IGNITE is a program of the Autism Society of North Carolina, with founding support from the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation. Spring 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 2
Unplug and Get Moving! Message from Director Mindy Govan
IGNITE is a unique ‘peer-to-peer’ community center for young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) offering activities, skills training, and educational workshops that foster social, financial, educational, and employment independence for its members. More importantly, IGNITE offers a social environment where members can connect with others and experience a sense of community.
For more information: Mindy Govan, IGNITE Director 704-897-8982 mgovan@autismsociety-nc.org www.ignite-davidson.org www.autismsociety-nc.org You can donate to IGNITE online or send a check made out to the Autism Society of North Carolina: IGNITE • 209 Delburg St., Suite 134 Davidson, NC 28036
Health, nutrition, and exercise are areas that often become neglected by individuals on the autism spectrum as they transition into adulthood. Electronic devices and the internet have captured most of our members’ free time. As a result, adults with autism have higher rates of obesity and overall poorer health, studies show. Avoidance of physical activity can be attributed to many factors: • Sensory aversion to heat or sweat • Lack of time management to plan for activities • Difficulty with public places and people • Lack of awareness about the types of activities available • Lack of knowledge of the positive impact of physical activity on overall health To combat these issues, we have added a health and wellness focus to daily programming at IGNITE. We offer walking groups of various distances, and we log the overall miles achieved on a chart so members can track their progress. Staff-led exercise groups have been added to provide members the ability to work out in a non-public environment, and we continue to participate in group workouts at Champions Sports Performance. For members who prefer to work out individually, we have structured, self-guided workouts with charts to monitor progress available at all times. Cooking classes are educating members on sanitary food handling and preparation skills as well as basic cooking skills. The recipes are modified to include concrete, visually structured steps that aid in independence. The variety of recipes expose our members to new foods, and members are showing a willingness to try the foods they make. The nutritional components of each recipe are reviewed at the start of each group. Our members are encouraged to use the USDA My Plate Healthy Eating Checklist to learn about their personal specific nutritional needs. At IGNITE we are providing education, exposure, and opportunities for our members to unplug and get moving!
Stand Up for Autism paddleboard event Guests and paddleboard enthusiasts from across North Carolina came out for the third annual Stand Up for Autism paddleboard event to benefit IGNITE on May 6. Even the chill in the air, overcast skies, and some morning drizzle did not stop paddleboarders from arriving early at Port City Club to compete in this year’s professional and recreational races. Spectators cheered on the racers as they navigated the waters of Lake Norman. During the race, a silent auction was held. After the races, IGNITE founder and ASNC Board Member Ray Evernham hosted a live auction, and Rob Bennett with My Aloha Paddle & Surf announced race winners. The event concluded with a mouthwatering luau, complete with a pig roast. Guests were entertained with Hawaiian music and dancing from the Island Hula Girls, and some guests even participated in the coconut dance-off. We are deeply grateful to Rob Bennett and My Aloha Paddle & Surf for their time and efforts in planning and executing this year’s race, and to the Port City Club for treating our guests to the most delicious food. And a very special thank-you to all of our event sponsors!
Member Spotlight: Morgan
Thank you
to our sponsors:
Corporate Gold: Randy Marion Buick GMC Corporate Bronze: The Peninsula Yacht Club We greatly appreciate everyone’s support of this year’s Stand Up for Autism event, and look forward to seeing you next year!
Barnes Morgan Barnes has been a member of IGNITE since its inception four years ago! He is one of the original members, and he is very thankful to have IGNITE in his neighborhood. Morgan’s favorite aspect of coming to IGNITE is being with other members, whether socially or participating in fun activities. Morgan particularly enjoys coming to art group and social skills. Morgan is also a mentor for Chess Club; he enjoys playing and helping others learn to play. “(IGNITE) helped me to expect more from myself and inspired me to want to do more with people,” Morgan said. “It made me more determined to be more in control of my own life.”
“(IGNITE) helped me to expect more from myself and inspired me to want to do more with people.” PG 2– IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2017
Morgan is taking history and religion classes at RowanCabarrus Community College to earn his associate’s degree. In his free time, he enjoys going out to eat with some of the good friends he has made here at IGNITE.
