Recently, Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy made comments about autism and prevalence. His statements have drawn national attention because they do not reflect the facts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other researchersāmany right here in North Carolinaāhave spent decades studying autism and sharing reliable, science-based information. The Autism Society of…
CDC Releases New Data on Autism Prevalence
On Tuesday, April 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its latest update on autism prevalence among 4- and 8-year-olds monitored through the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The data shows an increase in prevalence: 1 in 31 8-year-olds 1 in 34 4-year-olds This is a rise from the…
Leading the Way: Changing Perceptions About Autism for Black Families
As part of our celebration of Black History Month, we take this opportunity to recognize just a few of our many Black community members who share the Autism Society of North Carolina mission to ensure all families affected by autism are empowered to get what they need to thrive. In their different roles and professions,…
New Study Highlights the Value of Investing in Direct Support ProfessionalsĀ
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…
From Genes to Biology: What We Know and Why It Matters
Dr. John Spiro of the Simons Foundation presented on āFrom Genes to Biology: What We Know and Why It Mattersā on Saturday, March 23, at the Autism Society of North Carolinaās annual conference in Charlotte. For those who were not able to attend his presentation, we are sharing some of the highlights here. About 12…
Join SPARK to Support Research
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) are excited to announce SPARK, a new genetics research project aimed at learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We invite the North Carolina autism community to join the UNC SPARK cohort to move autism research forward. SPARKās mission…
Help Shape Crisis Services for Children
North Carolina will soon expand START crisis services to children and youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism. Many of these children with complex mental health or behavioral needs have not been served by current crisis services due to a lack of space, and are held in emergency rooms or transferred to…
Taking a Look at the CDC Numbers
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update to its ongoing surveillance study of autism prevalence. The study involves eleven states and began in 2000. Much of the prevalence data that we read about (1 in 68 8-year-old schoolchildren nationally, or up to 1 of every 58 8-year-old schoolchildren in North…
Focus on Science at ASNC Annual Conference
Dr. Geri Dawson, Director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, opened the second day of our annual conference with a fact-filled presentation titled: āAutism Spectrum Disorders: What do we know? Where are we heading?ā We would like to thank her for sharing her time and knowledge with us. For those who were…