Home
    What is Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of developmental disabilities – including Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS), Aspergers Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder, and Child Disintegrative Disorder – that affect a person’s ability to understand what they see, hear, and otherwise sense. It is a brain disorder that impacts communication, social interaction, and behavior. Individuals with ASD typically have difficulty understanding verbal and nonverbal communication and learning appropriate ways of relating to other people, objects, and events. NO two people with ASD are the same. As its name implies, ASD is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and with varying degrees of severity. Additionally, ASD is often found in combination with other disabilities. ASD in found throughout all races, nationalities and social classes and it affects approximately one in every 150 births.

What's New?



Putting It All Together - ASCC Informative Brochure

ASCC Brochure

More Information



Monthly Parent Education Program


Deborah Gray
Support Teacher, Wake County Schools
will present...

Toilet Training 101: Children with Autism

February 8, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Dorothy Spainhour Center
223 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC
Download Flyer



Please join the
Exceptional Family Member Program at


MONKEY JOE'S
Monkey Joes
Thursday February 25, 2010
6:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.
Monkey Joe’s
102 Westwood Shopping Ctr.
Fayetteville, NC 28314

Please come join other EFMP Families at Monkey Joe's. Monkey Joe’s is a fun-filled, inflatable play center! Their wall-to-wall inflatable slides, jumps, and obstacle courses will keep your kids active, happy, and healthy. In addition, they have a Mini Monkey Zone which is a separate toddler play area that will keep your little ones safe and secure.
All participants MUST wear socks and be under the age of 13!

Call (910) 643-6996 by
24 February 2010
to register.
Download Flyer

Exceptional Families Exceptional Service

Army Community Service




Women’s Self Defense – Friday, February 5th

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

All to often women have viewed self-defense classes as something that was low on the priority list. Often saying, “that would never happen to me,” or believing that they are so tough that they could surely handle an attacker. All to often women with women with these views are proved wrong. I propose something different; how about setting aside the excuses, stop leaving things to chance and take steps to ensure your safety. With the recent attacks against women who are home alone or caught in vulnerable positions why not take a class or two to gain the knowledge and skill you can use to stay safe. 

Because of the overwhelming response to our women’s self defense seminar this past Friday the 22nd The Elite Training Center will be having another Women’s Self Defense seminar Friday February 5th from 7pm to 9pm. We will be teaching awareness, mental and physical defensive tactics. There will be special emphasis placed on how to physically defend your-self and how to escape if attacked in your home.  The course is 45 dollars and each participant will get a free 400, 000 watt stun gun. If you received a stun gun in the last seminar you will get a free bottle of pepper spray. Class size is limited so don't waste time.  If you are interested or have any questions, please contact the Elite Training Center at 910-488-1021.

We can come to you!

Maybe you own a business or are a part of a group that is interested in having a women’s self defense seminar at your facility. We can come to you! We have wonderful group and business rates for seminars. You will find that this will not only raise group cohesion but it will also create an overall safe atmosphere. If you are interested call us at 910-488-1021 or email us at info@etcnc.info



Autism Empowerment Program at Elite Training Center
This is a 6 month program for children with autism. Starting in
February there will be one class per week. Classes will be
limited to 8 children per class. The cost is $80 per month.
Financial scholarships may be available.

More Information



Camp Sunshine 2010
Downlaod Information & Application

More Information



The Autism Society will be hosting a
Father's/Grandfather's Support Group

on Saturday, January 30th, at 4PM, Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant.
Fathers and Grandfathers of children with autism are invited to attend. This is a relaxed and informal support group, so mark your calendar and we hope to see you there.

Need more info?
Call 910-826-3004/3005

Vera Bradley Bingo for Autism Awareness
April 16, 2010 @ St. Pat’s Church, 6 pm

4th Annual Autism Awareness Golf Invitational
June 5, 2010 @ Cypress Lakes Golf Course, 8 am

Camp Sunshine Employment Applications
Call 826-3004 for more information.



