Some people who are in positions of power have savant skills. Such exceptional talents include an encyclopedic level of knowledge or a highly talented control of a hands-on task. Savant skills can be common to people on the autism spectrum. It could be due to just being wired that way in the brain, or intense…
My Journey of Understanding a World of Misunderstanding
Throughout my life when I was asked to describe myself, I constantly had no clue as to what to do. I had masked myself into a corner, To myself I was even a foreigner. Then at thirty-one the dials on the locks began to click, Suddenly it all fell into place so quick. How…
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 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…
How to Advocate for Yourself
The feeling of being in control of one’s own life is one of the most basic yet most important forms of self-worth we have as people and an essential part of happiness. However, it is one of the most difficult aspects of being on the spectrum. The transition to adulthood is a fraught time for…
Developing Independence with a ‘Who Supports Me’ List
Often, autism self-advocates are connected to multiple systems and have many names, numbers, addresses, and details to keep up with to navigate supports, including services and benefits. The contacts they maintain are often over and above the number of contacts for their same-age peers maintaining independent lifestyles. When my daughter went to college, one of…
Q&A with Mindy Govan, new Transition and Employment Services Director
The Autism Society of North Carolina has long recognized the growing need for more supports for young adults with autism. Our current strategic plan calls for a focus on transition services, employment supports, and the social needs of young adults and adults with autism. This spring, we created statewide positions to lead our Transition and…