The NC General Assembly created a legislative research committee to look at the needs of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. The committee is collecting information and hearing from various stakeholders in order to make recommendations to the General Assembly about the quality and quantity of services available to those with IDD…
Funding Available for Students in Private K-12 and Home Schools
North Carolina offers three programs to provide funding for K-12 students who opt for a non-public education. In North Carolina, ānon-public educationā includes private schools and home schools, including home-school cooperatives. Each state funding program has different application processes and eligibility criteria. Two programs are specifically for students with a significant disability, as determined by…
Free workshop on behavior coming to the Triangle
As parents of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and as professionals working with individuals on the spectrum, it is likely that we have experienced challenging and persistent behaviors. When we experience these behaviors in an individual with ASD, one of the first questions we should ask ourselves is, āWhat is the individual trying to communicate…
New Year, New Schedules, New Opportunities
For those who have autism, the holidays can be a very overwhelming time of year. Excitement shifts into high gear. They must deal with lights and decorations, busy stores, extra traveling, family gatherings, and more people everywhere they go. Not to mention, if they are school-age, the routines they thrive on are interrupted by holiday…
Setting Goals and Making Resolutions
How many times this week have you been asked whether youāve made any New Yearās resolutions? How many times in your life have you been asked about your plans for the future? How would you answer if you had a limited concept of time and limited organizational skills? What is a goal, anyway?! Individuals with…
Transitioning to Competent Adulthood with Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Dr. Peter Gerhardt, who has worked in the autism field for 37 years, shared some of his expertise with parents and professionals last week at a one-day conference in Raleigh. His presentation was titled āTransitioning to Competent Adulthood for Individuals with Autism: Implications from Preschool to High School and Beyond.ā Dr. Gerhardt is the Executive…