ActNowASD
Saved · 0

NC · for parents

Autism in North Carolina

You are not alone. Here is what is true about the child population and public systems in North Carolina — and where to start with early intervention, school, and coverage.

The short answer for North Carolina

  • You are not alone in North Carolina: Census counts 2,336,580 children ages 0–17 (Vintage 2023).
  • IDEA Part B (SY 2022–23): 27,979 children ages 3–21 reported under the Autism disability category in special education (OSEP Section 618) — a served count, not a full population census.
  • Under 3: Infant-Toddler Program (ITP). School age: written evaluation request to the district; statewide info via NCDPI — Exceptional Children.
  • Coverage: North Carolina Medicaid. Rights: Disability Rights North Carolina.
  • Published access checklist: 100% (stronger published access path). City numbers only appear later with true local sources.

You are not alone in North Carolina

Families across North Carolina are navigating evaluation, school plans, and services. The figures below are from primary public sources — Census population and IDEA special-education child counts — not invented totals.

  • 2,336,580 children ages 0–17 live in North Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 civilian estimates). You share this state with a large generation of families raising kids.
  • In school year 2022–23, North Carolina reported 27,979 children ages 3–21 receiving special education under the Autism disability category (U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618). That is a real administrative count of children served under that category — still not every autistic child in the state, but clear proof many families are on a related path.
  • Public systems exist because this is not rare here: Infant-Toddler Program (ITP), school special education, North Carolina Medicaid, and Disability Rights North Carolina.

Key numbers for autism families in North Carolina

Children ages 0–17 in North Carolina2,336,580Families share this state with a large generation of kidsU.S. Census · Vintage 2023Source [1]
In special education under “Autism” (ages 3–21)27,979Served under IDEA Part B Autism category — not every autistic childIDEA §618 Part B · SY 2022-23Source [2]
Share of special education (Part B)13.8%Of all Part B disabilities ages 3–21 in the same reportIDEA §618 Part B · SY 2022-23Source [2]
How common identification is (national)1 in 31CDC monitoring sites · context only, not a North Carolina censusCDC ADDM · 2022Source [3]
In early intervention (birth–2, all reasons)10,425Part C total served — not autism-onlyIDEA §618 Part C · SY 2022–23Source [10]

Of the IDEA Autism total: 2,720 ages 3–5 and 25,259 school age 5–21.Source [2]

Where to start in North Carolina

Pick the path that matches your child. Each bullet is one clear action.

  1. If your child is under 3

    Call early intervention

    • WhoInfant-Toddler Program (ITP)
    • Do thisAsk for a developmental evaluation
    • Good to knowYou usually do not need a private autism diagnosis first
    • Phone919-707-5520
    Start a referralProgram homepage
    Source [5]

  2. If your child is 3 or older

    Ask the school for an evaluation

    • WhoYour local school district
    • Do thisSend a written request for a special education evaluation
    • SaveDate the letter and keep a copy
    • Statewide infoNCDPI
    Open special education infoHow IEPs work
    Source [6]

  3. For health coverage

    Check Medicaid

    • WhoNorth Carolina Medicaid
    • Ask aboutChildren’s coverage
    • Also askEPSDT (screening and treatment for kids on Medicaid)
    • Also askAny developmental disability or HCBS waivers
    • RememberThe agency decides eligibility — not this site
    • ExpansionYes in this catalog[9]— re-check before you rely on it
    Open Medicaid site
    Source [7]

  4. If you are stuck or ignored

    Get free disability rights help

    • WhoDisability Rights North Carolina
    • WhenSchool or an agency will not act
    • Do thisContact them and put your concerns in writing
    • AlsoKeep copies of emails, letters, and meeting notes
    Contact rights helpIf you disagree with the school
    Source [8]

Programs and rights in North Carolina

Extra official links from the depth research pass. Only fields with a published source are shown. (Full research template.)

Early intervention

Special education rights

Medicaid, DD services, and waivers

Private insurance mandate

  • North Carolina G.S. § 58-3-192 requires certain health benefit plans to cover screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder for eligible ages, with statutory annual dollar limits (historically adjusted) and plan-type exceptions. Confirm current statute text and whether the plan is fully insured under NC DOI rules.[11]
  • Read statute / official source

Other official help lines

What to do next

If your child is under 3

  1. Refer to Infant-Toddler Program (ITP) using the official intake information on this page (source: ECTA Part C directory).
  2. You can usually refer without waiting for a private autism diagnosis.
  3. Ask about evaluation timelines and the written IFSP process.

If your child is preschool- or school-age

  1. Send a written request for a special education evaluation to your school district (keep a copy and note the date).
  2. Use statewide special education information from NCDPI — Exceptional Children for parent rights and procedural safeguards.
  3. Ask whether the team is considering IEP or 504 supports and request Prior Written Notice of decisions.

Health coverage and rights

  1. Start with North Carolina Medicaid for public coverage pathways; ask about EPSDT and any DD or HCBS waivers.
  2. If access or rights are blocked, contact Disability Rights North Carolina.
  3. Document everything in writing.

At ages 0–4

toddlers and preschoolers
  • Refer to Infant-Toddler Program (ITP) as soon as you have developmental concerns — do not wait for a private diagnosis.
  • Ask your pediatrician for developmental screening and a parallel EI referral the same week.
  • If your child is approaching age 3, ask EI about the transition to school-based services (Part B).

