Every day, the Autism Society of North Carolina works directly with autistic individuals and their families to help them build their best lives and achieve goals. For one family in the Greenville area, it was important to attend church together, and Senior Autism Services Coordinator Mackinsay Glover was committed to making that goal possible. When…
Differences in Autism Presentation Between Siblings
I don’t remember when my parents told me that my little brother was autistic. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know; my memory doesn’t go back that far. He was diagnosed when I was around five or six, per his age of diagnosis at three. Iām a late-diagnosed autistic, not receiving my diagnosis…
Pets and Autism: Challenges and Solutions
Pets are an amazing way for autistic children to experience companionship, understand boundaries, share responsibilities, and reduce anxiety. Caring for an animal also provides opportunities to learn new skills ā such as patience, empathy, communication ā while also supporting an avenue of emotional expression. Itās important for all families to do some research on the…
Mental Health in the Autism Community
Mental health disorders are conditions that affect our thinking, mood, and/or behavior to the extent that it interferes with our ability to function. These disorders include, but are not limited to, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. For the general population in the United States, the CDC estimates 20% of adults (or one…
āAre Chicken Nuggets a Vegetable?ā and Other Mealtime Musings: Selective Eating in Autism
One of the first jobs of parenting is to keep your child healthy and nourished by ensuring they eat a variety of nutritious foods, alongside the extra treats and occasional Happy Meal that accompanies childhood. Before having children, many of us felt like this would be the easy part. Three meals a day, snacks sprinkled…