ASNC offers the following services for people with autism through our office:

CAP—services as outlined in the participant’s plan of care. This can include Specialized Consultative Services to help families with issues relating to their child’s behaviors and possibly to develop a behavior plan. Contact: Regina Black, Regional Director (910) 864-2769 ext 1207

Developmental Therapy—professional and para-professional levels. Contact: Regina Black, Regional Director (910) 864-2769 ext 1207

Academy of Life Skills Development, a licensed Day Program for adults. We are a Vocational Rehabilitation vendor and help adults develop vocational skills as well as find employment. Also have a Comp. Ed. class weekdays through Fayetteville Tech. Contact: Thomasina McKenzie, (910) 307-0319 or (910) 391-4413.

Learning Center—Licensed after-school day program for children through age 18. Primarily for use by ASNC participants receiving CAP & DT, but some activities are open to the public for a small fee. Contact: Susie Gaylord, (910) 864-2769 ext 1211. Extra activities include:

1. Social Skills Groups for high functioning teenagers, which meets weekly during the school year ($20.00 per month).
2. Art and Music sessions during the summer months ($5.00 per class)
3. Bowling team—meets Fridays at 4 p.m. at B&B Lanes. Cost is $3.00 per game.

Social Skills Groups for high-functioning adults: Meets every Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 6:30. Occasional community outings. Fee is $20.00 per month. Contact: Susie Gaylord, (910) 864-2769 ext 1211.

Adapted Physical Education: Weekly classes for ages 5 and up. No fee! Contact: Susie Gaylord, (910) 864-2769 ext 1211.



There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. At first glance, some persons with autism may appear to have mental retardation, a behavior disorder, problems with hearing, or even odd and eccentric behavior. An accurate diagnosis must be based on observation of the individual's communication, behavior and developmental levels.
How we can identify a child with autism?. How parents can get an accurate medical treatment for their children?. How professionals and parents can help a child with autism?. These questions are going to be resolve on the next Workshop in English and Spanish,

" Autism Awareness in the Medical Setting"

on January 22nd from 9:30- 12:00 PM 
at the ASNC's central office locate
at 505 Oberlin Road, Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27509.

The presenter for this Workshop is Shelly Moore. She is a Training Coordinator with the training  arm of the Autism Society of North Carolina. Goals of the department include training more than 600 direct care staff within the ASNC's programs and partnering with other agencies to provide a network of opportunities for individuals with autism and their families.. For the last two years she has coordinated a grant from the John Rex Endowment that is going to sponsor this Workshop as well.

This Workshop that will be provided in English and Spanish is free , but required registration. Please contact Mariela Maldonado, Hispanic Affairs Liaison  by sending this registration by fax, (919) 743-0208 or email mmaldonado@autismsociety-nc.org or contact her by calling (919) 743-020 42 ext. 1114. Certificates of hours of participation will be available for professionals

Download English Autism Awareness in the Medical Setting
Download Spanish Autism Awareness in the Medical Setting
Registration Form



TDF Support


As many of you know, the Team Daniel Foundation is providing Respite services for North Carolina families of children with disabilities who do not have services.  The foundation also provides a quarterly magazine – EMPOWERED.  Our first fundraiser is simple and easy for everyone to participate.

If you are surfing the net or shopping online, you can help raise money for the Team Daniel Foundation by using GoodSearch.com or GoodShop.com!  Select the Team Daniel Foundation (Fayetteville, NC) as the charity of your choice.  The more you search and shop, the more you help support EMPOWERED and the Team Daniel Respite fund.

www.goodsearch.com

www.goodshop.com


Studio Five - Dance Classes in January

Studio Five will be offering dance classes for
kids with special needs - such as Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, etc. The classes will be free of charge and each participant will
receive a Studio Five t-shirt. We will provide teachers and student
volunteers to make sure the kids learn dance, work on motor skills and get some social interaction in a fun filled, loving environment. The
classes will meet on the third Saturday of every month beginning on
January 16th at 12:00-1:00.

If you know of any families that have kids with special needs please
share this email with them and have them contact us for more information and/or to reserve a spot. In advance, I thank you for helping us spread the word - we really appreciate it.

Bill Wiggins
Studio Five Dance Company, LLC
www.studiofivedancecompany.com
info@studiofivedancecompany.com
(919) 577-9955

Rachel Kiwaha
Exceptional Family Member Program Specialist
(910) 907-3405



Important Information about the CAP


Please share with families in need on wait lists.  They need to contact their Case Managers/LME’s to ensure their psychological is current, other info is current on file and LME’s have completed prioritization tool. 

