Dr. Laura Politte of UNC and the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities presented on “Recognizing and Treating Common Co-Occurring Medical Problems in ASD” on Saturday, March 23, at the Autism Society of North Carolina’s annual conference in Charlotte. For those who were not able to attend her presentation, we are sharing some of the highlights…
Governor Declares NC an Employment First State
Gov. Roy Cooper declared North Carolina an Employment First state last week, signing an executive order to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. “North Carolina can be its best when all people have the opportunity to achieve their potential and live lives of purpose, including North Carolinians with disabilities,” Gov. Cooper said. “With this…
Governor releases budget; NCGA begins budget process
Gov. Roy Cooper released his two-year $25.2 billion budget proposal, a 5.4% increase over last year’s enacted budget, with a clear focus on education, health care, and the state’s infrastructure. Among the highlights was a 9.1% average raise for teachers over two years, a one-time 2% cost-of-living adjustment for retired state employees, and Medicaid expansion….
Transition to Adulthood: Tips Learned on the Journey
As a parent once said of the transitioning to adulthood stage of life, “So much to do and so little time to get it done.” Isn’t that the truth! When my son was diagnosed with autism at 3 ½ years of age, the list of things that needed to be set in motion seemed overwhelming,…
Taking Data to the Doctor
How often are we given a new medication to “try out” and then when we attend a follow-up appointment, the doctor says, “How’s that medication working?” We say something like “Um, it seems to be helping?” Unfortunately, we parents rarely collect objective behavioral data following medication changes. This is a concern not just for people…
Taming the stress of school transitions
This is the time of year that our Autism Resource Specialists start getting familiar phone calls. “My son is in fifth grade and he will be going to middle school next year…” “My daughter is in eighth grade and she will be transitioning to high school next year…” The list of concerns ahead of these…
When Should Parents Disclose Their Child’s Diagnosis?
Once your child has a diagnosis of autism, one of your first questions may be, “So who do I tell?” The best rule of thumb: If your child will require a level of accommodation, modification, support, service, or just patience and understanding in a certain situation, then telling someone about the diagnosis can help make…