Autism Society to host interest meeting Friday
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on April 27, 2016 1:46 PM
The Wayne County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina will hold an interest meeting Friday at the Goldsboro Worship Center at 900 W. New Hope Road.
The society acts as a liaison between families who require resources to care for someone on the autism spectrum and state or county organizations who may have those resources. They work to affect public policy through activism, working with government agencies like the Goldsboro police to make sure that government leaders understand the needs and special considerations of people on the spectrum.
The Autism Society is looking to reach out to three groups in particular; families new to the county who have a member on the autism spectrum, newly diagnosed families, and people in professional fields who have experience dealing with autism. This includes therapists, teachers, medical professionals, and anyone else who may be able to provide professional guidance to families caring for someone on the spectrum.
There are no requirements or responsibilities attached to society membership. Kelly Brown, chair of the Wayne County chapter, said that the society exists to remove red tape and smooth access to resources for members, so having membership requirements would be counter-productive.
"If you want to be on the board, we require that you have a substantial amount of experience with people on the spectrum. said Brown, whose son is autistic. "But as for joining, absolutely not, there are no restrictions."
Ms. Brown said that after hearing local families speak at the interest meeting, the information gathered will be used in a variety of ways. By holding such a meeting, the society is able to more precisely pinpoint the specific needs of the community and work to find service providers who can fill them.
They will also work further with government agencies like that police. Ms. Brown said that educating law enforcement on how to safely interact with those on the autism spectrum helps prevent unwanted harm.
"We want to make sure that, if an officer has to deal with someone on the spectrum, they will be aware of the special considerations they need to take to keep everyone safe." she said.
The timing of the event is no coincidence. April is Autism awareness month, and Ms. Brown said that this meeting represents the county's commitment to advocating for and spreading awareness of autism. For more information, contact the Autism Society of North Carolina at 919-396-6323 or by e-mail at [email protected]