This is an overview of rights that parents/guardians have during the development of a child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at any public school in North Carolina.

Your IEP Rights

Your IEP Rights (Español)

In the caregiver-delivered version of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), caregivers are coached to use strategies during their everyday interactions with their children that have been shown to promote social interaction, communication and learning. Free, online caregiver coaching modules are now available. 

This encouraging guide from the developers of a groundbreaking early intervention program provides doable, practical strategies you can use every day. Nearly all young kids—including autistic children—have an amazing capacity to learn. Drs. Sally Rogers, Duke Center for Autism Director Geraldine Dawson, and Laurie Vismara make it surprisingly simple to turn daily routines like breakfast or bath time into fun and rewarding learning experiences that target crucial developmental skills.

The AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit was created as part of an on-going research project by the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) to help improve healthcare access and quality for adults on the autism spectrum. The project was funded by the National Institute Of Mental Health, Award Number R34MH092503. 

Our understanding and acceptance of autism has evolved over the years towards a greater awareness of what we call neurodiversity - broadly, the idea that each brain is unique and what used to be considered "disorders" are not at all, but rather reflections of these uniqueness with their own strengths and weaknesses. Joining the podcast is Dr. Lauren Franz, the associate director of Duke University Center for Autism and Brain Development, for an enlightening and important conversation. 

When traveling with a neurodiverse child or individual, It's essential to plan ahead and be ready with some useful tools along the way.  Caregivers can help make the trip as enjoyable as possible for the whole family by creating and using a travel "tool kit" to ease planning and preparation, and support the sensory needs of neurodiverse children.

Knowledge is power, particularly in the days after an autism diagnosis. The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit helps families of young children make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis.

Over 100,000 parents have found the facts they need about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including Asperger syndrome, in this indispensable guide, written by Duke Center for Autism Director Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Sally Ozonoff, PhD, and James McPartland, PhD.

From leading autism researchers, including Duke Center for Autism Director Geraldine Dawson, PhD, this accessible guide helps you put the latest advances to work for your unique child. Separating fact from fiction about causes, treatments, and prevention, the book guides you to make lifestyle choices that support the developing brain. Learn about the choices you have — and the steps you can take — to build a happier, healthier life for your child and family.

This guide will help provide sisters and brothers with a better understanding of autism, and arm you with tips, tools and real life stories to guide you as you support your family immediately after the diagnosis and beyond.