The US Senate is moving quickly on health-care changes that would hurt people with autism, including proposals to cut and cap Medicaid funds and repeal health-care protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions. A vote on the Senate health-care proposal is likely to take place the week of June 26, and so far, no public hearings…
Ask NC Legislators Not to Cut Services
Last week, the House passed its version of the two-year budget bill, Senate Bill 257. Thank you to all the advocates for telling your stories. The House version of the budget includes 500 Innovations waiver slots, restores more of the funds for services for those waiting for help through Local Management Entities, and raises the…
Health-Care Bill and President’s Budget Would Hurt Individuals with Autism
US Senate Tackles Health-Care Repeal and Replace Bill Senate leadership is convening several work groups to draft improvements to the House-approved version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The bill in its current form slashes Medicaid funding by $834 billion over the next decade and reduces the insured population by 23 million, according to the…
Early Intervention Strategies to Promote Communication Behaviors
In early intervention, key areas of focus should include communication and social engagement. How do we begin to build these behaviors in young children with autism? It is important to use a systematic approach. In addition, it’s ok to start simple, and recognize that baby steps (e.g., a few more seconds of engagement with the…
NC Senate Passes Budget: Contact Your NC House Reps
Last week at the North Carolina General Assembly, the Senate passed its version of the two-year state budget bill. The governor previously released his budget proposal; see details on our blog. The NC House plans to spend the next two weeks working on its version of the budget before differences in the two versions must…
Where Am I When I Am in My Head?
Where am I when I am in my head? That is a pretty specific question! I tell you, I’m not like any other Autistic! But then again, no Autistic is like any other Autistic! How about non-Autistics? Are you, whether you are Autistic or not, like anyone else? I’d like to think I’m like some…
Asheville Workshop Provides Strategies for Challenging Behavior
Want to learn more about basic strategies to address challenging behavior? If you are in the Asheville area, consider attending the May 20 workshop led by ASNC’s Clinical Professionals. As professionals working in the field of ASD intervention and as parents/caregivers of individuals with ASD, it is likely that we have all experienced challenging and…