Kwanzaa, celebrated each year from December 26 to January 1, stands as a vibrant acknowledgment of African heritage. Rooted in the principles of community, culture, and reflection, this rich tradition invites families to gather, share stories, and celebrate their collective identity. Each day highlights a specific principle that fosters unity, growth, and cultural pride within…
Autism And The Holidays: Thriving This Holiday Season
The winter months are upon us, and with it comes holiday celebrations with family and friends. If you’re like me, the thought of the holidays makes you cringe because you know it can be such an overwhelming time for your loved ones living with autism. We feel tense about the crowds, the food choices, the…
A Letter of Gratitude and Love from the Clinical Team
During this Thanksgiving season, members of the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) clinical team reflected on their gratitude for the individuals and families they serve. Here is what they had to say, in their own words. “What a blessing it is to work with these families. It feels like such an honor to be…
Autism and ADHD: Positive Change Doesn’t Rely On A Diagnosis
I have struggled with socializing and focus as long as I can remember. Trying to blend in with normative expectations has always felt exhausting to me. I knew I struggled with mental health during middle and high school, but traditional therapy and psychiatry didn’t help significantly. It wasn’t until college that I had the opportunity…
Halloween: Tricky for Treats
Autism and Halloween: For many, the spooky season is a time of excitement. People eagerly shop for scary costumes, set up spooky sounding animated figures, and devour buckets of candy. Children get excited about all the treats they will get, the festivals, and school celebrations. For an autism family, Halloween can be a very different…
Training the best RBTs and BCBAs: Autism Society of North Carolina
In the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the role of quality supervision while training the best RBTs and BCBAs cannot be overstated. Through my experiences as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and Board Certified Behavior Analysis (BCBA) student, I have come to deeply appreciate how effective supervision not only enhances the services we provide…
Micah Dupree and Calyn McMullen receive 2024 McCrimmon Award
The McCrimmon Award is named for Ed McCrimmon, a longtime staff member at the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) known for his outstanding dedication and integrity in service to individuals with autism. Tragically, he died in 2017. The McCrimmon Award was established to keep Ed’s memory alive while celebrating other direct support professionals like…
Parenting: Becoming Teammates Instead of Opponents
My husband and I have been married for 23 years. We have seven boys ages 20 down to three, one of whom has autism. Parenting an autistic child can be challenging and can strain other relationships in your life, particularly your marriage or romantic partnership. Our marriage has weathered many storms—parenting two children with…
Fatherhood and Autism: Words of Wisdom Part Two
Welcome to Part Two of our two-part blog series featuring the stories of four fathers who share the wisdom and insight they have gained while navigating the complexities of parenting an autistic child. Click here to read Part One of this special Father’s Day blog series. Let’s continue to explore the stories of these fathers…