Announcements!
Pack a lunch and come join us on Saturday, June 27 for a Train Ride and picnic in the park. We will be riding the Lynx, leaving from the Pineville station at 10:45 (tickets are $3.00/adults, $1.50 for youth K-12, free under 5yrs with parent. Arrive at destination approx. 11:10am, walk to the park- www.thegreenuptown.com, and have a picnic. Leave whenever you like, trains leave every 15 minutes. Other things to check out while there: Imaginon- www.imaginon.org, Strike City Bowling- www.strikecitycharlotte.com, Discovery Place- www.discoveryplace.org. If you'd like to come, email us at unioncountyautismsociety@yahoo.com. Hope to see you there!
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Thank you to all of the restaurants that participated in Aware Fare in April! Also, thank you to Clara's Choice for Herbs for sponsoring us. And last but not least, thank you to everyone that ate at one of the below restaurants on April 21st!
Salsarita's In Monroe
www.salsaritas.com Bridge and Rail In Waxhaw
Simply Hawaiian In Sun Valley Main Street Cafe In Waxhaw
Papa's Pizza to Go In Weddington Mucci's Bistro In Downtown Monroe
www.papaspizzatogo.com www.muccisbistro.com
Stallings Crossings In Stallings
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New location for our monthly support meetings! Thank you to Shining Light Baptist Church, 2541 Old Charlotte Hwy, Monroe for supplying our home!
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The Union County Chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina is the best source in Union County for connecting people who live with autism (and those who care about them) with resources, support, advocacy, and information tailored to their unique needs.
Who We Are
We are a chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our chapter is self-funded by membership fees, donations, and fund-raising events like Aware Fare. Our Board of Directors consists of parents/educators of children with autism that want to help and support other families living with autism. Meet our board members:
Kim Belk-Chapter President
Kym Whitecar-Treasurer
Ruth Strunck-Community Liason
Dawn Patterson-School Liason/Secretary
Marsha Todd-Graphic Artist
Leslie Price-Aware Fare Coordinator
Karen Baker-Communications and Aware Fare Coordinator
What We Do
We provide support and information to families and educators living with autism through monthly support meetings, this website, newsletters, email distribution, and teacher grants.
What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of developmental disabilities-including classic autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specifed (PPD-NOS), and Asperger's Syndrome-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 is the second most common developmental disability, following only mental retardation. ASD is more common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined. It is estimated that 1 out of every 150 people are born with some form of ASD.
Signs of Autism:
A child or adult with an ASD might:
*have language deficits or differences;
*talk about or show interest in a restricted range of topics;
*not point at objects to show interest;
*not look at objects;
*have trouble relating to others;
*avoid eye contact and/or want to be alone;
*have trouble understanding other people's feelings;
*prefer not to be held or cuddled;
*appear to be unaware when other people talk;
*repeat or echo words or phrases;
*have trouble expressing their needs;
*laugh, cry, or show distress for no apparent reason;
*repeat actions over and over again;
*have trouble adapting when a routine changes;
*have unusual reactions to senses;
*be oversensitive or under-sensitive to pain;
*lose skills they once had;
*not play with toys appropriately;
*have sleep issues;
*have digestive problems and/or food sensitivities
