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 Edās 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. Ā Our marriage has weathered many stormsāparenting 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 Fatherās Day blog series. Letās continue to explore the stories of these fathers…
Fatherhood and Autism: Words of Wisdom Part One
Fatherhood is a journey filled with both wonderful moments and significant challenges, highlighting the invaluable role that fathers play in their families. Fathers provide protection, guidance, stability, and support, serving as pillars of strength. This month, in honor of Fatherās Day, we asked four remarkable fathers who have children with autism to share their experiences…
Autism Parenting: The Impact Of “I understand”
Although I am a clinician, Iām 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, āI understandā at some point in your career. Iām sure as a parent you…
Looking Through the Right Lens: Autism-Informed Support
ļ»æ AutismSocietyNC Ā· Blog | Looking Through the Right Lens – 04/17/2024 Recently, I provided autism-informed support and coaching services in a public school, where I visited a first-grade classroom. I watched as a little girl asked for help in tearing her perforated page out of her workbook.Ā A peer offered to help, and she…
Shattering Stereotypes: Intersection of Autism and Black Excellence
Dictionary.com defines the term āBlack excellenceā as āa 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.ā Many African American family systems value Black excellence…
The Barbershop: Supporting the Black Autism Community
Highlighting Community Leaders Supporting the Black Autism Community Barbershops and beauty salons hold a special place in the black community, valued for their emotional significance and historical importance as centers of cultural affirmation, personal growth, and knowledge for people of color. Beyond being places for haircuts and beauty treatments, they are vital social spaces…