In recent weeks national and local media outlets have reported about proposed changes to diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 5 (DSM 5). The proposed changes have not been formalized and that process is expected to be completed by December 2012. – Editor What will the…
Structured Strategies During the Holiday Season
With the holiday season comes both excitement and stress. Changes in schedule, time off from work and school, travel, parties, visiting relatives, special foods, special clothes, shopping and decorations are just some of the reasons that this time of year can be especially difficult for kids with autism and their parents. How did your…
Are We Having Fun Yet?
By Kathleen Dolbee, ASNC Parent Advocate Parents of kids with ASD often become experts on the subject of autism. Back when my son was first diagnosed, I was starving for information. I read every book I could get my hands on. I was less concerned with academic progress and most interested in addressing his social…
Expanding Your Child’s School Comfort Zone, By Dan Coulter
Here’s an article about the value of taking your child who has Asperger Syndrome to visit his teacher and classroom before school starts. While this article focuses on younger children, it can also be helpful to schedule a school visit with middle school and high school students who have Asperger Syndrome. Hope this is helpful….
Nurturing Organization and Independence through Visual Reminders
Editor’s Note: The following article was written by Kathy Dolbee, Parent Advocate for the Autism Society of North Carolina. The concept of time is abstract. After all, a timeline has an arrow at each end and the concept of infinity is hard for us mortals to wrap our brain around. That is why we wear…
Corporal Punishment – It’s the Law! Bill 498
Editor’s Note – The following article was written by Linda Griffin, Parent Advocate Director for the Autism Society of North Carolina. It’s the 21st Century, and we have made such incredible progress – from splitting the atom to landing on the moon. We believe that we are wise and enlightened. We have conducted research on…
The Gift
The following article is submitted by Autism Society of North Carolina Parent Advocate Tali Denton. As parents of kids with autism, we can get worn down not only from the physical demands of parenting a child on the spectrum but by the emotional demands as well. It seems that our teen son needs and has…
It’s Time to be the Teacher
Last year I did something I had never done before. I attended a committee meeting for the North Carolina General Assembly. Actually, it was the Senate Health Committee and on the calendar that day was a bill that would require all state regulated health plans, including the State Employee Health Plan, to cover behavioral therapy…
House Budget Proposal Released, Includes 1915 b/c Managed Care Waiver
Budget: The General Assembly House Appropriations Sub-committees released their budget proposals and budget special provisions last week. In most cases, sub-committees used the Governor’s budget cuts as a starting point and then cut an additional 1.6 billion dollars from the state budget for a total reduction of 2.5 billion dollars from the base budget….