Autism Society of North Carolina

Our Products

Holiday Cards
Choose from our beautiful selection of holiday cards, uniquely designed by individuals with autism.  Click here to view and order.

Home Teaching Kits are designed for families who are interested in using TEACCH structured teaching principles with their children in the home. The Level I Teaching Kit is designed for those children beginning the process of “learning how to learn,” while the Level II Teaching Kit is for those children who have some beginning academic ability (e.g. reading, number concepts, language concepts) and have some beginning social and play skills. Both Home Teaching Kits contain an instructional manual that describes:

• The importance of structure and how it directly addresses the learning needs of individuals with autism
• Where to teach: Setting up the environment
• When to teach: Using a schedule
• How to teach:
  1. Importance of routines
  2. “To do” lists
  3. Levels of prompting
• What to teach: Your child’s strengths and interests and how to apply these to areas of need.
  
  

Each kit also includes a video showing parents in their homes providing teaching sessions to help families get started. The activities described in the manual focus on the areas of language, cognitive skills, social interaction and building concepts that can help with play skills. These areas have been identified by parents and TEACCH professionals as ones that they most want to work on with their children. Created by the Chapel Hill TEACCH Center, these kits are available exclusively through Blue Ridge Bags and More, where individuals with autism make the materials for each kit.

TEACHERS - The Home Teaching Kits can also be used in the classroom! Consider how these kits might be used to establish continuity between what is being done in the classroom and the home.

HOME TEACHING KIT - (LEVEL I)
Contents:
Level I Video
Level I Manual
3 Handouts
4 Folder Tasks
3 Manipulative Tasks

HOME TEACHING KIT - (LEVEL II)
Contents:
Level II Video
Level II Manual
3 Handouts
5 Folder Tasks

About Us

Blue Ridge Bags and More was started in 2003 by Sara Handlan and Laurie Kozar, parents of a young man with autism. Their dream was to create a supportive and fun place of business that their son with autism and others like him would be able to go to after high school.

It has been 6 years now since Blue Ridge Bags and More has opened as a place of employment that provides opportunities for adults with autism. In 2006, Blue Ridge Bags and More was donated to the Autism Society of North Carolina in honor of Sara Handlan. ASNC strives to keep Sara and Laurie’s dream alive of providing meaningful work in the community while at the same time fostering skills in art and creativity. 

Blue Ridge Bags and More now produce canvas bags, lunch bags, mouse pads, prints and cards  with the artwork of four artists on the autism spectrum. Fortunately, we are able to use and share the artwork in a functional way in addition to providing the artists with financial income for the use of their artwork.

All Blue Ridge Bags and More workers enjoy the benefits of an atmosphere that is geared to their individual needs. Their schedules allow for a flexible combination of work, community, leisure, and exercise.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in Blue Ridge Bags and More.

Lauren Bousquet, Program Director
Blue Ridge Bags and More
30 Garfield Road, Suite F
Asheville, NC 28803
Tel: 828-236-1547, ext 1512
Fax: 828-236-3675