What’s Happening at IGNITE? New programs and new members Lots of new and exciting programs are being offered at IGNITE this spring. On March 1, IGNITE welcomed 15 new members and expanded programming to include a variety of educational and social groups to better meet the needs of our members. To address our health and wellness focus, we offer daily morning exercise and walking options, weekly workouts at Champions Sports Performance, and nutrition and cooking classes three times a week. We have expanded our thinking like an adult curriculum to include educational groups on Personal Growth and Development (to work on increasing independent living skills, time management and goal setting), Self-Advocacy (understanding the diagnosis, empowering communication around wants and needs), and Career Exploration (exploring vocational options, resume building, and increasing job seeking skills). We have increased our social/ leisure offerings. We now have a member-led Chess Club, a Young Women’s Group, supported Unstructured Leisure Time, Structured Game Time, and an Out and About group to encourage our members to participate in their communities. For our art enthusiasts, in addition to our ongoing Art group, we have added Creative Drawing. So, as you can see, we are very busy!
Members give back In April, IGNITE members collected donations of money and gifts for the families of the Ronald McDonald House, which provides a “home-away-from-home” for the families of children receiving treatment in Charlotte-area medical facilities. Throughout the week, it was wonderful to see the joy in IGNITE members as they participated in all stages of the process from bringing in the donations, to stuffing the baskets and making cards, to delivering the gifts. On Thursday, April 13, a group of members delivered 25 graciously filled baskets and 25 small stuffed animals to the children and families staying at Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte to help them have a wonderful Easter! All of our members have really enjoyed participating in this effort to give back to others in need!
Family Fun Puzzle Run As part of IGNITE’s health and wellness programming, members learn about accessing fitness activities in the community. On April 29, IGNITE members participated in the second annual Family Fun Puzzle Run at NorthCross Shopping Center in Huntersville to benefit the Autism Society of North Carolina. We are very proud of all of our members who participated with their families and completed the 5k race. And a special shoutout to Paul Nestor who finished 12th overall and won gold in his age group!
IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2017 – PG 3
Donor Spotlight
Ray J’s Reviews:
Nick Lyssikatos
Check out IGNITE member Ray J Evernham’s movie reviews online: www.facebook.com/pg/rayjsreview
Port City Club owner Nick Lyssikatos recently stood behind the bar of the club, sharing why he supports the IGNITE program. The passion was evident in his voice as he talked about the difference that IGNITE is making in the lives of so many young adults with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
“It feels good to be part of something growing in the community.” Nick’s relationship with IGNITE began two years ago with the first Stand Up for Autism (SUP) paddleboard event, as the Port City Club is the host venue. He knew Ray Evernham and was somewhat familiar with the program; his other restaurant, Brickhouse Tavern, is in the same building as IGNITE. However, his formal introduction to the program came through Rob Bennett, owner of My Aloha Paddle & Surf and SUP event host sponsor. When Nick was approached about the opportunity to partner on the paddleboard event, he thought it was a no-brainer, he said. He enjoys seeing everyone come out to support SUP and watching it grow each year. “It feels good to be part of something growing in the community,” Nick said.
“Beauty and the Beast” was absolutely wonderful. If you adore the animated version like I do, then you will not be disappointed. It was perfection. The “Be Our Guest” musical number was glorious and visually stunning, especially in 3D. Also the new original songs fit in well with the story!! I also love the small changes that were made in the movie as well! Also this live action film went a little more indepth with Belle and the Beast’s backstory; let me just say it’s pretty emotional stuff. Without giving away spoilers, I absolutely loved the ending, too. It’s a bit different than the animated film’s ending and also the villagers actually play an important role in the finale! Without a doubt, 5 out of 5 stars or 5 out of 5 roses.
Cars 3 pre-screening proceeds to benefit IGNITE
Not only has Nick donated food to SUP, he has provided food for the VIP guests at AmeriCarna LIVE and IGNITE’s annual holiday open house. He takes great pride in preparing most of the food himself, and comes out to each event to make sure everything looks great. Being involved with IGNITE is important to Nick, because the program is providing opportunities for the members to express themselves and to build stepping stones to the next level. It prepares them to enter the world and obtain a job. He also likes that it is a local program changing lives right in his community, and he can see the outcomes. But most all, Nick loves seeing the smiles on the members’ faces and making sure they feel good about themselves.
PG 4– IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2017
June 15, 2017 Doors open at 6 p.m. Our Town Cinemas in Davidson $25/ticket (includes any size popcorn and drink)
https://cars3screening.eventbrite.com