

• Meeting the needs of people on the Innovations Waiver waitlist

• Autism services resources and updates 

• Medical management, behavioral therapies and communication tools, transitions from school to adulthood, and more.

Featured Speakers

Hear directly from top state and national policy leaders and autism advocates from California, Georgia, North Carolina, and across the country. Key featured leaders include:

• Kevin Tanner, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities;

• Kelly Crosbie, Assistant Secretary of the NC Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities;

• Dr. Andrea Davis, autism expert, clinical psychologist, and advocate from Pasadena, CA, specializing in developmental, relationship-based intervention, and autism advocacy; and

• Healthcare providers, researchers, educators, and individuals with lived experience offering a wide range of perspectives. 

Scholarships & Travel Assistance

Scholarships and potential assistance with travel expenses are available for families and individuals who need support to make the trip.

To apply for a scholarship or inquire about travel assistance, please contact Diane Coffey at coffeyd68@gmail.com.

Registration

View the full schedule, session tracks, and registration details by visiting the event page 2026 Growing Well Conference registration web site.

We look forward to welcoming you to Appalachian State University this October for a powerful weekend of community, education, and growth!

Policy Corner: Prior Written Notice

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to give parents a written explanation before they propose to initiate, change, or refuse to do something related to their child’s identification, evaluation, educational placement, or provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). The document is called the prior written notice (PWN) and should be given to parents within a reasonable amount of time after the meeting, if not at the end of the meeting.

The notice must:

• describe the action that the school proposes or refuses to take;

• explain why the school is proposing or refusing to take the action;

• describe each evaluation procedure, assessment, record, or report the school used in deciding to propose or refuse the action;

• include a statement that you have protections under the procedural safeguards provisions in Part B of IDEA;

• tell you how to get a description of the procedural safeguards if the action that the school is proposing or refusing is not an initial referral for evaluation;

• include resources for you to contact for help in understanding Part B of IDEA;

• describe any other options that your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team considered and the reasons why those options were rejected; and,

• provide a description of other reasons why your school proposed or refused the action.

The notice must be written in language that is understandable to the general public and provided in the parent’s native language or other mode of communication you use unless it is not feasible to do.

The notice will include the implementation date for the IEP, or when services will start or change. If you disagree with a proposed or refused action, the PWN should document your disagreement. If you propose to initiate or change the IEP and the team rejects that proposal, the refusal should be documented in the PWN. However, the PWN is not used to document all discussions during the meeting.

These requirements can also be found in the North Carolina Procedural Safeguards: Parent’s Rights and Responsibilities in Special Education.

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 Downs 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 us 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.

Blind and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Updates with links

Welcome back to another exciting and thrilling start to the 26-27 school year! We hope it has been a great and smooth transition back! Here are some upcoming events to add to your radar. Also, we watching out for some new and exciting developments around the upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities for Educational Interpreters this year!!

NC DeafBlind Census:

Effective July 1, 2026, the NC DeafBlind Census will require parent consent for an eligible student to be included on the DeafBlind Census.  This new consent form will be uploaded directly into the student’s ECATS documents.  Once uploaded, the form will remain with the student’s record, eliminating the need to complete a new consent form if the student transfers to another PSU.  All students currently included on the DeafBlind Census and new students added to the Census must have the new consent form completed and signed.

The signed parent consent must be attached to the most recent DeafBlind Census document in ECATS with the naming convention: NC DB Census Parent Permission

The NC DeafBlind Project does not provide direct service to students; rather technical assistance and professional learning is provided to school teams and families that benefit the student and improve outcomes.

For both the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census, the beginning of school open house, parent-teacher conferences, or IEP meetings may be excellent opportunities to talk to parents and gain their consent.

Technical Assistance

A short technical assistance video has been created to support the implementation of the new parent consent process for the APH Legally Blind Registration and the DeafBlind Census. In the 2026-27 school year, office hours supporting this implementation will also be held. Specific dates for the office hours will be shared in August 2026. The new parent consent forms are provided in multiple languages and may be found in the General OEC Resources shared Google folder. These resources are “view only” and may be downloaded from the File menu for use in your PSU.  Questions related to the new process may be directed to:

• APH Legally Blind Registration: Terri Terrell, ncaph@dpi.nc.gov

• DeafBlind Census: Dr. Alan Chase, alan.chase@dpi.nc.gov

WNC Community Conversation with DSDHH 

The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) is collecting stories across NC to learn where communication barriers affect Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals. These sessions are now geared toward parents and educational professionals in order to learn more about the challenges faced in school and other settings. ASL Interpreters and CART captioning will be provided. RSVP is required. 

