Increasing evidence is showing that people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are at much higher risk for contracting COVID-19, for being hospitalized with the illness, and an increased mortality rate from the illness. A Johns Hopkins analysis of insurance data indicates people with IDD are three times more likely to die when infected with…
Diagnosing Autism ā Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get an official diagnosis of autism for my child or myself? This question is considered by many who have a child with ASD. It is an important question to think through. Other questions naturally follow: What are the benefits of having a diagnosis? What problems may it create? For many the answer is…
Is Teletherapy Right for You? It Was for Our Family!
It all started in March 2020. When the pandemic hit, the Governor issued a stay-at-home order, and what started out as a novelty became the new norm. Being a mom to an adult son with autism, I knew the change was going to affect Eric, but I am forever grateful for the benefits teletherapy continues…
Rapid Response Clinical Consultation: A new telehealth service
Are you an individual with autism in need of targeted, short-term coaching to help you reach your goals? Or, are you a parent/caregiver in need of additional strategies to support your loved one? You might be a good candidate for Rapid Response Clinical Consultation, a new telehealth service offered by the Autism Society of…
Parent to Parent, Part 2: Practical Considerations for End-of-Life Planning
In part one of this two-part series, we addressed the fact that parents and caregivers for loved ones with disabilities such as autism will need to plan in advance for their eventual death to ensure the appropriate steps are taken for their loved one in their absence. In abstract terms, this process includes envisioning the…
Setting the Record Straight: Medicaid Waivers, Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid Transformation
Note: The following is a primer on several issues happening at the same time in our Medicaid system. For background information on Medicaid as a whole, and how Medicaid works in North Carolina, please refer to the āMedicaid Basicsā information at the end of this post, content re-published from our public policy papers available on…
Public Policy Update – State and Federal News
Below is the Autism Society of North Carolinaās weekly update on policy changes and legislation related to local, state, and federal COVID-19 emergency orders. This post covers July 31 – August 20. Congressional Update Since our last update, Congress has not passed any new legislation regarding COVID-19 and/or economic relief. A compromise is needed between…
Public Policy Update
Below is the Autism Society of North Carolinaās 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 UpdateĀ ā NEW!Ā The US Senate hasĀ announcedĀ theirĀ new package of COVID-19 and economic relief,Ā the HEALS Act. The Senate began negotiations with the US House…
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 āPlan Bā which allows students to return to classrooms, while maintaining social distancing and other measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19….