We are grateful for the enormous outpouring of concern for the families we serve who were affected by Hurricane Helene. Many individuals with autism in western North Carolina have been displaced from their homes, schools, or other services. When individuals with autism are in new situations or environments, they can feel uncomfortable, anxious, or frightened….
Public Policy Update | Sept. 23, 2024
North Carolina General Assembly Passes Mini-Budget The North Carolina General Assembly met the week of September 9, to pass a new version of House Bill 10, which originally related to local sheriffs working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislation was revised to include appropriations for health care, schools and other issues considered “critical”…
Public Policy Update | May 23
Autism Society of North Carolina Public Policy updates: I/DD Caucus meeting draws advocates to NCGA Tailored Plan Reminders Survey on the Innovations Waiver Supports Budget Process I/DD Caucus meeting brings advocates to the NC General Assembly (NCGA). On Tuesday May 14, members of the Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability legislative caucus met to hear testimony…
Autism Parenting: The Impact Of “I understand”
Although I am a clinician, I’m writing this as a parent of a kiddo on the spectrum. This topic weighs on me professionally, but more so personally. As a professional, you may have tried to relate to a parent by saying, “I understand” at some point in your career. I’m sure as a parent you…
I/DD Advocacy Day Opportunity | May 14, 2024
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and Meet the Need NC are organizing advocates to attend a Listening Session at the NC Legislative I/DD Caucus meeting on Tuesday, May 14. The I/DD Caucus is working to educate legislators about the needs of the I/DD community, in particular the 17,500+ waiting list for Innovations waivers…
ASNC Public Policy Update
NCGA starts legislative short session; NC Center for Safer Schools issues guidance regarding school Threat Assessment Teams; Tailored Plan Reminders North Carolina General Assembly is back in session. Legislators have returned to Raleigh for the start of the “short” legislative session that takes place in even numbered years. During this briefer legislative session, lawmakers consider…
The Power of Consent
AutismSocietyNC · Blog | The Power of Consent by Felicia Williams Brown While much attention has been given to understanding the social and communication difficulties faced by many on the autism spectrum, there remains a particularly sensitive topic that demands exploration. That topic is consent. Consent is a term we encounter in various contexts—from…
Shattering Stereotypes: Intersection of Autism and Black Excellence
Dictionary.com defines the term “Black excellence” as “a high level of achievement, success, or ability demonstrated by an individual Black person or Black people in general. The term is often used to highlight and celebrate specific examples of such achievements and abilities, especially as the hashtag #BlackExcellence.” Many African American family systems value Black excellence…
New Study Highlights the Value of Investing in Direct Support Professionals
New Study A new study on the economic impact of Direct Support Professionals in North Carolina has found that investing in increasing the wages of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who serve people with I/DD, as well as increasing access to DSPs though additional Innovations waiver slots, yields substantial economic benefits to the State of North…