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - 4:00-6:00pm

Where: Zoom Virtual Session

Please view the Community Conversation flier to learn more about how to join!

ASL Storytelling with DSDHH

The Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) is hosting American Sign Language Storytelling Time for Children in memory of Stephanie Scott, Deaf Services Specialist, on numerous dates during the 2026-2027 school year. Each session features different Deaf ASL storytellers. 

Where: Zoom

When: Numerous Dates from 10:00-10:30am

Please view the ASL Storytelling Flier for more information. 

Community Event: From A (Audism) to Z (Zenith): My Personal Experience as a DeafBlind Individual: Dr. Victorica Monroe 

Join NC State University for a lecture from Dr. Victorica “Dr. V” Monroe, a DeafBlind scholar and educator, examining the educational experiences of DeafBlind, Deaf, and hard of hearing individuals and communities, audism, language access, and language acquisition. Drawing on their professional and academic experience, Dr. Monroe will discuss these topics and their connections to education, communication, language and the experiences of DeafBlind people. The lecture will be followed by a screening of Signing Black in America, a documentary exploring the history and development of Black American Sign Language (BASL) and the linguistic and cultural experiences reflected in its use.

The event is intended for students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader community.

Where: Talley Student Center, Coastal Ballroom 

When: Monday, Sept 14, 2026 from 6:00-8:00pm

To learn more about the event and register, please visit the NCSU event website. 

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Parent & Family Updates

Get Ready for the New School Year!

A successful school year starts with preparation, communication, and partnership. These tips can help students begin the year with confidence.

Before School Starts

• Review your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) to refresh yourself on their goals, accommodations, and services.

• Share important information about your child with new teachers, including strengths, interests, communication style, and strategies that work well.

• Visit the school, classroom, or bus route ahead of time, if possible, to reduce anxiety.

• Establish consistent sleep, meal, and morning routines a couple of weeks before school begins.

Build Positive Relationships

• Introduce yourself via email to your child’s teachers and related service providers early in the year. 

• Approach the school as partners working toward the same goal: your child’s success.

• Keep communication respectful, collaborative, and focused on solutions.

Help Your Child Prepare

• Talk positively about returning to school while acknowledging any worries your child may have. 

• Practice important skills such as opening lockers, organizing backpacks, using communication devices, or following daily routines.

• Consider requesting photos of your child’s new classroom, teacher, and/or an opportunity to meet the teacher during a less hectic time than Open House.

Stay Organized

• Create a system to track school communications, IEP documents, and progress reports.

• Use calendars, reminders, or apps to stay up to date on assignments, school events, and meetings. 

• Check backpacks, communication folders, online portals, and classroom apps regularly.

Monitor the Transition

• The first few weeks of school are an adjustment. Watch for signs that your child may need additional support with organizing, planning, and their emotions.

• Celebrate successes and recognize progress as your child settles in.

Encourage Independence

• If your child is able to, allow her/him to take on age-appropriate responsibilities, such as packing their backpack, tracking assignments, or communicating with teachers. If they need support, help them learn those skills.

• Remind your child of their strengths and celebrate their successes.

The IEP team is required to meet at least once annually to review and update a student’s IEP. If you have concerns about your child’s progress or goals, you can request an IEP meeting at any time by sending the request in writing to your child’s IEP Case Manager and the school principal.

Updated Notice of Procedural Safeguards

The Office of Exceptional Children (OEC) will soon release an updated Notice of Procedural Safeguards: Parent’s Rights and Responsibilities in Special Education, providing families with current information about their rights and protections available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Notice of Procedural Safeguards explains the legal rights parents have throughout the special education process, including participation in meetings, access to educational records, prior written notice, independent educational evaluations, dispute resolution options, mediation, state complaints, due process hearings, and protections related to student discipline.

Parents are encouraged to review the revised notice and keep a copy for future reference as they work collaboratively with their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.