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…
Moving from Awareness to Acceptance
This April, for Autism Awareness Month, the Autism Society of North Carolina is focusing on acceptance and inclusion, not just awareness. We want people to know about autismās challenges, so they can be more accommodating. But we also want them to know how their lives can be better when they include people with autism….
Taking Autism to the Doctor
This article was contributed by Judy Smithmyer, an ASNC Autism Resource Specialist in the Greensboro region and mom to a daughter with autism. Attending medical appointments with our children can be difficult, but when our child has autism, we can face a whole new set of challenges. Preparation is the key to making a…
LifeLong Interventions: One Year of Changing Lives
This article was contributed by Whitney Luffman, MA LPA, BCBA, Lead Clinical LPA for the Triangle region. When we first met, I was unsure of Johnās* language abilities, because he remained mostly silent. But I could see him watching others speak and could tell that he was receptively listening and taking in everything around him….
Learn About Innovations Waiver Changes, Share Opinions on IDD Issues
UPDATE:Ā The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has notified us that the changes to the Innovations waiver are now proposed to go into effect November 1 to allow for additional training and preparation, and to provide additional time for approval of the changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The…
Tips for a joyful, peaceful holiday season
In the movies, this time of year is full of joy. Smiling families gather around tables filled with delicious dishes that everyone loves, merry music is always playing, and gifts are met with exclamations of ājust what I wanted!ā In real life, the holiday season can be challenging and stressful for any of us, but…