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Pets and Autism: Challenges and Solutions
Pets are an amazing way for autistic children to experience companionship, understand boundaries, share responsibilities, and reduce anxiety. Caring for an animal also provides opportunities to learn new skills — such as patience, empathy, communication — while also supporting an avenue of emotional expression. It’s important for all families to do some research on the…
Public Policy Update: Competitive Integrated Employment in North Carolina Enters New Era with Plan for Closure of “Sheltered Workshops”
The state of North Carolina (NC DHHS) announced they have entered into a settlement agreement with Disability Rights North Carolina and the Center for Public Representation to ensure that over 1,000 individuals with disabilities currently working in segregated employment settings have the opportunity to seek out community-based integrated competitive employment. Segregated employment settings, often called…
Transitioning to Competent Adulthood with Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Dr. Peter Gerhardt, who has worked in the autism field for 37 years, shared some of his expertise with parents and professionals last week at a one-day conference in Raleigh. His presentation was titled “Transitioning to Competent Adulthood for Individuals with Autism: Implications from Preschool to High School and Beyond.” Dr. Gerhardt is the Executive…
Shattering Stereotypes: Intersection of Autism and Black Excellence
Dictionary.com defines the term “Black excellence” as “a high level of achievement, success, or ability demonstrated by an individual Black person or Black people in general. The term is often used to highlight and celebrate specific examples of such achievements and abilities, especially as the hashtag #BlackExcellence.” Many African American family systems value Black excellence…
New Study Highlights the Value of Investing in Direct Support Professionals
New Study A new study on the economic impact of Direct Support Professionals in North Carolina has found that investing in increasing the wages of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who serve people with I/DD, as well as increasing access to DSPs though additional Innovations waiver slots, yields substantial economic benefits to the State of North…
ASNC Policy Update
March 2024 Medicaid Rate Increases and Direct Support Professional Wages In the state budget passed in late September, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated funding to increase the rates paid for certain types of services under North Carolina’s Medicaid programs to increase the pay of individuals providing the critical supports and services to individuals with…
Coastal NC Run/Walk for Autism
Join us for the annual Coastal NC Run Walk for Autism on Saturday, April 27, at the UNCW Track & Field facility in Wilmington! Proceeds from the Coastal NC Run/Walk for Autism will fund local programs of the Autism Society of North Carolina. The Coastal NC Run/Walk for Autism will have something for everyone! 5K competitive…
Eastern Run/Walk for Autism
Join us for the 2024 Eastern Run/Walk for Autism on Saturday, April 6, at Greenville Town Commons! Proceeds from the Eastern Run/Walk for Autism will fund local programs of the Autism Society of North Carolina. The Run/Walk for Autism will have something for everyone! Join us for the USATF-certified 5K competitive race, a noncompetitive 5K…