Happy Women's History Month! Meet Mrs. Betty Camp
Sarah Brim | Mar 03 2026 20:45
Written by: Maya Hardison
Mrs. Betty Camp served as a relentless advocate for her son, Norman IV, and countless other children diagnosed with autism. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Shaw University and a Special Education certificate from University of North Carolina (UNC) Greensboro. Immediately paving a path for the youth, Mrs. Camp jumped into special needs education before working with the state to help people with disabilities maintain employment. She joined with other parents and lobbied the North Carolina General Assembly for TEACCH (Treatment, Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children), a UNC Chapel Hill project that was short on funding at the time. Following their success, she and Dr. Camp joined with other concerned parents to cofound the Autism Society of North Carolina. Initially, she served as secretary, but as time went on, Mrs. Camp developed the idea of a summer camp, which received internal support and external financial boons. In 1986, she was elected president. During her tenure, the Autism Society founded the summer camp, naming the road leading up the camp site Betty Camp Way after her. While serving as president, Mrs. Camp was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Autism Society of America for two years. You can hear Mrs. Camp speak about the Autism Society here.
The Camp family spent their careers serving their community and aiding children in need. Today, Partners of Environmental Justice operates on the same founding principles. We continue to honor their legacy by empowering Southeast Raleigh residents through community‑led decision‑making, expanding environmental education opportunities for youth, and restoring local ecosystems through hands‑on stewardship projects.
