Since I wrote my last blog, What’s Speech Got to Do With It?, in 2019, my son, along with the rest of the world, went through a rollercoaster cycle of emotions due to the pandemic, ranging from fear, insecurity, isolation, and utter frustration. His volunteer activities as well as other outside activities came to a…
Back to School in Uncertain Times
It’s that time of the year again! School will be starting soon, and parents and school personnel find themselves in the same climate of uncertainty that has existed since schools closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. As I write this, school boards in our local communities are voting on whether students will be required…
Supporting Individuals through the Vaccine Experience
The Autism Society of North Carolina is partnering with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) and organizations across the state to educate our community about COVID-19 vaccines as part of the #BringingBackSummer campaign. On June 8, we presented a free webinar, The COVID-19 Vaccine and the Autism Community, with our…
Addressing Issues with Virtual Learning and Wearing a Mask
2020 was a trying year for everyone, especially children with special needs and their teachers. As I’ve talked to families, I’ve seen many issues arise that have never been a problem in the past. Most seem to center around two primary topics: virtual learning and mask wearing. Here are some of the more specific issues…
Public Policy Update
Legislative Mini Session Wrap Up The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) returned to Raleigh on Wednesday, September 2 to allocate more than $900 million in federal Coronavirus money in a quick two-day process. Governor Cooper is widely expected to sign the bill; however, his office did note that they are still reviewing the legislation. Legislative…
Public Policy Update – State and Federal News
Below is the Autism Society of North Carolina’s weekly update on policy changes and legislation related to local, state, and federal COVID-19 emergency orders. This post covers July 31 – August 20. Congressional Update Since our last update, Congress has not passed any new legislation regarding COVID-19 and/or economic relief. A compromise is needed between…
Public Policy Update
Below is the Autism Society of North Carolina’s weekly update on policy changes and legislation related to local, state, and federal COVID-19 emergency orders. This post covers July 15 to July 30. Congressional Update – NEW! The US Senate has announced their new package of COVID-19 and economic relief, the HEALS Act. The Senate began negotiations with the US House…