Medicaid will be offering new services called 1915(i) services to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autism, as well as those with mental health issues and substance use disorders. 1915(i) services will eventually replace B3 services when Tailored Plans launch in April, 2023. Unlike B3, 1915(i) services are an entitlement. This means that…
Camp Royall: A Place for Teens to Connect
Camp Royall is a special place for campers of all ages, from 4 to 104! In recent years our programming for teenagers has grown, and we’re excited that Camp Royall can be a place for young people to connect and prepare for adulthood. In 2016, we started Teen Tuesday, a monthly group for teens to…
Becca Martin, Kaitlin Warren, and Angela Wideman Honored with McCrimmon Award
The McCrimmon Award is named for Ed McCrimmon, a longtime member of the Autism Society of North Carolina staff. He was known for his outstanding dedication and integrity as he served individuals with autism. Tragically, he died in 2017. The McCrimmon Award was established to keep Ed’s memory alive, and at the same time, celebrate…
MeKayla Sheene Named 2022 Roman Award Winner
Direct support professionals often become honorary members of the families they work with because of their presence during highs and lows, good times and bad. MeKayla Sheene began working with Casey Drakeford in May 2022, less than two weeks before his mother’s death. For consistently going above and beyond during this difficult time in Casey’s…
Don’t Ring the Doorbell, and Mark Your Lifelong Calendar for June
One of the first things I tell a new direct support professional interviewing to work with our family is to not bother ringing the doorbell. Just come on in and join the family. My twins, Isaac and Samuel, have had Medicaid Waiver services since they were 7 years old. They are now 22. While some…
Elections 2022: Voting in the November Midterms
Voters return to the polls this fall for midterm elections. As a reminder, there are three ways to vote in North Carolina: from home, in person, and in a facility. North Carolina has made it easier to vote from home with updates to the absentee voting laws, but you can also vote in person at…
Achieve a Better Life Experience with NC ABLE
The NC ABLE Program allows individuals with the occurrence of a disability prior to the age of 26 and their families to contribute to tax-advantaged savings accounts without impacting eligibility for important public supports like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. A path to financial freedom For many eligible participants, there has long been a ‘spend down’…
Preparing for an IEP Meeting
Let’s be honest, preparing for your child’s IEP meeting – whether it’s the first or the 20th – can be overwhelming, especially if your child was recently diagnosed with autism. What is an IEP and where does one begin?! An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child…