The Autism Society of North Carolina Support Groups (formerly Chapters) promote and extend the mission, vision, and values of the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC). They are the “front porch” of our organization in communities across the state.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
For up-to-date information on all Support Group activities and events, visit our calendar.
Use this link to add yourself to the Support Groups Contact List so you don’t miss any Support Group news!
This quarter we focus on recognizing Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Appreciation Month, as well as Volunteer Appreciation Week! A big thank you to our volunteers as we continue to shine a light on everyone making a difference in hometowns across the state.
From the Asheville area
Jackson Swain Qualla Boundary Support Group led by Candy Ross, Amanda Bradley, Jody Miller is hosting a Support Group Table at various community events, professional training events, and even at their local hospital and school. Due to their ongoing outreach in their community, their awareness numbers are high, reaching 250 people in January and February 2025 alone!
Buncombe Support Group has partnered with a local nonprofit, Arms Around ASD, to host their monthly meetings using office space at Arms Around ASD. The Support Group monthly meeting attendance is growing! Leader Krista Shalda recently posted on Facebook a summary of resources discussed at the group’s February meeting and the post brought about wonderful engagement, generated more questions and new ideas from their group. Sharing this recap online was such a great way to reach families who could not attend the meetings.
From the Fayetteville area
Richmond County Support Group is gearing up for another amazing spring event at Krystal Dawn Retreat on Saturday, April 12 from 1 – 4 p.m. This year’s spring theme is a carnival with games, prizes, delicious food, and a dunking booth.
Harnett County Support Group started both teen and adult Meet-Up groups. Check our Harnett County Group Facebook group to stay up to date on upcoming Meet-Ups.
We are excited to announce our upcoming Support Group for Cumberland County. Be on the lookout for new calendar events and a Facebook group!
From the Wilmington area
New Hanover County Support Group veteran Leader Grelynn Bradley is busy planning several fun events for this April and May, including a Meet-Up and Lunch Gathering at a local park and a Mom’s Night Out.
From the Greensboro area
Guilford Support Group is offering a Coffee Chat for caregivers at A Special Blend Coffee Shop. A Special Blend is a nonprofit which employes adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The Coffee Chat has become so popular, they are spilling out of the reserved room they meet in! Thank you to ASNC Autism Resource Specialist Robin McCraw for leading these meetings. We are currently seeking a Leader. Please see our full listing of Leader openings below.
From the Greenville area
Craven County Support Group is partnering with a local Scout Troop to host an inclusive activity for scouts and group members. Together they planned an afternoon for fellowship and planting flowers. Thank you, Rebecca Scott, for this nice intro to spring.
Pitt County Support Group’s Veronica Ramirez-Chance hosted a dinner meet-up at Marabella’s in Winterville. Several families, both parents and kids, came out to enjoy a bite to eat together. The group hopes to begin offering this every other month.
Martin County Support Group hosted their first meet-up in February! We welcome Cierra Hardison as the new Leader. Several parents met at the library, which has been a wonderful partner and support to the group. It was a great kick-off, and the group is excited to host many more Meet-Ups in the future.
Pamlico County Support Group Leader Ashley Sieber has developed a wonderful relationship with the Pamlico County Library where the group has begun hosting its monthly meetings. The library helps to advertise the meetings and is eager to find other ways to help support the group. The group had a fantastic February meeting with new families and lots of brainstorming!
From the Northeastern area
Outer Banks Support Group has had Julie Cabana and Brooke Bowser-Naser busy scheduling several events for this spring, including a trip to the local trampoline park, a farm visit, and a dance-off fundraiser.
From the Raleigh area
Support Group Leaders and Meet-Up Hosts across the Raleigh area gathered for a Regional Leader Meeting with their Support Groups Specialist Meleah Lowe and Support Groups Director Courtney Chavis. We shared smiles, laughs, hugs, experiences, ideas and activities, and closed our meeting by sharing what ‘belonging’ means to us. This facilitated some really powerful and meaningful discussion. Bringing leaders and Meet-Up hosts together in this fashion provided the opportunity to learn from one another, brainstorm together and remind us how important collaborative outreach can be to our local autism communities.
More Support Groups Highlights
Person Support Group
Support Group Leader Cindy Martin and her son, Ethan, recently hosted a table at their local school resource fair, “Excel 25.” Not only were they there to support the school resource fair and promote the Support Group, they also organized a large order of sensory items needed for various classrooms across the school district. Connecting with the local school system and supporting their needs has been a great outreach opportunity for Person Support Group.
Raleigh area Support Groups
Support Group Leaders and Meet-Up Hosts across the Raleigh area gathered for a Regional Leader Meeting with their Support Groups Specialist Meleah Lowe, and Support Groups Director, Courtney Chavis. We shared smiles, laughs, hugs, experiences, ideas and activities, and closed our meeting by sharing what ‘belonging’ means to us. This facilitated some really powerful and meaningful discussion. Bringing leaders and Meet-Up Hosts together in this fashion provided the opportunity to learn from one another, brainstorm together and remind us how important collaborative outreach can be to our local autism communities.
