This article was contributed by Amy Perry, an Autism Resource Specialist for the Autism Society of North Carolina. The iPad can be used as a powerful tool for communication, but many families are stumped about where to begin. Apps for communication range from simple text-to-speech to full-fledged Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems with…
Autism Health Insurance Reform
The following column was written by Autism Society of North Carolina CEO Tracey Sheriff. State lawmakers have an opportunity to right an unfortunate injustice this legislative session. Currently in North Carolina, the nearly 60,000 individuals with autism and their families face unfair financial hardship because of an inequality in their health insurance coverage. To correct…
More North Carolina Budget Woes
At the end of the legislative session, state budget writers went from debating a zero to 10 million dollar cut, to taking a 20 million dollar cut out of state funded services for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness and addictive disease. While it is the same cut as last year, it has much greater impact….
Changes to CAP I/DD (MR/DD) Waiver
The Community Alternatives Program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (CAP I/DD, formerly known as CAP MR/DD) is expected to change beginning November 1st, 2011. Changes to the program still need to be approved by the Federal Government, however approval is expected and the Division of Medicaid Assistance which operates the CAP I/DD in…
Information Sessions on CAP I/DD Waiver Changes
North Carolina’s Community Alternatives Program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (CAP I/DD formerly CAP MR/DD) is expected to change as of November 1, 2011. The Autism Society of North Carolina will publish a longer blog post about those changes, which includes a limit on the number of habilitation hours. The Developmental Disabilities Training Institute has…
1915 b/c Waivers and Autism: What Does Managed Care Mean to Me or my Child?
The Autism Society of North Carolina is working on updating its 1915 b/c managed care waiver information on our website. Below is an article from The Spectrum ASNC’s newsletter about managed care waivers in North Carolina. Please feel free to post your questions and comments below. Over the next two years, managed care waivers, also…
NC General Assembly Legislative Session Wrap-up
This article was published in The Autism Society of North Carolina’s summer 2011 issue of The Spectrum. Current and past issues of The Spectrum can be found under Publications on our website. Families, self-advocates and ASNC faced difficult challenges in advocating for better services and supports for people on the autism spectrum as we headed into the long…
Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities: NC House Bill 344
[The Autism Society of North Carolina now has a comprehensive fact sheet on HB 344 Education Tax Credit for Children with Disabilities on its website here.] Thursday June 30th 2011 House Bill 344 Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities became law in North Carolina. Starting this year, families will be able to claim a…
This Week at the NC General Assembly
Governor’s Budget Veto On Sunday The Governor vetoed the state budget passed by the NC General Assembly. At this point, the NC Senate has enough majority votes to override a veto, and the NC House believes they also can override a veto if at least 4 of the 5 Democrats who voted for the budget…