IGNITE is a program of the Autism Society of North Carolina, with founding support from the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation. Spring 2021 • Volume 8, Issue 1
What’s Happening at IGNITE? Employment Having a steady income and a place to work is so important right now. With the help of employment group, the Autism Society of North Carolina’s Employment Supports, and Vocational Rehabilitation, or VR, IGNITE members have access to a wide variety of job placement supports, including assistance finding, applying, interviewing, and succeeding on the job. During employment group, members explore areas of interest, build resumes, create cover letters, and learn various skills they will need to be successful in the workforce. Members take assessments to see their skill sets and what jobs they might flourish in. We discuss the importance of volunteering to help gain experience in a certain area or job as well as how to utilize coping skills at work when needed. All three programs are seeing success! Just this year, IGNITE Davidson has placed five members in full-time positions at companies, including FedEx, a VA clinic, Food Lion, and a federal courthouse in Charlotte. Two members received fulltime internships to JP Morgan and Bank of America. Upon successful completion of their internships, both will be offered full-time opportunities. During this transition, members are supported bi-weekly by staff, and they are doing fantastic! In
Raleigh, three members gained employment and two others are actively seeking employment. Members have been placed at Marco’s Pizza and Walmart. In these positions, individuals prep and deliver food, stock items, and water plants. In Greensboro, several members are actively seeking employment and working with VR. One individual has been working at CVS for a little over a year and is now pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician at the company.
Creative Writing Self-advocacy can be demonstrated in many different aspects of life: by advocating your needs at work, asking for a break from a social gathering, or even writing your emotions. Writing is a form of expression that is widely used, and IGNITE’s creative writing group has found it extremely useful. During the pandemic, IGNITE created a creative writing group to provide a safe place for our members to express their emotions. Through this group, we have seen many open up and make themselves vulnerable through their writing, expressing emotions and thoughts that they may not otherwise express. Topics are not always serious; our prompts range from personal reflections to comedy. All writing is allowed!
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:
www.autismsociety-nc.org/ignite You can donate to IGNITE online or send a check made out to the Autism Society of North Carolina: Attn: IGNITE 5121 Kingdom Way, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27607
What’s Happening at IGNITE? (continued) and Relationships. This group allows members to explore and discuss what to expect when starting to date and prepares them for when dating turns more serious and leads to a serious relationship. Topics discussed include starting a relationship, intimate feelings and crushes, evaluating relationships, fixing problems, qualities of healthy and unhealthy relationships, and more! One member said, “All the lessons thus far have given me the confidence I need to start searching for a special someone soon.” In addition, we provide resources to help members decide if they are ready to begin dating or not. The members have expressed great interest in each topic and the conversations have been informative and interesting for all. This group is designed to be a safe space for members to share their experiences if they wish and ask any questions that they may have. “Dating group has helped keep my relationship going and strong,” according to one member.
Autism and Poetry Dating and Relationships Let’s face it: Dating is hard, but it can be even harder on the spectrum. Finding a meaningful relationship is something most young adults seek out, but understanding all the social aspects of dating is extremely difficult. Members at all three locations expressed interest in a dating group, and IGNITE listened! This semester we created a new group called Dating
Krysten H., a member of IGNITE Davidson, has sparked an abundance of self-advocacy since joining in January 2020. Krysten currently works full-time and has always led a life full of service, dedicating her time to various non-profits. After receiving a diagnosis as an adult, IGNITE has helped Krysten understand her diagnosis and find a place where she can belong and make friendships! Read more about Krysten’s journey online: http://mvnt.us/m1208728.
