medicaid Assisted Living waiver
Moving to North Carolina w/ 17 y/o autistic son. Are there good services & activities? Where?
Son is high functioning. Immediate needs are good special ed school, state medicaid waiver and fun things to do. Later will need assisted living and a job. Thinking about Wake Forest, Raleigh, Charlotte or Greensboro. Thank you!
In NC, the very best place your son could be is Chapel Hill. Other great options are Raleigh, Asheville, Greensboro, Greenville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Wilmington, & Gastonia. These are the cities that have TEACCH Regional Centers.
From their website:
“TEACCH is an evidence-based service, training, and research program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders. Established in the early 1970s by Eric Schopler and colleagues, the TEACCH program has worked with thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. TEACCH provides clinical services such as diagnostic evaluations, parent training and parent support groups, social play and recreation groups, individual counseling for higher-functioning clients, and supported employment. In addition, TEACCH conducts training nationally and internationally and provides consultation for teachers, residential care providers, and other professionals from a variety of disciplines. Research activities include psychological, educational, and biomedical studies.
The administrative headquarters of the TEACCH program are in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and there are nine regional TEACCH Centers around the state of North Carolina. Most clinical services from the TEACCH centers are free to citizens of North Carolina.”
http://www.teacch.com/welcome.html
TEACCH-Supported Employment
http://www.teacch.com/supportedemployment.html
One of the advantages to moving to NC is that you can have your choice of living in a large city, or in the mountains, or near the beach.
Special needs need special plans
Little Joanna Misercola has encountered a lifetime of challenges in her eight years. Diagnosed with the developmental brain defects schizencephaly and polymicrogyria, she struggles with severe developmental delays, seizures, impaired vision and weakness on the left side of her body.
The personal assistance provided at Assisted Living Facilities ensure that the dignity and self-respect of the occupants are upheld and that they get ample opportunities to socialize, make friends, and also keep in touch with their family. The assistance can be either routine or intensive. The personal assistants are trained to be mindful of the requirements and values of senior citizen.