Community Events

ECAC January Webinars

Exceptional Children's Assistance Center

Do With, Not For: An Introduction to DeafBlind Interveners - Register Here! 

This presentation will examine the role of the DeafBlind Intervener in the school setting and how to determine if your child needs a DeafBlind Intervener to access their educational environment. The NC DPI policy for adding Interveners as a related service or supplementary service and aide will be discussed.

Date: January 23, 2025 

Time: 12:00 -1:00 PM (virtual) 

Tool Time Tuesday: Resolving Section 504 Disputes (Even if you don’t have a 504 Plan) - Register Here! 

Do you know that Section 504 protects ALL people with disabilities in public schools? We will discuss some common 504 issues and what you can do if they happen to you or your child.

Date: January 28, 2025 

Time: 12:00 -1:00 PM (virtual) 

NEW! Empowered parents in Community: Special education Collective - January 29, 2025

EPiC’s new monthly programming designed specifically to support parents and caregivers of Black students with disabilities. This series will offer critical information, resources, and community connections to empower families navigating the complexities of special education. These sessions are open to all Black parents navigating the special education system, but will have a particular emphasis on autism.

Our in-person sessions will feature:

·  Autistic guest speakers sharing their experiences in the education system.

·  Education attorneys providing an overview of key education rights and strategies to combat violations.

·  Experienced educators sharing how develop effective IEPs.

·  Professionals offering practical techniques to manage dysregulation. 

·  Dinner and high-quality childcare will be provided at each session.

·  And more!

Our curriculum will emphasize a racial equity lens, addressing the intersectionality that is too often missing in special education resources and advocacy.

Our first meeting will be held:
Date: Wednesday, January 29
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: People’s Solidarity Hub (1805 W. Chapel Hill Rd, Durham)

Registration is required. This is a unique opportunity to build knowledge, gain advocacy tools, and connect with a supportive community. We invite you to join us and spread the word!

Addressing the Social-Emotional Challenges of Learning and Attention Issues - March 4, 2025

Hill Learning Center’s Community Education Series (CES) is a free, public program designed to engage and educate the community about topics related to learning and attention challenges. The series aims to increase awareness and understanding of learning differences and provide families and educators with practical resources and information grounded in research. CES is core to Hill’s commitment to Furthering Access to its programs in support of the 1 in 5 students with learning and attention challenges.

Ideal for parents and professionals, the Community Education Series is open to anyone and is always free!

 Addressing the Social-Emotional Challenges of Learning and Attention Issues

This talk will describe learned helplessness, connect it to children with learning challenges, introduce the notion of a growth mindset, and offer strategies to encourage a growth mindset and discourage the development of learned helplessness.

Children with learning and attention challenges, because they face many obstacles, are vulnerable to developing a belief that their success or failure in school is controlled by external forces such as luck or chance, rather than by their own efforts. This can lead to the development of a condition known as learned helplessness, a powerful psychological situation in which the child displays a passive resignation to events and circumstances around them, and no longer puts forth effort. For example, repeated struggles with reading can lead the child to stop trying. Once learned helplessness has developed, traditional reading interventions can fail to produce the desired gains, but for reasons not often appreciated.

Date: March 4, 2025

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Zoom - Register for link!

Audience: Families of Pre-K – 8th grade students