"These new slots are available immediately. Our federally approved waivers and guidance from the Generl Assembly require us to redistribute slots if they are not used promptly, so I encourage you to promptly begin identifiying individuals to fill these slots."

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services

Download PDF

or visit www.autismsociety-nc.org


Call for Volunteers: Research Opportunity for Caregivers
of People with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Visit our volunteers page for more information.

More Information

Special Olympics of Cumberland County
Support the Special Olympics of
Cumberland County


Special Olympics Golf will be gearing up in February and wanted to give you all a heads up.  Registration through January 29th via Gilmore TRC. 

More Information

Home Weatherization Help for Low-income Families

Please let your consumers know about this important Department of Energy (DOE) program. Families whose household incomes are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for up to $6,500 in home improvements that will make houses more energy efficient. Cumberland Community Action is administering the program for our county. You may contact them at (910) 485-6131. For more information including poverty guidelines and reguired documentation.

More Information


“No. No, Thank You”
by Catherine Pollard

My bright, beautiful, and loving six-year old grand-daughter, Catherine
Jane, whom we call “CJ,” has autism. One of the earliest indications of her autism was delayed speech. As CJ slowly developed communication skills, she began to quote entire sections of dialogue from movies that she viewed. However, it has taken longer for her to express her thoughts using her own words.

So we were quite pleased when she began to respond to situations
with which she did not agree with a firm “No. No, thank you.” We have
encountered some interesting and often humorous situations when she has used this response. For example, when my husband and his brother visited my daughter, Mary, she called to CJ saying that someone had come to see her. CJ called back hopefully, “Gramme?” Mary said, “No, it’s Grandpa and Uncle Robert.” CJ quickly responded, “No. No, thank you,” expressing her preference with whom she wanted to play that day.

Ever since she was a toddler, CJ has objected in the strongest ways, which usually included kicking and screaming, when her pediatrician needed to examine her ears. This summer while we were on vacation, CJ began saying that her ear hurt. After Grandpa, who is a doctor, checked her throat and indicated it was time for him to look in her ear, she looked at Grandpa and said, “No. No, thank you.” No matter how uncomfortable she was, she definitely did not want to have that otiscope in her ear, and she “used her words” to express that fact to Grandpa.

More recently, my daughter decided to try to reduce the fat content in CJ’s diet by preparing lower-fat turkey dogs instead of regular hot dogs. When the turkey dog was served, CJ leaned over, took one sniff, and dismissed the turkey dog with a simple, “No. No, thank you,” and a more descriptive, “Ewww.” It was obvious CJ, like all of us, has her own set of standards, especially where hot dogs are concerned. All of us who love CJ are delighted that she is expressing her thoughts in her own words, and we enjoy hearing the unique and interesting ways that she phrases those thoughts.



Family Fun Day This Weekend!

Greetings Families
Please join us this Sunday from 10am-3pm* for a Family Fun Day (*for those returning please note the time change). Come this weekend to play at camp with the whole family (all are welcome!). See all that camp has to offer and tour the campgrounds in preparation for our upcoming camp season as well. We encourage you to come out and enjoy time as a family in a safe and happy environment. We will have the facility open for use and will lead some organized activities as well.

Please see the attached schedule for more information on Sunday's
activities. Also attached are directions to camp, future family fun dates, and some information on our new Family Camping Program, which will begin next month in February of 2010. We will be hosting overnight family camping in conjunction with our fun days and would love to have your family come stay the weekend with us. See the info form for more details and to reserve a spot!

Please RSVP to this email and let me know if you can join us for this
weekend's fun day! I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Family Fun Day Schedule
Family Fun Dates 2009-2010
Directions to Camp Royalle With Map
Family Camping Info and Reservation



Funded In Part By
    Cumberland County Mental Health


Disclaimer: The Autism Society of Cumberland County does not take any position regarding studies of ASD, nor endorse any particular form of treatment, intervention, or therapy. This website allows us to share current information in the field of ASD with our families and organization members.

  Calendar of Events
View Calendar
Calendar of Events

Monthly Newsletter

This Month's News!
Newsletter Archive
Monthly Newsletter


The Nicholas Fasul Finch Autism Fund
Make A Donation
More Information


You are visitor number

Visitor Counter