The Autism Society of North Carolina held its 2018 annual conference March 23-24 in Charlotte. We will are sharing information from conference presentations in blog posts. A panel of autism self-advocates wrapped up the 2018 Autism Society of North Carolina annual conference, bringing understanding and hope to conference attendees. The panel included: Valerie Venetta, who…
Autism Awareness is for YOU, Autistic Person! Yes, You!
While autism awareness may appear to focus on teaching non-autistics about autism, it is also about us! The ones WITH the autism! It is very important for a non-autistic (a neurotypical) to treat another person with autism with patience and understanding. However, it is much more important for an autistic person to treat themselves with…
Focus on Healthy Habits at 2018 Annual Conference
The Autism Society of North Carolina held its 2018 annual conference March 23-24 in Charlotte. We will be sharing information from conference presentations in upcoming blog posts. Mindy Govan and Alicia DiDomizio, the Director and Assistant Director of ASNCās IGNITE program for young adults on the spectrum, provided conference attendees with many tips they could…
Update on changes proposed for Medicaid
Update, March 2021: If you are looking for more recent information about Medicaid Transformation, please visitĀ this post. What is āmanaged careā and how is NC already managing the care of people receiving Medicaid? The federal governmentās Medicaid program allows states to use health maintenance organization (HMO) managed-care models in the design of its…
Why is This Behavior Occurring?
Everyone has walked into a grocery store and seen a child crying while reaching for a candy bar in the checkout lane. Perhaps youāve experienced a toddler cry and scream when you walk out of the room, only to hear her stop as soon as you walk back inside. If youāre a parent, you may…
Legislative Committee Studying Supports for Transition to Adulthood
The NC General Assembly created a legislative research committee to look at the needs of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. The committee is collecting information and hearing from various stakeholders in order to make recommendations to the General Assembly about the quality and quantity of services available to those with IDD…
My Yellow Brick Road: A Journey Through a New Diagnosis
The Wizard of Oz has always been one of my favorite movies, but watching it this time, something seemed different and oddly familiar. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I saw the movie through different glasses. We all know the story. Dorothy spins and twirls as her whole world is picked…
Funding Available for Students in Private K-12 and Home Schools
North Carolina offers three programs to provide funding for K-12 students who opt for a non-public education. In North Carolina, ānon-public educationā includes private schools and home schools, including home-school cooperatives. Each state funding program has different application processes and eligibility criteria. Two programs are specifically for students with a significant disability, as determined by…