Illumination Foundation of NC (IFNC)

Halloween on Wheels

There are some incredibly creative people out there making Halloween inclusive and fun for those who use wheelchairs. There hundreds of great ideas and photos…

Daily 5: June 2, 2017

1. “Hiking Miles for Smiles” in a an effort to end the stigma surrounding mental health. 2. Research suggests that AirBnB’s racial discrimination issues might…

Adept’s Annual Free Suit Giveaway

For the 10th straight year, Adept Nonprofit Services will partner with Men’s Wearhouse to help individuals in need to dress for success.

ALERT: Motion to Proceed Passes

50 Senators have voted to proceed on a mystery healthcare bill, and VP Pence broke the tie. John McCain, who has the greatest healthcare taxpayers…

ALERT: Senate Healthcare Bill Revision is Unacceptable

Senate Republicans have released a revision of their Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), and the revisions do nothing to change our strong opposition to this…

An All-Inclusive Halloween

It is that haunting time of year again! We all enjoy the good times that occur during the Halloween season. Costumes, parties, treats, and let’s…

Another Breakthrough Study Predicting Autism?

Just a couple of weeks ago, we posted about a scientific study that produced the potential for predicting autism in high-risk infants through a combination…

Autisms Speaks iPad Grant

Behold, the gift of technology! This is really cool. Autism Speaks, with funds raised by GameStop, is granting 685 iPad Airs to financially disadvantaged people with…

Battle for X: Only Two Weeks Away!

Breaking: Senate GOP Delays Healthcare Vote

Great news! Without the votes to move forward with debate, Senate Republicans have delayed a vote for their Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) until after…

Can An Algorithm Predict Autism?

A new study from Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina suggests that by using MRI scans, a computer program and…

Congressional Baseball Shooting

We want to express our sympathies to those who have been injured in this morning’s shooting at a Congressional baseball practice in Northern Virginia. Baseball,…

Daily 5: June 7, 2017

*News and Notes on Disability-Related Issues 1. A new app, Woebot, brings cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to Facebook messenger. 2. An new fraud-fighting rule will…

Dr. Temple Grandin: 2017 National Women’s Hall of Fame

Dr. Temple Grandin, a person that we at Illumination Foundation of NC (IFNC) hold in the highest regard, will be inducted into the National Women’s…

Happy Veteran’s Day

On behalf of all of us at Illumination Foundation of North Carolina, we want to thank everyone who has served in the United States Military….

IFNC Daily 5: August 1

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. An 8-year-old with autism explains why she doesn’t like to eat. 👧 How to help…

IFNC Daily 5: August 10

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. The PGA Championship begins today at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. 🏌️ More details of…

IFNC Daily 5: August 11

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Dad lets blind, autistic son change the gears on his sports car, and the video…

IFNC Daily 5: August 14

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can expedite claims for some conditions through “Compassionate Allowances.” 😇…

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Recreational and cultural institutions increasingly accommodate individuals with autism with sensory-friendly events. 🗣 The Autism Treatment…

IFNC Daily 5: August 16

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. In a possible example of sabotage, the Department of Health and Human Services is ending…

IFNC Daily 5: August 17

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. A quadriplegic man was forced into a specialty hospital after new restrictions on Medicaid…

IFNC Daily 5: August 18

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. The lives of quadriplegics are overwhelmed with the management of fear and health. ♿️ Target…

IFNC Daily 5: August 2

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Bob Costas will emcee the 32nd Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner, raising money for The…

IFNC Daily 5: August 3

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Avaz is an alternative/augmentative communication (AAC) app that helps autistic children communicate through pictures. 📷…

IFNC Daily 5: August 4

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Game of Thrones star Kit Harington is advocating for those with learning disabilities in new video. 🐲…

IFNC Daily 5: August 7

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Shopping for a wedding dress as a wheelchair user is very challenging. 💍 The Blue…

IFNC Daily 5: August 8

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. A teen on the autism spectrum gives some advice to parents. 🗣 The Microsoft 10…

