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This issue of Transition Trove is dedicated to the memory of Francisco “Frank” Saverio Graziadei, Jr., co-founder of the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC), whose vision and advocacy helped transform support for families of children with disabilities across North Carolina.
ECAC’s beginnings trace back to 1980, when the North Carolina Protection and Advocacy agency—then called the Governor’s Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities—received a federal grant to train 60 families on the newly established federal and state special education laws. During that training, two parents of children with disabilities, Connie Hawkins and Frank Graziadei, recognized the power of parent training and the urgent need for families to have access to information and support.
Connie and Frank became volunteer trainers in their communities and served on the Exceptional Children’s Advisory Council, the parent advisory board for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. By 1983, their volunteer efforts had grown to the point that they were answering calls from families and conducting workshops throughout the region. With support from Dr. Richard White of the Special Education Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the group received its first grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. ECAC became a private nonprofit parent organization with Frank Graziadei serving as Chairman of the Board and Connie Hawkins as Director, initially serving families in nine counties.
What began as a grassroots effort has since grown into a statewide organization serving families in all 100 North Carolina counties. Today, ECAC continues to train and empower families of children with disabilities or special health care needs to navigate special education, healthcare, and other systems—at no cost to families. That impact is part of Frank’s enduring legacy.
Frank’s passion for improving outcomes for youth with disabilities extended far beyond ECAC’s founding. After retiring from IBM in 1993, he continued serving others as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, helping individuals with disabilities pursue meaningful employment until his final retirement in 2015.
In honor of his son Matthew, who passed away in 1998 due to complications of Muscular Dystrophy, Frank and his wife Mary Anne established the Matthew C. Graziadei Achievement Award. Administered by ECAC, this annual award recognizes a North Carolina high school senior with a disability who best exemplifies Matthew’s determination and character. Through Frank and Mary Anne’s generosity and commitment, this award has been presented every year since 1998, encouraging students with disabilities to pursue their goals beyond high school.
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