Disability Studies: Local Resources

A list of some local resources and organizations from nearby universities. For a list of Duke organizations, see the "Disability at Duke" tab.

Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities - A UNC School of Medicine-based center for "services, research, and training relevant to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families." The Institute provides clinical services both onsite and across the state.

Disability Advocates for Carolina - A UNC student group focused on disability advocacy work.

MannMukti at NC State - NC State's chapter of MannMukti, a national organization devoted to promoting open dialogue and reducing stigma around mental health in South Asian communities.

National Alliance on Mental Illness on Campus at NCCU - NC Central's chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the US' "largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness."

National Alliance on Mental Illness on Campus at NC State - NC State's chapter of NAMI.

Rethink: Psychiatric Illness - A UNC student group "aimed at raising awareness about mental illnesses and challenging the stigmas that surround them."

TEACCH Autism Program - A UNC School of Medicine-based "system of community regional centers that offers a set of core services along with unique demonstration programs meeting the clinical, training, and research needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families, and professionals across the state of North Carolina."

UNC Autism Research Center - A UNC-based "pan university institute dedicated to interdisciplinary research on autism spectrum disorder."

A list of disability-related organizations based in the Triangle and across the state.

Statewide organizations:

• Arts Access - An organization focused on "enabl[ing] North Carolinians with disabilities to have full access to arts programs and facilities, and [on] encourag[ing] them to participate fully in the rich cultural and artistic life throughout the state." Based in Raleigh.
• Association for People Supporting Employment First, North Carolina chapter (NC APSE) - North Carolina's chapter of APSE, "the largest membership organization dedicated to the growth and expansion of supported and customized employment for persons with significant disabilities." 
• Autism Society of North Carolina - An organization focused on "improv[ing] the lives of individuals with autism, support[ing] their families, and educat[ing] communities." Based in Raleigh.
• Beginnings - A North Carolina organization focused on families of mixed hearing ability. 
• Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC) - An organization dedicated to support and advocacy for people with brain injuries. Based in Raleigh.
• Disability Rights North Carolina - "a legal advocacy agency that fights for the rights of people with disabilities in North Carolina. We handle cases involving discrimination, abuse and other rights violations. All of our services are at no cost to North Carolinians with disabilities." Based in Raleigh.
• Epilepsy Foundation North Carolina - North Carolina chapter of the national Epilepsy Foundation, focused on "overcom[ing] the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerat[ing] therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives."
• Exceptional Children's Assistance Center - A state organization that "provide[s] information, support, training and resources to assist families caring for children with special needs from birth to age 26." Based in Davidson.
• First in Families of North Carolina - A North Carolina organization focused on advocacy and support for disabled people and their families. Based in Durham. 
• i2i Center for Integrative Health - An organization of North Carolina healthcare leaders devoted to "foster[ing] collaborative and evidence-based initiatives for improving the quality and efficacy of the behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use care and support service systems within a comprehensive system of whole person care." Based in Cary. 
• Learning Disabilities Association of North Carolina - An organization devoted to promoting awareness of learning disabilities in North Carolina. Based in Chapel Hill. 
• NAMI North Carolina - North Carolina chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, focused on promoting awareness and providing support for people with mental illness. 
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Carolinas chapter - North and South Carolina chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, focused on supporting people with MS. 
• North Carolina Adult Day Services Association - A North Carolina organization that "serves as the central voice for adult day service providers and the people who use adult day services in North Carolina." Based in Raleigh. 
• North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities - An NC Governor-appointed council charged with overseeing "the provisions of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act)." Based in Raleigh. 
• North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance - A state organization focused on advocacy and support for people in North Carolina with Down Syndrome. Based in Raleigh. 
• North Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council - An NC Governor-appointed council charged with "developing a state plan addressing the provision of statewide independent living services (SPIL), developing and supporting a statewide network of Centers for Independent Living (CILs), and monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the implementation of the state plan (SPIL)." Based in Winston-Salem. 
• North Carolina TASH - North Carolina's chapter of TASH, a national organization that "include[s] professionals, parents and family members, persons with disabilities, and other North Carolina citizens who advocate for the rights of people with disabilities."
• Spina Bifida Association of the Carolinas - North and South Carolina chapter of the national Spina Bifida Association, devoted to the advocacy of people with Spina Bifida. 

Triangle (or Greater Triangle)-specific organizations:

• The Arc of the Triangle - The Triangle's chapter of the Arc, a national organization dedicated to "promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes."
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Central/Eastern Carolinas chapter - Local chapter of the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, an organization dedicated to the care of people with Cystic Fibrosis.
• Triangle Disability Awareness Council - A local volunteer-run organization meant to "serve communities in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area and beyond."

A list of disability-related resources available through the state of North Carolina.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Resources:

• Division of Aging and Adult Services: "works to promote the independence and enhance the dignity of North Carolina's older adults, persons with disabilities and their families through a community based system of opportunities, services, benefits and protections.
• Client Assistance Program: "Established as part of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the North Carolina Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a federally funded program designed to assist individuals with disabilities in understanding and using rehabilitation services."
• Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services: "Providing quality support to achieve self-determination for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and quality services to promote treatment and recovery for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders."
• Division of Services for the Blind: "provides services to people who are visually impaired, blind and deaf-blind to help them reach their goals of independence and employment."
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services: "helps people with disabilities achieve their goals for employment and independence. If you have a disability that prevents you from achieving career success or independence in the community of your choice, DVRS can connect you to services and resources to help you meet your goals."
• North Carolina Assistive Technology Program: "a state and federally funded program that provides assistive technology services statewide to people of all ages and abilities. NCATP leads North Carolina's efforts to carry out the federal Assistive Technology Act of 2004 by providing device demonstration, short-term device loans, and reutilization of assistive technology. We promote independence for people with disabilities through access to technology."

Exceptional Children Division, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - "The mission of the Exceptional Children Division is to ensure that students with disabilities develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized education program in the least restrictive environment."