Durham Support Group
Durham Support Group made a new community connection with The Book Harvest, a local bookstore for children. The venue is really unique, complete with pods of play/movement spaces, sensory play areas as well as desk areas and couches for reading and drawing. Durham Support Group held a successful meeting there in February and created sensory bottles. Children were entertained in a safe space, as parents were able to chat and connect. Durham Support Group is excited to utilize this venue more often!
Wake Support Group
This group continues to host a Bowling Meet-Up for autistic adults! At the last meeting in February, Meet-Up Host Jim Lalik reported that the adults are showing interest in connecting outside of planned events. It is a true testament of success when Support Groups can facilitate connections and friendships outside their regular meeting times. There are many requests from autistic adults for opportunities to gather and get to know other autistic adults. If you are not already involved, consider attending a Support Groups Volunteer Interest Meeting through ASNC!
Orange/Chatham Support Group
Orange/Chatham Support Group Leadership team co-hosted their annual Winter Dance in February, in partnership with Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation. Nearly 50 people attended! Participants danced the night away to some hits from their autistic DJ and also enjoyed some games, fellowship, and light refreshments. Networking with various community partners has promoted outreach and awareness of their group. If you are a business interested in partnering with one of our Support Groups or co-hosting events together, please contact us!
Pender County Support Group
Jesaya Hargrove and the Pender County Support Group hosted a Valentine exchange Meet-Up. Everyone was asked to bring valentines to exchange. The group supplied snacks, drinks and crafts, and enjoyed time on the playground together!
Welcome our newest Support Group Leaders and Meet-Up Hosts
Cabarrus: Leader Christine Cox has a teenage daughter and is excited to start planning activities for teens and more.
Beaufort: Parent Julianne Dahlman is launching the Support Group in Beaufort County, which will bring activities and support for families in the Washington area. They hope to have their kickoff meetings in April, just in time for Autism Awareness Month!
Franklin: Co-Leader Kiyanna Howard has a 10-year-old son with autism and two older daughters. She is looking forward to planning some family-focused social events.
Martin: Cierra Hardison is mom to two young sons and is excited to be bringing an active group to Martin County.
Community Partner Spotlight
Zia Taproom Self Pour in Burlington
Maria Silva, a mother of two autistic adult sons, connected with Alamance Support Group to offer her business space as a place where the group can meet for free. Maria comes early to open Zia Taproom Self Pour before the business opens to the public during which the Alamance Support Group brings in their own coffee and snacks for their meeting. Not only has Maria offered her space to meet, but she has become a member of the group and enjoys connecting with other parents in the local autism community. Maria employs both of her sons through her business and is a great community partner to the Support Group. Thank you to Maria and Zia Taproom Self Pour! More at Zia Taproom Self Pour.
Support Group Volunteer Interest Meetings
- Are you interested in starting an ASNC Support Group or volunteering as a meet-up host? Upcoming meetings can be found on our calendar. Sign up today!
Leader Vacancies
Click on the area below to join our team! We are currently seeking volunteer Leaders in the following counties:
- Henderson County
Email Meleah Lowe for more information.
- Union County
- Davidson County
Email Virginia “Ginny” Hall for more information.
- Lee County
- Moore County
- Richmond County
Email Amy Vanwyk for more information.
- Guilford County
Email Meleah Lowe for more information.
- Carteret County
- Edgecombe County
- Inner Banks (Perquimans, Pasquotank, Camden)
- Lenoir/Wayne Support Group (Erica Hoffman retiring)
- Nash County
Email Lauren Buhrmaster for more information.
To learn more about helping us to start a Support Group near you or volunteering with an existing group, contact Marty Kellogg at mkellogg@autismsociety-nc.org or fill out this form.
We are growing!
Be sure to read our Hispanic Support Groups quarterly newsletter and check out all the upcoming Hispanic Support Group events on the ASNC events calendar!
English Speaking Support Groups
Asheville area (formerly West): supports Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson/ Swain/ Qualla Boundary, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey.
Catawba Valley area (formerly Unifour): supports Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell.
Charlotte area: supports Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union.
Fayetteville area (formerly South Central): supports Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland.
Greensboro area (formerly Triad): supports Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie/Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin.
Greenville area (formerly Central East and Northeast): supports Beaufort, Bertie, Carteret, Craven, Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Pamlico, Pitt, Wayne, Wilson.
Northeastern area: supports Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Washington, Tyrrell.
Raleigh area (formerly Triangle): supports Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Johnston, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren.
Wilmington area (formerly Southeast): supports Bladen/Columbus, Brunswick, Duplin, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Sampson
Contact us
Courtney Chavis, Support Groups Director (State Office)
Email: cchavis@autismsociety-nc.org
Marty Kellogg, Support Groups Coordinator (State Office)
Email: mkellogg@autismsociety-nc.org
Call: 1-800-442-2762