EJ Clay is about to turn 10. He loves puzzles, bubbles, music, anything outdoors, and most of all, basketball. “EJ loves to play basketball,” said his mom, Cecily Shropshire, explaining that he is tall for his age. “They call him the Little LeBron.” He’s also very funny and is often the class clown, she said….
What Could Supreme Court Decision Mean for Your Child?
The beginning of the new school year is a good time to consider how you can make sure your child receives a quality education designed to help them meet challenging goals. Disability advocates across the nation are hopeful that the Supreme Court’s decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District will bring changes that…
Giving a Voice to People with Autism: Why Is It Important?
Editor’s note: Tracy Vail will be the presenter for the Autism Society of North Carolina’s third annual fall conference, “Giving a Voice to People with Autism,” on Sept. 21 in Greensboro. The conference will focus on developing functional social communication skills in children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are non-vocal or minimally vocal….
Easing the Transition Back to School
It’s that time of year again…back to school we go! The transition from summer to fall, more specifically from summer break to the start of the school year, can be overwhelming for everyone involved. The added stressors of back-to-school shopping, meet-and-greets with teachers, and transitioning into new schools can be challenging. We have some tips…
It Just Feels Good!
Human behavior is complex, no doubt. There are often layers to the reasons why people behave the way they do and those reasons may fluctuate from day-to-day based on a variety of internal or external events. Everyone engages in some behaviors (e.g., scratching a mosquito bite) just because they feel good. That is, the behavior…
NC General Assembly Adjusts State Budget
The North Carolina General Assembly wrapped up its regular short session in late June after a quick seven weeks. Short sessions focus on adjustments to the budget and passing bills that were still under consideration for both chambers the previous year. This year’s state budget (SB 99 State Budget Adjustments) comes in at $23.9 billion….
WNC Run/Walk is ‘Autism Community Day’
Daniel Landry knows firsthand what a difference employment supports can make. Landry, a 33-year-old who is on the autism spectrum, faced some challenges at his first jobs. He was capable of doing the work but needed a different way to learn the tasks. “A lot of times the employer doesn’t understand autism or why you’re…
5 Tips for Finding Activities for Your Child
When my son with autism was in elementary school, I remember wanting to get him involved in “programs” and “activities” but not really knowing what was appropriate or how to proceed. I recall contacting tons of people and agencies and asking for “THE” programs and activities specific for a child with autism. Frequently when the…