Contact Information:
Raleigh SRIS (Specialized Recreation & Inclusion Services)

Website: https://raleighnc.gov/SRIS-program (or https://raleighnc.gov/equity-services-and-resources/services/specialized-recreation-and-inclusion-services/specialized)

Services & Benefits:
This program offers recreation programs adapted to participants with developmental or physical disabilities, inclusion services (so participants can join mainstream programs with accommodations), summer camps (e.g., Camp Friendly for ages 6–12, Camp Exploration for ages 13–21), and sensory-friendly or modified activities. Families benefit because children or adults with special needs can engage socially, physically, and creatively in accessible, judgment-friendly settings.

Contact Information:
Triangle Disability & Autism Services, Inc.
Website: https://triangledisability.org/

Services & Benefits:
TDAS supports both children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism through advocacy, community inclusion, day programs, and recreational support. For instance, their Building Abilities Day Program offers a supportive, structured environment for adults with IDD and autism to develop skills, socialize, and make choices in daily life. Families benefit by having a resource for ongoing support, social opportunities, and a bridge toward independence for their loved ones.

Location: Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC

Website: https://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/

Cost: Free (these are special sessions)

What It Involves: These are designated times when the museum opens its doors in a calm, quieter, less stimulating environment (lower noise, reduced lighting) exclusively for children with disabilities and their families. Typical exhibits are available but with accommodations.

Learning / Developmental Value:
• Social and emotional: children can explore without fear of overwhelming stimuli
• Cognitive: they still engage with exhibits, experiment, and play
• Sensory regulation: provides a safe space to experience museum environments gradually

Location: Wake Forest, NC (programs via Wake Forest Parks & Recreation)

Website: https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/parks-recreation-cultural-resources/specialized-programs-inclusion

Cost: Varies by activity (often low or subsidized)

What It Involves: SPIRIT Wake Forest provides adaptive sports, social & fitness programs, art, cooking, after-school inclusive activities, and social gatherings, all designed for participants of different abilities.

Learning / Developmental Value:
• Physical development via sports, movement, adapted exercise
• Social skills: interacting with peers in inclusive settings
• Self-efficacy & identity: participants can try new roles and feel accepted

Citation: Disability Rights North Carolina. (n.d.). Autism-Related Services in NC. Retrieved from https://disabilityrightsnc.org/resources/autism-related-services-in-nc/

Summary / How it Helps: This site explains what kinds of services are available to people diagnosed with autism in North Carolina (e.g. speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior analysis). It also provides links to legal protections, information on how to access services, and details on the rights families and individuals have under state and federal law. Families can use this resource to understand what they can request, what is mandated, and how to effectively advocate for their child’s needs.