Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs

What Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs does

Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs, Inc. (FRC) is a Charleston, South Carolina-based 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2001 that operates the federally designated Parent Training and Resource Center (PTRC) for families of children with disabilities ages 0-26 in Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston Counties. Its core service is peer-based Parent/Guardian Mentoring, in which mentors with personal or professional experience help families navigate the special education system, prepare for IEP meetings, and advocate for appropriate services. Service delivery is entirely human-capital-driven — there is no software product, mobile app, or technology platform — with intake via phone (843-266-1318) and online forms, supported by an in-person office at 1575 Savannah Hwy., Suite 6, Charleston.

FRC's product portfolio includes the Parent/Guardian Mentoring program, the PTRC, on-request Training Workshops (IDEA 2004, 504, bullying prevention, transition planning, employment preparation), Project REST on restraint practices, the Transition Toolkit, a Parent Manual, and The Coalition newsletter. Annual training of mentors is delivered by Dr. Mitchell Yell of the University of South Carolina. The organization has trained more than 7,000 individuals, delivered 1,380+ workshops, and served 4,000+ families since 1999.

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy: the majority of revenue comes from a US Department of Education CPRC grant under IDEA Part D, supplemented by smaller awards from the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council and the South Carolina Department of Education, plus tax-deductible donations. All services are provided free of charge to families; FRC does not generate fee revenue. Operations are supported by approximately seven full-time staff, a board of directors composed largely of parents of individuals with disabilities, and an extensive partnership network spanning four tri-county school districts, MUSC, USC, and state disability agencies.

Name

Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs

Legal name

Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs, Inc.

Website

https://frcdsn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs is a Charleston, SC-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers free parent mentoring, training workshops, and advocacy resources to families of children with disabilities ages 0-26 across Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston Counties through a federally designated Parent Training and Resource Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Advocacy and Disability Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Special education advocacy
• Parent mentor services
• Disability resource center
• IEP navigation support
• Community parent training

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Primary funding from US Department of Education grant under Part D of IDEA, establishing the Parent Training and Resource Center (PTRC) as a Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC). Additional funding from South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council and State Department of Education.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization with EIN 57-1127412. Community fundraisers supplement grant funding.
3. All Services Free: All services provided at no cost to families in the service area. Organization does not generate revenue from service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs provides free, community-based special education advocacy and parent-empowerment services to families of children and youth (ages 0–26) with disabilities in Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston Counties, South Carolina. Its offerings include Parent/Guardian Mentoring, the federally funded Parent Training & Resource Center (PTRC), Training Workshops on IDEA and special education topics, Project REST, the Transition Toolkit, the Parent Manual, and The Coalition newsletter. All services are provided at no cost and funded through government grants and donations.

