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…
Plan Now for the Best Summer at Camp Royall
Registration is now open for Camp Royallās Summer Residential Camp lottery; you must complete the online registration by Feb. 28. Summer Day Camp registration is first come, first served, and begins March 1. Join us at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, to tour camp and talk to the directors about any questions you might have…
On the Road to Interdependence
Merriam-Webster defines independence as the quality or state of being independent, or competence. Other words used to express independence include self-support, self-subsistence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and finally, self-dependence. How many times have you heard or said the word āindependentlyā or used any of these synonyms when discussing goals, measuring growth, or contemplating the future as it…
Call US Senators Today about Housing Supports; Learn about ABLE updates
We have two national issues to update you on, and actions for you to take today and tomorrow! Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a federally funded demonstration program that helps people with disabilities move from institutional settings such as state-run developmental centers and nursing homes to live in community-based residential settings. North Carolina has…
Free workshop on behavior coming to the Triangle
As parents of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and as professionals working with individuals on the spectrum, it is likely that we have experienced challenging and persistent behaviors. When we experience these behaviors in an individual with ASD, one of the first questions we should ask ourselves is, āWhat is the individual trying to communicate…
New Year, New Schedules, New Opportunities
For those who have autism, the holidays can be a very overwhelming time of year. Excitement shifts into high gear. They must deal with lights and decorations, busy stores, extra traveling, family gatherings, and more people everywhere they go. Not to mention, if they are school-age, the routines they thrive on are interrupted by holiday…
Setting Goals and Making Resolutions
How many times this week have you been asked whether youāve made any New Yearās resolutions? How many times in your life have you been asked about your plans for the future? How would you answer if you had a limited concept of time and limited organizational skills? What is a goal, anyway?! Individuals with…