Disability Rights North Carolina

05/31/2026

Looking for summer camp?

"Camp Carefree provides a free one-week summer session to children ages 6-16 who may not qualify for other summer camps. Our campers are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Attendance in the past is not a guarantee of acceptance. These applications are reviewed upon receipt of this form AND THE REQUIRED MEDICAL FORMS.

We must stress that our camp is limited to campers who are excluded from other overnight summer camps due to their medical needs that require medical personnel during their attendance.

You will be notified once our program directors and medical team has determined your child’s eligibility. Camp sessions fill up quickly so please return your applications as soon as possible. Make sure to have the medical form completed by your child’s health care provider."

Upcoming sessions:
[WAITLIST IN EFFECT-MAY OVERFLOW TO JULY 12 - 17] June 21 - 26: SIBLINGS - Well children with a chronically ill sibling
June 28 - July 3: NEURO - epilepsy & neurological disorders
July 5 - 10: CANCER, DOWN SYNDROME - Leukemia & other cancers, Down Syndrome
July 12 - 17: KIDS - Well children with a chronically ill parent
July 19- 24: SPINA BIFIDA - Spinal cord disorders & injuries
July 26 - 31: HEMOPHILIA/TURNER'S - blood disorders, von Willebrand disease & Turner syndrome

learn more and apply today! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfngkyz2r1gRLquldJaIVbWIsGHppFh2rDgchWmR2U7tkJ0pA/viewform

05/30/2026

Upcoming Event!

Please join Centers for Exceptional Children for their Exceptional Families Summer Picnic, Friday June 5th, 6-8 PM. Meet old and new friends at a beautiful, accessible playground! Main dish provided, families will sign up to bring sides/desserts. Bring a blanket or folding chairs. Register below.

LOCATION:
King Recreational Acres Accessible Playground, 229 S Main St.
King, NC 27021

Questions? Email Erin with our Family Support Network at ErinFSN@thecfec.org

REGISTER HERE
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsIN856_08VxVFjJPEB_PoKPqSrSKuAYoIL_c1xZEfYTwULg/viewform

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

Over 60 million people in the U.S. have a mental illness. PAIMI protects all of them.

PAIMI stands for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act. With a PAIMI program, Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agencies can protect individuals with mental health conditions from abuse and neglect.

PAIMI allows P&As to investigate mistreatment in any place where people with mental illness live and learn, such as:

🏥 hospitals,

🏫 schools,

🏛️prisons, or

🏠care homes.

P&As exist in every state and territory to defend people with mental health conditions. If it’s happening to one of us, it matters to all of us.

Need help? Anyone with a disability, or anyone who supports someone with disability, can request PAIMI support. Find your P&A: https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/.



ALT TEXT/IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS

Image 1: Purple background with pink text on all slides. Who protects the rights of individuals with mental illness? Five portraits of individuals, showing their faces and upper bodies,

Image 2: Who- The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program protects the rights of youth and adults with mental illness or “emotional impairment.” PAIMI programs can also assist families of individuals with mental illness in becoming better advocates and allies.

Image 3: What - Protection and Advocacy agencies (P&As) with a PAIMI program act as watchdogs and advocates for individuals with mental health conditions. The PAIMI program also gives P&As “access authority.” This allows the P&A to enter facilities, review client records, and speak with individuals receiving services. PAIMI ensures individuals with a mental illness are not being abused or neglected.

Image 4: Where - PAIMI is a nationwide, federally-funded program that exists in every U.S. state and territory. PAIMI originally began by protecting individuals in residential facilities, but was expanded in 2001 to also include individuals living in the community. This can include: Hospitals Schools Nursing homes Foster care homes Board and care homes Homeless shelters Jails, prisons, and juvenile detention Other community facilities

Image 5: When - PAIMI was created by Congress in 1986. Investigative journalism & public inquiries pushed Congress to investigate the treatment of individuals with mental health conditions in residential facilities. Congress found that these individuals were vulnerable to abuse, injury, and neglect. Many facilities had inadequate treatment, nutrition, clothing, health care, & discharge planning. Congress found that State systems to monitor compliance were inadequate,& an independent watchdog was needed.

Image 6: Why - To this day, overcrowded facilities and understaffing are realities in mental health systems. The demand for these services is growing and PAIMI programs across the nation should expand to meet that need. We hold these systems accountable, ensure collaboration instead of control, and empower the voices of the most vulnerable. We ensure that individuals with mental health conditions do not fall through the cracks.

Image 7: How - Anyone with a disability, or anyone who supports someone with disability, can request PAIMI support. Need help? Find your P&A ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies

05/28/2026

Older adults strengthen communities across North Carolina every day through leadership, service, mentorship and care for others.

Governor Josh Stein is recognizing the important contributions of older North Carolinians and reaffirming the state’s commitment to supporting healthy aging, independence and community connection for people of all ages.

Read the full release: https://bit.ly/4ur29Ha

05/27/2026

We've put together a neurodivergent-adapted safety plan called The Help Me Stay Plan. It's a full workbook, completely free, made in honor of those we've lost and for everyone in the thick of it, finding reasons to stay.

If you are struggling with your mental health, or supporting someone who is, we hope this can help you stay through the hardest moments, and remind you that you are not alone.

Out of care for everyone reading, please don't share specific personal narratives of suicidality in the comments. If you are in a hard moment right now, please find a link to crisis resources we've gathered (linked in bio and comments).

For the link to the free resource see comments.

05/25/2026

Today, on Memorial Day, we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country, and we remember the lasting impact of war long after the battlefield.

DRNC offices will be closed today in observance of this holiday and will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday May 26th.

05/23/2026

FREE laundry event with Uplift Laundry Truck

Wash and Wellness Day! Carrboro, North Carolina

Uplift Laundry Truck is providing a free laundry event on Saturday, May 30.

Uplift Laundry Truck provides free mobile laundry services and supplies to those in need, and people without homes, in the Triangle. The organization’s goal is to provide free laundry services to North Carolina’s 1.4 million low-income residents.

Saturday, May 30, 2026

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or while supplies last)
Willow Creek Laundromat, 602 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro, North Carolina
FREE $10 pre-loaded laundry card, and FREE detergent, while supplies last
Please follow link below to register!

Please go here for more details about this event: https://triangleonthecheap.com/uplift-laundry/

05/22/2026

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

DRNC is receiving an exceptionally high volume of requests for legal help. We are working diligently to review and respond to all submissions as quickly as possible. Please be aware that response times may be longer than usual. We appreciate your understanding.

If you are experiencing an emergency and need immediate assistance, we encourage you to seek other available resources or services that may be able to assist with urgent needs. DRNC also offers many excellent self-help resources on our website disabilityrightsnc.org/get-help/resources