Product overview

Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs operates as a not-for-profit 501(c) organization providing a portfolio of complementary services centered on parent empowerment and special education advocacy. The core offerings include Parent/Guardian Mentoring (peer-to-parent support), the Parent Training & Resource Center (PTRC) as the primary funded program under IDEA Part D, Training Workshops on special education topics, Project REST on restraint practices, the Transition Toolkit for post-secondary planning, a comprehensive Parent Manual, and The Coalition Newsletter for ongoing communication. These services work together to support families of children with disabilities from initial diagnosis through transition to adulthood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parent/Guardian Mentoring A peer-based mentoring program that strengthens the role of parents, guardians, and youth in obtaining appropriate educational services. Mentors help parents become their child's best advocate, assisting with IEP development, transition plans, and school-based services.
• Parent Training & Resource Center (PTRC) A Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC) funded by the US Department of Education under IDEA Part D. Provides information, training, resources, and intense technical assistance to families in Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston Counties for children ages 0–26 with disabilities.
• Project REST Restraint: Efficacy, Safety, & Training program providing a comprehensive guidebook on restraint practices for children with developmental disabilities in public schools, used as a resource by parents, educators, and advocates; endorses Positive Behavior Support as the preferred method for changing challenging behavior.
• Training Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• 7000+ individuals trained, 1380+ workshops provided, 4000+ families served, 900+ professionals trained
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Collaboration began with MUSC Department of Genetics and Developmental Pediatrics housing initial FORUM activities. Continued partnership includes MUSC Developmental Pediatrics and Project REX for autism support.
• Berkeley County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four tri-county school districts served. Collaboration on family engagement, special education services, and referral pathways.
• Charleston County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four tri-county school districts served. Partnership for transition fairs, IEP support, and professional training.
• Dorchester School District #2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four tri-county school districts served. Collaboration on student services and family engagement.
• Dorchester School District #4coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four tri-county school districts served. Rural district partnership for exceptional children services.
• University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Mitchell Yell, Fred and Francis Lester Chair of Teacher Education, provides annual training to Parent/Guardian Mentors on IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and SC special education policies.
• South Carolina Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by US Department of Education under IDEA Part D. State DOE funded the Transition Toolkit development. Oversight and collaboration on special education services.
• Family Connections of South CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Parent Training and Information Center collaboration for resources and referrals across South Carolina.
• SC Autism SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on autism resources, training, and community support for families.
• HALOSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKinship care organization collaboration for joint events including Spring Festival.
• Joint Base Charleston - Exceptional Family Member ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary family support partnership for Exceptional Family Member Program serving families with disabilities.
• South Carolina Disability Rights (formerly SC Protections & Advocacy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on disability rights advocacy and protections for children with disabilities.
• College of CharlestonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for student involvement and professional development.
• The CitadelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for community engagement and professional connections.
• Southeastern School Behavior CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration on school behavioral health initiatives.
• US Department of JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on disability rights enforcement and advocacy initiatives.
• ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial empowerment organization for people with disabilities.
• Access AbilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability services organization for accessibility resources.
• Charleston Dorchester Mental Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health collaboration for children's behavioral health services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Federation for Children with Special Needs: Massachusetts-based PTI providing parent training, IEP advocacy, and family support. One of the longest-running federally funded PTIs and a national leader in special education family engagement.
• PACER Center: Minnesota-based Parent Training and Information Center and one of the largest and most established PTIs in the US. Operates the same IDEA-funded parent-training and youth-advocacy model at significantly larger scale, including robust online resources and simulation programs.
• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization with a network of state and local chapters. Overlaps with FRC on disability rights advocacy, family support, and transition services, though broader in scope (intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan).
• Easterseals: National disability services nonprofit providing a wide range of medical, therapeutic, educational, and family-support services. Comparable on disability family support but much broader in service scope and revenue scale.
• Family Voices: National family-led organization for children and youth with special healthcare needs. Operates a federally funded Family-to-Family Health Information Center network that mirrors FRC's parent-training and navigation role but in the healthcare (rather than education) domain.

Direct peers

• PEAK Parent Center: Colorado Parent Training and Information Center providing parent training, IEP support, and youth transition services under the same federal IDEA framework. Closely comparable mission, funding structure, and service portfolio (mentoring, workshops, transition toolkit, parent manual).
• Parents Helping Parents: San Jose, California-based parent-run nonprofit supporting families of children with special needs. Offers peer mentoring, training workshops, and resource libraries — a near-analog operating model at larger scale.
• Family Connections of South Carolina: South Carolina's statewide Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), the sister program to FRC's CPRC. Operates the same IDEA-funded parent-training/advocacy mission at the state level and is a formal FRC referral partner.

Regional players

• South Carolina Autism Society: SC-based autism advocacy and family support organization. A formal FRC partner that overlaps on autism-specific family support, training, and community events, with a narrower diagnostic focus.
• Disability Rights South Carolina: South Carolina's federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) system for people with disabilities. Operates in the same geography as FRC and is a formal partner; complements FRC's family-facing services with legal advocacy and individual rights representation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-resource-center-for-disabilities-and-special-needs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Family Resource Center for Disabilities and Special Needs