This article was contributed by Wanda Curley, an Autism Resource Specialist and mom to a son with autism. āWhen we love and respect people, revealing to them their value, they can begin to come out from behind the walls that protect them.ā ā Jean Vanier, āFinding Peaceā This past year, our son with…
Donāt Underestimate Me!
This article was contributed by Leica Anzaldo, Training Manager for the Autism Society of North Carolina. āGood morning everyone, Iām Danny. I want to tell all of you thank you for helping me and talking to me even when you knew I could not find the words to talk back. Having autism is very hard…
Surviving School in a Nutshell
This article was contributed by Kim Tizzard, Autism Resource Specialist and mom to a son with autism. The beginning of a new school year has somehow snuck up on us. For many, the uncertainty of how our childās needs will be met can be a source of angst. Like a video loop, the same thoughts…
Adventures in High-Functioning Autism Behind the Wheel
This article was contributed by Nancy Nestor, ASNC Autism Resource Specialist. How do you know what your child is capable of? For the past 13 years, since my son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, my husband and I have asked ourselves that question repeatedly. My son has always been a kid who has taken an…
Building Better Bridges with Parents and Caregivers
I have worked in the field of autism intervention for many years in a variety of clinical and educational contexts. My current role within the Autism Society of North Carolina is centered on delivering workshops to parents and professionals and providing individualized consultation to parents, caregivers, professionals, and self-advocates. As I reflect upon my experiences…
Tips, Myths, and Facts about the IEP Process
This article was contributed by Nancy LaCross, ASNC Autism Resource Specialist in the Raleigh area and mother of an adultĀ son with autism. The Autism Society of North Carolina has 18 Autism Resource Specialists serving all 100 counties in our state. We receive phone calls from parents and professionals about lots of issues, but the most…
Selecting a Board Certified Behavior Analyst
This article was contributed by Leica Anzaldo, Training Manager for the Autism Society of North Carolina. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has gotten a bad rap over the years, and up until a few years ago, I too had some misconceptions. Common assumptions are that ABA: creates robotic results is very rigid and does not allow…
All Students Count: Testing for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
This article was contributed by Vickie Dieter, ASNC Autism Resource Specialist. All students count. It is a worthy sentiment, but it has not always been the case in terms of students with disabilities participating in state achievement tests. Upon signing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), President George Bush made a statement that might…
Keeping Our Cool When Things Get Heated
I am not the parent of a child with autism, but I am a parent. I know that it can be really hard for me to keep my cool sometimes when my young child starts to fall apart ā screaming, dropping to the floor, and noncompliant. But I also know that I will never make…