This article was contributed by Nancy Nestor, an Autism Resource Specialist in the Charlotte region, an autism mom, and a former teacher. This is the time of year when many high school students and their families are thinking about the next steps in their lives ā touring colleges, taking the SAT or ACT, and starting…
Thank You, from One Mom to Another
Sherri Krewson Garner, Leader of the ASNC Crystal Coast Chapter, shared this post about her gratitude for another mom and leader. I want to express my deepest gratitude to another chapter leader! In 2000, after going through a divorce, I moved from Lincoln County to the coast of North Carolina to be near my…
Help Shape Crisis Services for Children
North Carolina will soon expand START crisis services to children and youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism. Many of these children with complex mental health or behavioral needs have not been served by current crisis services due to a lack of space, and are held in emergency rooms or transferred to…
Speak Out on NC Budget Proposals
This article was contributed by Jennifer Mahan, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at ASNC. On June 1, the NC Senate released its version of the budget adjustments bill for this year. Despite advocacy directed at the Senate to improve on what the NC House budget offered, the Senate includes no funding for federally required…
New Online Resource Directory! Tips for Use
ASNCās Resource Directory is a new web-based listing of the most often requested or recommended resources from Autism Resource Specialists that ASNC employs throughout the state. We are pleased to be able to make the Resource Directory available to the public in the hope that we can reach more people with information as well as…
AmeriCarna LIVE Volunteer Uses Passion to Give Back
The Autism Society of North Carolina relies on volunteers to help carry out our mission. In honor of Volunteer Week, we share a story about one valued volunteer. When Larry Grossflam moved to North Carolina from New York in the fall of 2014, he began looking for volunteer opportunities. Through his employer, United Health Group,…
Focus on Safety at ASNC Conference
The Autism Society of North Carolina held its annual conference March 11-12 in Charlotte. We have been sharing information from conference presentations in occasional blog posts. Nancy Nestor and Nancy Popkin, two Charlotte-area Autism Resource Specialists, presented a session titled āStaying Two Steps Ahead: Safety Considerations for Caregivers,ā on the second day of the conference….
Have Your Say on Medicaid Reform in NC
North Carolina is undertaking plans to move forward with Medicaid Reform in our state. Last session, the legislature directed the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to come up with a plan that provides quality care and controls costs for the future. DHHS has created a draft plan outline for the next several years…
Guidance on Medicaid and EPSDT regarding Autism Treatment
This article was contributed by Jennifer Mahan, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at ASNC. What is EPSDT? It stands for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT). EPSDT is a child health program in Medicaid to help the physical, developmental and mental health needs of children under the age of 21. The idea…