North Carolina Organization Links

Beginnings - BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Inc., has served families as a non-profit organization, incorporated under the laws of NC since 1987. BEGINNINGS was established to provide emotional support and access to information as a central resource for families with deaf or hard of hearing children, age birth through 21. BEGINNINGS provides an impartial approach to meeting the diverse needs of these families and the professionals who serve them. These services are also available to deaf parents who have hearing children. The mission of BEGINNINGS is to help parents be informed, empowered and supported as they make decisions about their child. In addition, BEGINNINGS is committed to providing technical assistance to professionals who work with these families to help the children achieve full participation in society.

Carolina Children's Communicative Disorders Program (CCCDP) - The North Carolina General Assembly has, since 1993, provided a grant to assist families in the state who have children with hearing loss. This grant is provided through the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Department at UNC-Chapel Hill and managed by The W. Paul Biggers, MD Carolina Children's Communicative Disorders Program (CCCDP). It is funded through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, supplying communication devices, as well as UNC physician, audiological, and speech services for qualifying children with hearing and other communication disorders. CCCDP is also the umbrella organization for CASTLE and the UNC Pediatric Cochlear Implant program.

Center for the Aquisition of Spoken language Through Listening Enrichment (CASTLE) - CASTLE is dedicated to providing quality auditory-oral early intervention and preschool services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. CASTLE teaches, encourages, empowers, and supports the parents as the primary teachers of their young children, in order to promote healthy parent/caregiver bonding and to maximize the amount of time a child spends in a language-rich environment. CASTLE provides this model program in order offer educational opportunities to professionals and university students in the form of workshops and inservices as well as practicum experience on-site in the field of oral deaf education.

NC Department of Health and Human Services - The Early Intervention Program for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing provides services to children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf/blind ages birth to three and their families. Concentrating on language and communication skill development, itinerant professionals provide family-centered intervention in home and daycare settings. At age three, the program works to establish a smooth transition to the local education agency.

NC Department of Public Instruction

NC Department of Public Instruction/Exceptional Children - Division Mission: The mission of the Exceptional Children Division is to assure that students with disabilities and those who are academically or intellectually gifted develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized education in the least restrictive environment.

NC Pediatric Society - The mission of the North Carolina Pediatric Society is to improve the health and well-being of children, their families and communities through the collective efforts of its membership, and to provide an organization for member support, professional communication, education and fellowship.

Family Support Network NC - Family Support Network of North Carolina promotes and provides support for families with children who have special needs. Families are in a unique position to offer information and support to other families. An experienced family member can share the most practical advice and help a parent navigate the complex service system. Having support can make it easier for families to experience the joy and satisfaction that can come from parenting a child with special needs. This Parent-to-Parent support is available through local, affiliated Family Support Network programs across the state and through the Central Directory of Resources.

Triad Hitch-Up -A parent-run group intended to support the families of children with hearing loss in the North Carolina Triad area, in a relaxed and family-centered environment. Through monthly meetings, invited speakers, and regular social gatherings, we strive to provide informational, emotional, and social support to maximize the potential of children with hearing loss. In addition, we hope to be an outlet through which children with all degrees of hearing loss, and their siblings, parents and extended families can meet and spend time with others in similar situations. Triad Hitch-Up welcomes and actively supports families and children with hearing loss regardless of their chosen mode of communication.

Triangle Area Hitch-Up - Triangle Area Hitch-Up was founded on the premise that parents, given accurate information about hearing loss, could make sound decisions for their child. These decisions involve placement, communication methodology, and related service needs. Our members are committed to sharing information in a family centered atmosphere to facilitate active involvement of parents in their child's social, emotional, and educational growth. Triangle area Hitch-Up actively assists and supports parents of deaf or hard of hearing children regardless of their chosen mode of communication.

The group meets once a month on the first Tuesday of each month from 7pm-9pm at Providence Baptist Church located at 6339 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh.

Childcare is provided by UNC Audiology students at no charge. Prior notice of childcare need is required.

Meetings are an informal gathering of parents who share their experiences and concerns, and answer questions for each other. Guest speakers, who are professionals in the field, are invited for presentations on relevant topics.

UNC Pediatric Cochlear Implants - Increasing numbers of children are coming to UNC Pediatric Cochlear Implant Team each year. They include both new patients and children who have been implanted by other programs. Children with cochlear implants require a team approach that includes teachers, clinicians, physicians, and families. The commitment to follow implant patients as they develop, to support a team approach, and to assure that the technology is doing its job are all critical aspects of The W. Paul Biggers, MD, Carolina Children's Communicative Disorders Program (CCCDP). The team is now managing more than 600 children with cochlear implants.

UNC Pediatric Audiology - Pediatric Audiology provides hearing diagnostic and rehabilitation services to infants and children having a wide range of hearing disorders. Pediatric Audiology works closely with UNC Hospital’s Infant Hearing Screening Program to identify and diagnose hearing loss within the first weeks of life. The identification/diagnostic process is closely linked with a comprehensive program of early intervention, insuring the availability of important auditory information during the early, critical intervals of hearing development. The UNC Pediatric Audiology Team, under the Direction of Patricia A. Roush, AuD, sees an expanding caseload of infants and young children with hearing loss.