IFNC Daily 5: July 10

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 👩‍⚕️ Philadelphia pediatrician explains the importance of Medicaid for autistic populations. ⚰️ With talk of…

IFNC Daily 5: July 11

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. ⚾️ Keep your eye on the ball. Republican Senators concerned about losing majority if they…

IFNC Daily 5: July 12

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. ✏️ Only 22 states are meeting federal special education requirements. 🔪 Vital NC mental health…

IFNC Daily 5: July 13

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 🏆 Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver honored at the ESPYS. 🚫 The pressure is…

IFNC Daily 5: July 14

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 🚫 Senate healthcare bill revision is in. It is still very, very bad. ⌨️ An…

IFNC Daily 5: July 17

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. ♿️ Trump budget would eliminate funding for the Reeve Foundation’s Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) and…

IFNC Daily 5: July 18 (UPDATED)

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 🚨🚨🚨 Late Monday night, two additional Republican Senators announced that they opposed the BCRA, seemingly…

IFNC Daily 5: July 19

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. ⚠️ After plans A, B and C fail, President Trump will meet with all 52…

IFNC Daily 5: July 20

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. It’s National Disability Voter Registration Week. The REV UP campaign was created to increase political…

IFNC Daily 5: July 21

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. A guide to understanding what is going on with the Senate healthcare bill. 🚫 The…

IFNC Daily 5: July 24

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Disabled voters participated at a significantly lower rate than the general population. ♿️ Fans take…

IFNC Daily 5: July 25

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. Recovering from surgery and a cancer diagnosis, Sen. John McCain will return for today’s healthcare…

IFNC Daily 5: July 26

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. A guide to the next steps in the Senate healthcare debate. 👣 ADAPT will not…

IFNC Daily 5: July 27

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. How to help students with disabilities prepare for the future. 🙋 Phi Kappa Phi fraternity…

IFNC Daily 5: July 28

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 7 facts about Americans with Disabilities from Pew Research Center. 7️⃣ The Sabrina Cohen Foundation…

IFNC Daily 5: July 31

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. It is not over. North Carolina Republicans vow to continue efforts to repeal the Affordable…

IFNC Daily 5: July 6

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 5 things that only autism parents would understand. 🖐 New Jersey bowling center is holding…

IFNC Daily 5: July 7

News and notes on disability-related info from around the internet. 🤸‍♀️ A playground designed for autistic children is opening in Pennsylvania. 😬 Living with…

IFNC Daily 5: June 12, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: Gunnar’s Wheels provides wheelchairs and carts to disabled dogs…and a cat. Reid Davenport explains…

IFNC Daily 5: June 13, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: Philadelphia celebrates Disability Pride Week! Hiring individuals with disabilities can give companies a competitive advantage….

IFNC Daily 5: June 15, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: The US Open begins today, so it’s a good time to remind those with spinal…

IFNC Daily 5: June 16, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: 9-year-old boy with autism saves a toddler from drowning in Tallahassee. The autism spectrum is…

IFNC Daily 5: June 20, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: Netflix announces August 11 premiere date for “Atypical,” a comedy about an autistic high school…

IFNC Daily 5: June 21, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: Can altering the make-up of bacteria in the gut reduce the symptoms of ASD? How…

IFNC Daily 5: June 22, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issue from around the internet. The ultimate guide to choosing the right Summer camp for individuals with autism. An Australian…

IFNC Daily 5: June 23, 2017 (AHCA Edition)

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet. Disability advocates arrested during protest outside of Senate Majority Leader McConnell’s office. The AHCA’s “per…

IFNC Daily 5: June 26, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: Disabilities rights activists explain what is at stake with Senate’s disastrous healthcare bill. In stark…

IFNC Daily 5: June 27

News and notes about disability-related issues from around the internet. The award-winning animation “Amazing Things Happen” helps children better understand their friends with autism. Brilliant…

IFNC Daily 5: June 28

News and notes about disability-related issues from around the internet. 10 facts about Medicaid that you need to know. If you did not already know,…

IFNC Daily 5: June 29

News and notes about disability-related issues from around the internet. Senate Republicans are regrouping, looking to gain votes on healthcare overhaul. Texas waterpark will make…

IFNC Daily 5: June 30

News and notes about disability-related issues from around the internet. Research suggests that adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are better at making rational decisions….

