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…
Camp Royall: The Training that Creates the Best Counselors
So many people work hard to make summer at Camp Royall a reality, including facility staff, lifeguards, activity directors, and counselors. Just as we enjoy seeing campers grow over the years, we also enjoy seeing the professional development of our staff as they return summer after summer. For many people, working as a counselor at…
New Year’s Resolutions – A Promise to You
Happy New Year! Many people approach the new year as a time to focus on bettering themselves. In fact, making New Year’s resolutions has history in both Western and Eastern cultures and dates back many centuries – a fun tidbit I learned in preparing for this blog. Our friends at Wikipedia define resolutions as a…
A Letter of Love and Gratitude from the Clinical Team
During this Thanksgiving season, members of our Clinical team reflected on their gratitude for the individuals and families they serve. The Clinical team is thankful to provide support to all members of the autism community. As one member of the team wrote to parents: “I’m grateful for your trust in me because I know what…
Join a Family Chapter for Support, Education, and Fun
Now that the kids are settled into the new school year and the holidays are approaching, are you looking for some activities with families that “get it”? Check out our more than 70 Chapters and Support Groups serving families in 73 counties across the state! They are offering many events and meetings – outdoor, online,…
Carmen Henwood and Sarah Waller Honored with McCrimmon Award
The McCrimmon Award is named for Ed McCrimmon, a longtime member of the Autism Society of North Carolina staff. He was known for his outstanding dedication and integrity as he served individuals with autism. Tragically, he died in 2017. The McCrimmon Award was established to keep Ed’s memory alive, and at the same time, celebrate…
Counselor Spotlight: Grant Clark
Grant Clark first attended Camp Royall in 2012 as a camper. That summer, he decided that he would return one day as a counselor. This year, he fulfilled that promise. “It’s been really special seeing the other side of things, to see how much effort goes into making sure that these campers have an amazing…
Public Policy Update
No progress on State Budget from House members State Budget Update: The NC House budget is now not expected until late July or early August. House budget leaders are sorting out the implications of billions in federal funding and its impact on the state budget. Some federal funding, like that for health and human services,…
North Carolina General Assembly Update – State Budget
State Budget Update: The NC Senate passed SB 105, their version of the state budget bill, on Friday, June 25. This year’s budget contains a mix of state appropriations and allocations of federal funding that has come to North Carolina through several “recovery act” bills. The NC House is expected to release their budget bill sometime in mid-July. The House and Senate will have to reconcile differences between their budget bills though the conference committee report before sending the final budget to the…