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

At ages 5–8

5 to 8 year olds
  • Put a special education evaluation request in writing to the school principal or special education director.
  • Use the state special education page for parent rights materials: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/classroom-resources/exceptional-children
  • Ask whether a 504 plan or IEP is under consideration and request Prior Written Notice of decisions.

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

At ages 9–12

9 to 12 year olds
  • Review the IEP or 504 annually; ask for data on progress, not only compliance with minutes.
  • If the district delays evaluation or services, use state complaint and mediation options via NCDPI guidance and Disability Rights North Carolina.
  • Document home and school differences (sleep, shutdowns, learning) in a short written summary for the team.

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

At ages 13–16

teenagers
  • Confirm transition planning is in the IEP (federally required by age 16; many states start earlier).
  • Ask North Carolina Medicaid about adult-serving waivers or long-term supports planning well before age 18.
  • Involve your teenager in meetings; Disability Rights North Carolina can help if rights or access are blocked.

Changes with the age control at the top of the page.

Official autism-related contacts in North Carolina

Early intervention under 3 (Infant-Toddler Program (ITP))

Infant-Toddler Program (ITP)[5]
North Carolina DHHS[4]

Also see: Early intervention guide

School and special education

Start with your local school district (written evaluation request). Statewide:

IEP or 504 · IEP disputes

Medicaid

Ask about EPSDT and any developmental disability or HCBS waivers.

Disability rights help

Cities in North Carolina

Metro guides with local intake contacts, district links, and evaluation pathways:

Autism in Cary →Local entry points for Cary and Wake County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a diagnostic clinic network, and how North Carolina pays for autism care — every fact sourced.7 local resources listedAutism in Charlotte →Local entry points for Charlotte and Mecklenburg County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, hospital and university evaluation pathways, and the Medicaid waiver system — every fact sourced.7 local resources listedAutism in Concord →Local entry points for Concord and Cabarrus County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a regional diagnostic center, and how North Carolina funds autism care — every fact sourced.3 local resources listedAutism in Durham →Local entry points for Durham County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, Duke and UNC evaluation pathways, and how North Carolina funds autism care — every fact sourced.9 local resources listedAutism in Fayetteville →Local entry points for Fayetteville and Cumberland County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a regional diagnostic center, and how North Carolina funds autism care — every fact sourced.7 local resources listedAutism in Greensboro →Local entry points for Greensboro and Guilford County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a university-run diagnostic center, and how North Carolina funds autism services — every fact sourced.9 local resources listedAutism in High Point →Local entry points for High Point families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a regional diagnostic center, and how North Carolina funds autism care — every fact sourced.6 local resources listedAutism in Raleigh →Local entry points for Raleigh and Wake County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a diagnostic clinic network, and how North Carolina pays for autism services — every fact sourced.12 local resources listedAutism in Wilmington →Local entry points for Wilmington and New Hanover County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a coastal diagnostic center, and how North Carolina funds autism care — every fact sourced.7 local resources listedAutism in Winston-Salem →Local entry points for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County families: early intervention referral, district Child Find contacts, a hospital-based autism clinic, and how North Carolina funds autism care — every fact sourced.3 local resources listed

Common questions about autism supports in North Carolina

References

  1. [1]U.S. Census Bureau. Vintage 2023 civilian population by single year of age (SC-EST2023-AGESEX-CIV), ages 0–17 summed for North Carolina. As of 2023-07-01. Open source
  2. [2]U.S. Department of Education (IDEA §618). Part B Child Count and Educational Environments, school year 2022-23. Children ages 3–21 reported under the Autism disability category (early childhood + school-age totals). This is a count of children served under that category — not a full census of all autistic children. Open source
  3. [3]CDC ADDM Network. Surveillance year 2022: overall ASD prevalence among 8-year-olds across 16 ADDM Network monitoring sites (not every US community) was 32.2 per 1,000 (about 1 in 31). National monitoring-site context only — not a statewide headcount for North Carolina. Open source
  4. [4]ECTA Center · Part C directory. Part C state systems and coordinators directory (used for Infant-Toddler Program (ITP) program and referral fields). Confirm current details on the state site. Open source
  5. [5]Infant-Toddler Program (ITP). North Carolina DHHS. Official early intervention program site for North Carolina. Open source
  6. [6]NCDPI — Exceptional Children. Statewide special education information for North Carolina. Day-to-day IEPs start with the local school district. Open source
  7. [7]North Carolina Medicaid. Public Medicaid / health coverage entry point listed for North Carolina. Eligibility is decided by the agency. Open source
  8. [8]Disability Rights North Carolina. Protection & Advocacy organization linked for North Carolina. Open source
  9. [9]Kaiser Family Foundation. Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Catalog coding for North Carolina: expanded. Re-check the live tracker before citing. Open source
  10. [10]U.S. Department of Education (IDEA §618 Part C). Total infants and toddlers birth through age 2 receiving Part C early intervention (all eligibility reasons — not autism-only). OSEP Section 618. Open source
  11. [11]State insurance statute / DOI. North Carolina G.S. § 58-3-192 requires certain health benefit plans to cover screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder for eligible ages, with statutory annual dollar limits (historically adjusted) and plan-type exceptions. Confirm current statute text and whether the plan is fully insured under NC DOI rules. Open source

Last checked 2026-08-03. If a link has moved, use the agency’s current homepage.

Last checked 2026-08-03. Programmes and numbers change — always confirm with the agency and your clinician.