D.J. Svoboda is an autistic artist and motivational speaker who spreads a message of hope that those with autism are special just the way they are. He created The Imagifriends of Imagiville based on experiences he faced as he grew up with autism. We asked D.J. to share some of his wisdom in honor of…
Improving Health and Building Community in Asheville
Every Monday from 3 to 4 p.m., you can find a group of people of all ages running and walking at French Broad River Park in Asheville. Each time a participant completes the half-mile loop, a check is placed next to his or her name on a giant chart. They are all members of the…
Camp Royall Gives Sisters a Chance to be Themselves
The Miller sisters, Mikayla and Mackenzie, joined us at Camp Royall for the first time this summer, and they had a blast, each in their own way. Mikayla, who is 16, shared that she was a bit nervous and didn’t know what to expect from camp, but she truly flourished. She made several really good…
10 Tips for Navigating our Journey
Let’s face it, raising children is difficult. And, raising special needs kiddos can feel impossible at times. When my son was very young, I frequently felt overwhelmed with it all. We had lots of medical appointments, therapy sessions, therapy homework, and behavioral outbursts to manage. We were entering a new world, the disability world, and…
Action Alert: Ask Senators to Support CARES Act
Editor’s Update: Thank you for your advocacy supporting the Autism CARES Act. Our NC Senators, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, have both signed on to the reauthorization bill, and we are hopeful that the CARES Act will be reauthorized before Sept. 30. The Autism CARES Act will sunset (expire) on September 30 if it is…
New Timeline for Medicaid Transformation
Update, March 2021: If you are looking for more recent information about Medicaid Transformation, please visit this post. Editor’s note: This is an update to information posted July 16, 2019. The managed-care rollout has been changed to one phase for the whole state in February 2020, rather than starting in November 2019 with some counties. Open enrollment is now scheduled to end on December 13 for all counties. The NC Department of…
Jen Pyne Named 2019 Roman Award Winner
Jen Pyne is not just a service provider to the people with autism whom she supports. She is a true friend and a member of their family. “She has helped me to create a life on my own terms that I am proud of,” said Jade McWilliams, one of her clients. “I have a very…
Debra Wyatt Named 2019 McCrimmon Award Winner
Debra Wyatt might have saved Chris Schild’s life, says his father, Bryan. Chris and Debra were at Walgreens, where he works and she supports him as a job coach, when a tragic incident occurred. “My son was not 10 feet away from a man who had just shot the pharmacist and the pharmacy tech,” Bryan…
Keeping Your Family Safe in a Storm
Dear Families, Friends, and Supporters, As we find ourselves in the possible path of a hurricane, we share your concern about the safety of your loved ones. We wanted to take a moment to let you know that ASNC is here for your family. To help you prepare, we are sharing some helpful resources on…