IFNC Daily Five: June 14, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: Autism Speaks provides a 100-day tool kit for families of newly diagnosed autistic children. Father’s…

IFNC Daily Five: June 19, 2017

News and notes on disability-related issues from around the internet: 18-year-old with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) fights to keep her 11-month-old son. Among adults…

IFNC Daily Five: June 5, 2017

1. The Global Goals for Sustainable Growth and global disability inclusion by US corporations. 2. GAO (Government Accountability Office) reports disability-related complaints against airlines have…

IFNC Daily Five: June 6, 2017

*Disability-related information from around the internet. 1. Disability attorney accused of multi-million dollar Social Security fraud disappears from Kentucky. 2. Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield…

Inventability.net

Living life as a quadriplegic is not easy. Beyond the obvious challenges related to losing physical independence, the world is not exactly designed for your…

Join the Battle for X

Meet the Calfee Family! Xavier Calfee is a disabled US Marine veteran, a remarkable man who has faced challenges transitioning back into civilian life. Along…

Loren and Chris Build a Sensory Board

Hi. I’m Loren. My friend Chris and I constructed the sensory board pictured above. Chris lives with autism, so this project was kind of a big…

NC Mental Health CEO Grilled By Oversight Committee

North Carolina Health News reports that Cardinal CEO Richard Topping faced a grilling from legislators during an oversight committee meeting. The subject was his million…

NO on AHCA!

Created in secret by a working group of 13 male Republicans and their staffs, with no public hearings, no debate and no input from healthcare…

Our Purpose, Clarified

When I first entertained the idea of forming a not-for-profit organization–now Illumination Foundation of North Carolina (IFNC)– there were many fears and reservations. What if…

Please Be Considerate With Fireworks

Happy Birthday, America! Today, we celebrate our independence with friends, families and neighbors with good food, cold beer and colorful fireworks displays. Have a fun,…

Sensory Boards for Integrated Learning

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word sensory as: of or relating to sensation or to the senses conveying nerve impulses from the sense organs to the…

‘Sesame Street’ Welcomes Autistic Muppet, Julia

On April 10, HBO and PBS will air a very special episode of the legendary childrens’ educational program, “Sesame Street.” In “Meet Julia,” a 4-year-old…

Supreme Court Hands Major Victory to Students With Disabilities

Early Tuesday, the US Supreme Court delivered a major victory for students with disabilities. In a unanimous 8-0 decision, the court determined that under Individuals…

The Threat Remains. Fight Harder!

Yesterday’s news that Republican Senators have delayed a vote on their so-called “Better Care Reconciliation Act” (BCRA) was welcome news. However, we knew they would…

Tim Tebow Foundation Presents “Night to Shine”

Mark your calendars! On February 10, 2017, the Tim Tebow Foundation will host its 3rd Annual "Night to Shine" at churches in 11 countries and...

Read More

UPDATE: X Is Out Of Surgery

For some time during surgery, doctors were unable to insert the catheter into his heart to deliver the “Melody valve.” In that case he would…

Virtual Career Fair

For 20 years, Bender Consulting Services has worked to recruit and hire individuals with disabilities to great jobs in the public and private sectors. They have parterned…

We are Illumination Foundation

Hello! We are Illumination Foundation of North Carolina (IFNC). IFNC was founded by Kathy Moore, Rosy Moore, Jodie DePascale, Sakeem Harmon, and Allen Boyd in…

Worries Bead Gone

Two of our founders have been getting very creative, all in the name of helping people better deal with stress and anxiety. Jodie DePascale and…

Professional Training & Certification

Social Networking & Recreation

Parent/Caregiver Consultation & Training

Education & Available Resources

Latest Events

How To Help?

Latest From Our Blog