Physical activity can be challenging for individuals with autism because many struggle with motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and balance. And letās face it ā like many of us ā they often lack motivation to exercise. They may not recognize the value of activity or see its connection to how they feel. According to the CDC,…
Promoting Independence with Supported Decision-Making
Many 17-year-olds cannot wait for the day they will be on their own and can do whatever they want! Even as people warn that being an adult has challenges, they believe they will figure it out. When my neurotypical, oldest daughter reached adulthood, I was able to relate to this frame of mind. After much…
Improving Health and Building Community in Asheville
Every Monday from 3 to 4 p.m., you can find a group of people of all ages running and walking at French Broad River Park in Asheville. Each time a participant completes the half-mile loop, a check is placed next to his or her name on a giant chart. They are all members of the…
Camp Royall Gives Sisters a Chance to be Themselves
The Miller sisters, Mikayla and Mackenzie, joined us at Camp Royall for the first time this summer, and they had a blast, each in their own way. Mikayla, who is 16, shared that she was a bit nervous and didnāt know what to expect from camp, but she truly flourished. She made several really good…
10 Tips for Navigating our Journey
Letās face it, raising children is difficult. And, raising special needs kiddos can feel impossible at times. When my son was very young, I frequently felt overwhelmed with it all. We had lots of medical appointments, therapy sessions, therapy homework, and behavioral outbursts to manage. We were entering a new world, the disability world, and…
New Timeline for Medicaid Transformation
Update, March 2021: If you are looking for more recent information about Medicaid Transformation, please visitĀ this post. Editorās note: ThisĀ is an update toĀ informationĀ postedĀ July 16, 2019.Ā TheĀ managed-careĀ rolloutĀ has beenĀ changed to one phaseĀ for the whole stateĀ in February 2020, rather than starting in November 2019Ā with some counties.Ā Open enrollmentĀ is now scheduled toĀ end on DecemberĀ 13 for all counties.Ā The NC Department of…
Teaching Skills to Prepare for Back to School
Going back to school after time off for the summer is an exciting, but often overwhelming time. You may begin to feel some nervousness about how your loved one will transition to a new schedule or even navigate a new environment. To help prepare them for the new school year, it is important to think…