March 2026

Welcome to the March edition of our NC DeafBlind Newsletter for families. We invite you to join our mailing list and reach out if you would like more information, community resources or support advocating for your child! Please feel free to share this information with friends and families! If you are new to us, click on the link below to sign up for the mailing list.

Featured Events

Picture of webinar, slides show text and picture of speaker in the corner

Pre-Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation Services

for the Blind Webinar

ECAC hosted a January webinar with the Division of Services for the Blind. The focus was Pre-Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services. The objectives of the webinar were to:

Increase awareness of the Division of Services for the Blind (DSB)
Learn more about Pre - ETS
Learn more about transition to adulthood and DSB - VR

Presented by: Elli Heim, MA, CRC, Program Specialist for Transition Services, NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Services for the Blind, Vocational Rehabilitation

Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Community Conversations

Community Conversations are sessions scheduled in every region of the state of North Carolina. They are small sessions with 8–10 participants per meeting, lasting about two hours. ASL interpreters and CART services will be provided at every meeting and if you need other accommodations please let us know.

Our goal is to listen and learn from you about: Barriers to communication access in daily life and services you need that DSDHH does not currently provide. Click here to learn more.

Project Partners

Click on the icons below for more information:

Local Events/Support

The NC Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) offers local events, subscribe to their contact list to receive information: Click here to sign up.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services- EHDI (Early Hearing Detection and Intervention) Services - The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program works to ensure that all newborns and toddlers with hearing loss are identified as early as possible and provided with appropriate audiologic, educational and medical intervention.

EDHI’s Parent-to-Parent Support Group Flyer created by parents for parents. We hope you will connect with a group near you. You can download and print the flyer HERE.

Sign for the EHDI mailing list

Family - 2- Family Communities (F2FC) - F2FC brings families together via distance technology to connect, share information and resources, and offer support to one another in the journey of supporting their family member with deaf-blindness.

Hands and Voices NC Chapter: Supportive community for parents, families, and advocates of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This parent-driven, professional-collaborative group is dedicated to fostering connection, sharing resources, and empowering families—without bias toward any specific communication mode or method.

Governor Morehead School Outreach Program

The Governor Morehead School empowers North Carolina students with visual impairments and additional disabilities through Accessible Academics, Independence by Design, Future Life Readiness, and Holistic Student Growth and Wellness, equipping them to thrive as independent, lifelong learners.

Learn more about their summer programs and upcoming events on their outreach hub.

American Sign Language Storytelling

Time for Children

DSDHH is hosting American Sign Language Storytelling Time for children through Zoom.

Stories are carefully selected for their authentic representation of Deaf characters, Deaf authors, authors whose background is in ASL interpreting or are a Child of Deaf Adults (CODAs). To participate, you will need to have your computer, tablet (iPad), or smartphone with internet/WiFi access. Next sessions will be April 10, 2026 and May 8, 2026 on Zoom, 10 – 10:30 a.m. Click this LINK to access the Zoom session.

Southeast DeafBlind Collaborative

Webinar Series

The next Southeast DeafBlind Collaborative training will be held Thursday, March 26th, 2:30-4:00 EST Strategies for Identifying Students Who May Have Brain-Based Hearing Issues and Strategies for Supporting their Learning and Active Engagement. Click here to register.

Summer Youth Vocational Program (SYVP) 2026

Empowering Youth Through STEAM, Surfing, and Self-Discovery

Dates: July 6 to July 31, 2026 | Location: Helen Keller National Center, New York

Ready to discover what you're capable of? HKNC's Summer Youth Vocational Program (SYVP) helps youth explore careers through hands-on work experience at multiple job sites. You'll dive into STEAM projects, experience activities like adaptive surfing, and develop self-advocacy skills, all while discovering your strengths. SYVP is about exploration and possibility, giving you the confidence and skills to shape your own future. Click here to read more.

Summer Camps for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children Created by NC EHDI

Click here to view summer camps offered throughout the state of North Carolina

Bravo Nantahala Adventure Camp is an outdoor camp in Bryson City for children who are blind or have significant visual impairments. Activities include hiking, rafting and climbing. There are 12 spaces for rising 9-12 graders for July 12 through July 16. Instructors include teachers for the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialists. No campers will be turned away because of a lack of funds. Day camps are also available in Asheville and Charlotte.