Below is the Autism Society of North Carolina’s weekly update on policy changes and legislation related to local, state, and federal COVID-19 emergency orders. This post covers July 15 to July 30. Congressional Update – NEW! The US Senate has announced their new package of COVID-19 and economic relief, the HEALS Act. The Senate began negotiations with the US House…
Planning for School, Step 2: Getting Organized
Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles. Click here to read the first one. By now you should know which plan your school district has selected to begin the school year. If you are not sure, contact your child’s school or check the district website. We do know that every student will…
Planning for School, Step 1: Understand Your Options
Anxiety is running high these days, and one of the big stressors is what the coming school year will look like for our kids. On July 14, Gov. Cooper announced that each of the school districts in North Carolina will operate under their Plan B scenario for reopening under moderate COVID-19 conditions, with the option…
Public Policy Update
Below is information about recent activity at the state and federal levels, including COVID-19 updates. Schools to Reopen On Tuesday, July 14, the Governor announced that schools would be allowed to open under “Plan B” which allows students to return to classrooms, while maintaining social distancing and other measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19….
Public Policy & Legislative News
Below is a summary and review of recent activity at the state and federal level. This includes COVID-19 related information and other legislative issues. Washington Update – No movement The US Senate has yet to respond to the passing of the HEROES Act. Our state is facing large budget deficits as a result of COVID-19’s…
Working through the Challenges of Wearing a Mask
As wearing a mask becomes our new normal, supporting an individual with autism to wear one for any amount of time might feel like a mountain to climb. In this blog, I will discuss potential reasons it can be particularly challenging for individuals with autism to wear masks, some alterations/adaptations to try, and suggestions for…
Telling Your Child about an Autism Diagnosis
I was seated on my daughter’s bed. A few minutes before, she had asked me a question that gripped my heart. “Do I have autism?” Since her diagnosis near her third birthday, I had imagined all the ways this discussion would go. Now in middle school, she was into theater, movies, and rewriting screenplays. Being…
Public Policy Update
Below is the Autism Society of North Carolina’s weekly update on policy changes and legislation related to local, state, and federal COVID-19 emergency orders. This post covers June 3 – 15. For ongoing updates information, and help during the emergency, please visit one of the following sources: NC COVID-19 page CDC COVID-19 page News &Observer Coronavirus coverage NC…
The Health of Our Aging Adults
Over 30 years ago, after our suspicions were confirmed that our young daughter did indeed have autism, we asked a question that many of you also may have contemplated: “What is the normal life expectancy of someone who has autism?” We were given a fairly encouraging yet vague answer: “We really don’t know for sure,…