Community Resources for Children with Special Needs

Children’s Developmental Services Agency

Provides multidisciplinary developmental evaluations and developmental services for children birth through 36 months who do not live in base housing; no cost to families for most evaluations
Regional center is: Children’s Developmental Services Agency 2842 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, NC 28562
Phone: (toll free) 866-KIDS-N-NC

Educational & Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS)

Provides multidisciplinary developmental evaluations and developmental services for children birth through 36 months who live in base housing; no cost to families for evaluations or services
Mailing Address: Naval Hospital Attn: EDIS, 100 Brewster Blvd., Camp Lejeune, NC 28547-2538
Location: Berkeley Manor Medical Annex, 5400 Florida Ave., Camp Lejeune

ARC of North Carolina

Throughout North Carolina, The Arc provides direct supports and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) that enable people to lead full rich lives in the community.
Website: http://www.arcnc.org

Autism Society of North Carolina

Information, publications, support groups for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders; summer camp information
Phone: 800-442-2762
Website: http://www.autismsociety-nc.org

Autism Society of NC – Onslow County Chapter

Meets 3rd Thursday of the month, 6:30 p.m @ Onslow Memorial Hospital, Education Bldg., Jacksonville
Contact: Lynn Kudlacz at (816) 289-1268 or LynnKudlacz@yahoo.com

BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Inc.

Provides parent education, support, and resource information to parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing – no cost
Phone: 800-541-HEAR
Website: http://www.ncbegin.com

Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center

Parent training center for the state of NC
Provides parent manual for special education rights, information on specific diagnoses, free library by mail, workshops, and individual consultation about children’s educational rights – a free service
Phone: 1-800-962-6817 (Davidson, NC office)
Website: http://www.ecac-parentcenter.org

Exceptional Family Member Program

Military family members with special medical or educational needs should be enrolled to assist the military services in assigning appropriate duty stations, per USMC order and Navy Instruction
Camp Lejeune contact s: Exceptional Family Member Program Marine Corps Family Team Building, Brewster Blvd., Bldg. 40, MCB Camp Lejeune, 910 451-0176
MCAS New River members should contact Family Service Center, MCAS New River, 910 449-5247
Sponsors Camp Special Time, a free overnight respite care program held several times per year for children enrolled in EFMP
Camp Lejeune EFMP sponsors the Military Committee for Persons with Disabilities, a volunteer group which seeks to improve facilities & services for persons with disabilities
EFMP web site www.mccslejeune.com (click on main menu, then EFMP) lists many upcoming recreational, educational, & support group activities in its newsletter
Children in EFMP are eligible to receive up to 40 hours per month of free respite care; contact Child Care Aware at 800 424 2246 or www.naccrra.org/MilitaryPrograms/EFMP

Extended Care Health Option

The Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) supplements the basic TRICARE program by providing financial assistance for an integrated set of services and supplies. To use ECHO, qualified beneficairies must be enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) as provided by the sponsor’s branch of service and register through ECHO case managers in each TRICARE region.
Family Support Network
- Central directory of resources, information and referral for North Carolina
- Coordinates parent support groups locally and statewide; matches parents with other parents in similar circumstances
- Printed information on specific health problems, diagnoses, and disabilities
Phone: 1-800-TLC-0042 (state office)
Website: http://www.fsnnc.org

Governor Morehead Preschool Program –

Military Homefront

Website: www.MilitaryHomeFront.dod.mil – see Troops and Families, Special Needs section

Military One Source

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)

Provides resource information and referrals via internet and phone, publications, conference information, information on organizations
Provides information on resources available in each state
Phone: 800-695-0285
Website: www.NICHCY.org

North Carolina Early Intervention Library

Large collection of print and video materials on early childhood and early intervention available for loan by mail
Phone: (828) 432-5267
Website: www.ncei-eclibrary.org

North Carolina Early Intervention Web Site

PARENTSS (Positive Action for Recreational & Educational Needs of Today’s Special Students)

Local parent support/advocacy/family recreation group meets once a month for parent education/support or family recreational activities;
Watch Jacksonville Daily News for meeting announcements

Respite Care Program – Onslow County Partnership for Children

Provides up to 40 hours per month of free respite care for military family members registered with EFMP
Services planned on a case-by-case basis
Contact: Holly Ramsey, Family Liaison @ 910-938-0336

Special Education Alliance (SEAL)

Parent group meets to discuss families advocating for children’s educational needs & plan family activities 4th Thursday on alternate months at Onslow Memorial Hospital;
Contact: Wendy Boyd (910) 577-3969 or webo5k@hotmail.com

Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP)

National parent training center for military families
Will provide workshops for parent groups
Telephone consultation for parents regarding educational rights and information at 800-5-PARENT (no cost)
Website: www.stompproject.org
Listserv: send a blank email to STOMP-subscribe@topica.com

TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children)

State funded evaluation, treatment, and research centers
Regional center is Wilmington TEACCH Center, 1320 South 16th St.,Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: 910-251-5700
Website: http://www.teacch.com