Meet our Volunteer Board of Directors....
Kim Belk, Founding Co-Leader
My husband, Charley and I have three children, two boys and a girl. Our youngest, Ashley is on the autism spectrum – she was officially diagnosed at the age of 11 after many years of unanswered questions and struggles. Our journey began in 1996 when at the age of three we realized that things were not as they should be and our journey continues today. I have been a member of the Autism Society of North Carolina and involved with the Union County chapter since its inception in 2005. I would say that this journey is not one that has an end, each day I am presented with new challenges and opportunities – this is a journey that needs support and encouragement from others. In Union County our goal (ASNC-UC) is to provide some support, encouragement and education - not only for ourselves, but for others that are affected – this includes, educators, family members and the community at large.
My husband, Rich, and I have a 10 year old son with high functioning autism. Our son was diagnosed with autism in Sept., 2005 and was essentially non-verbal at age 2; and he is in a regular education 4th grade classroom in the UCPS system. We started private speech therapy at 2 ½ and entered the UCPS Exceptional Children’s Preschool program at 3 ½. We have had great success treating with diet and nutritional supplementation (Biomedical). We were referred to the Union County Chapter of the Autism Society of NC by TEACCH and have been a member since Jan. 2006 and have been serving on the board since Aug. 2006. My family has received tremendous amounts of information and support through ASNC-UC and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community by serving on the board. We live in Waxhaw and I am a member of Southbrook Church where I also work part-time at Southbrook Christian Preschool.
Jennifer LiVecchi Fabrizio, CPA – Treasurer
My husband and I have two amazing kids, a daughter and an son. Our son is on the Autism Spectrum and attends public school in the UCPS system.
Our journey to Autism started in 2006 with the Early Intervention Program through the CDSA. In 2007 we “aged-out” of CDSA and enrolled in the Union County Public School System. Privately, sometime in 2007 we received a diagnosis of PDD-NOS through a Developmental Pediatrician. We later received the official AU label from TEACCH. That was March of 2008, the beginning of our journey with Autism. It started with us spending every possible moment doing research online. My husband went to the ASNC support meeting the very next month! We have learned a mountain of information and have relied on the personal interaction with members of ASNC for support.
Interventions we have had experience with include:Play Therapy-Early Intervention; Speech Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Dietary Restrictions-Casein (milk), Gluten (wheat, oat, barley and rye), and Soy; Bio-Medical/DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) Doctor; Home based ABA/VB Program; Brain Balance Center; LindaMoodBell Learning Center; Homeopathy/Holistic Doctor; Chiropractic.
Dawn Hieronymus, Board Member
My husband Neil and I moved here from New York in 1999. Our twin boys, Donovan and Carlin were born in late 2003. In early 2006, Carlin was diagnosed with autism. I joined the Autism Society of NC-Union County chapter for support for myself and my family. I then joined the BOD to support other families with loved ones on the spectrum. I am also on the BOD fo the Pilot club International-Monroe NC, which raises funds for support and awareness of brain-related injuries and disorders.
Dawn Patterson, Board Member
Dawn Patterson is a Doctoral student at UNC Charlotte. Her research continues to focus on providing students with ASD a rigorous and meaningful education. Dawn has been involved in the lives of individuals with ASD for the past 20 years in multiple capacities, residential, community, employment, and education.