Davidson Member Spotlight:
Josh Readling
Josh was born and raised in Salisbury, NC. He was diagnosed at the age of 19. After high school, Josh attended community college but did not finish. He felt he was facing many things that were impossible to succeed at or accomplish, and he had difficulties leaping into independence. Before IGNITE, Josh was spending some of his time participating in his local running club, a hobby he had since high school, while also volunteering at the local library. But for the most part, Josh spent his days at home. About a year and a half ago, he realized he needed to do more. Josh found IGNITE through a chapter meeting. He was hesitant to join, considering all the hiccups in life that had come before. After being accepted, Josh jumped right into the program. He says, “IGNITE felt very comfortable. Everything felt welcoming and exciting. It gave me a place to go, and something to do.” Josh credits IGNITE as being the place that helped make his goals in life clearer, providing the information and steps he needed to take to feel like his adult life wasn’t withering away. He says being able to participate
PG 2– IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2021
in groups such as LIFE, hiking group, and career exploration not only provided him structure to his day, but also a way to get out and explore his community while socializing with others. With a little bit of support in the last year, he has been able to complete two major goals. The first was obtaining a driver’s license, which has provided him a sense of independence. He no longer has to rely on his parents to get him places, which allows for the ability to participate even more at IGNITE and try new opportunities. The second goal he accomplished was signing up for Vocational Rehab services. He is hoping that within the next year he will be able to obtain a part-time job, which will continue to help him reach for independence. In just a short time period, Josh has really shown an outstanding amount of growth.
Greensboro Member Spotlight:
Taylor Mitchell
Taylor was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. After graduating from Vandalia Christian School, she attended Guilford Technical Community College and received an associate degree in Early Childhood Education in May 2020. While in college, Taylor worked part time at Pita Delight as a dining room attendant but was laid off in March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. Taylor was interested in joining IGNITE so she could make new friends, search for another job, and develop the skills needed to eventually live on her own. She also would like to work towards getting her driver’s license. Participating in person and virtually at IGNITE has helped Taylor cope with the changes and uncertainty she has faced during the pandemic. She has enjoyed interacting with other members and describes IGNITE as “a place where I feel I’m
myself.” Taylor’s favorite groups are exercise and cooking. She has recently met her goal of increasing the amount of time she exercises each week and is now independently following simple recipes at IGNITE. Taylor is a talented writer and has written many great stories while participating in IGNITE’s creative writing group. At home, Taylor is writing a fictional chapter book, titled “Blood Princess” and is currently working on Chapter 17. Her goal is to one day have her story published.
Creative Expressions Workshops called Creative Expression, which is offered both in-person and virtually. During Creative Expression members come to do just that......CREATE! Each month offers a unique DIY craft for members to explore. We began this project with paint poured holiday ornaments. Paint pouring is a technique using various paints, mixing and pouring them over a material to result in a marbled effect. Then we made marbled coasters using Lowe’s tiles, nail polish, and water! This was followed by paint poured vases and coffee filter watercolor flower bouquets. As paint pouring has been a favorite among members and their families, we will be doing paint poured canvases and paint poured tile coasters in the coming months!
In 2019, IGNITE Raleigh had a volunteer come in to facilitate a few creative, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) workshops in which members made cut- and stained-glass ornaments, kites, AND learned salsa dancing. The staff began to notice not only the high attendance of these workshops, but also how much the members who attended them were growing in other skills, including confidence; self-advocacy skills such as asking for help, This workshop has become a highly anticipated, monthly expressing opinions, and sharing gem that members and staff look “Creativity now is as important in unique ideas; socials skills such as forward to. The other IGNITE accepting and offering constructive education as literacy, and we should locations have also found success in criticism and encouragement; and an offering creative activities. Davidson treat it with the same status.” excitement to try out new activities members have created art in the —Ken Robison park, while Greensboro members and step out of comfort zones! This was very exciting to staff as it offered a unique platform have participated in painting activities. It has been a privilege to for building many of the foundational soft skills needed to come together with members to create, socialize and grow from support members in other skill building groups. Out of this the many benefits that creativity offers in other areas of our experience, IGNITE Raleigh began a monthly workshop in 2021 lives as well. IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2021 –PG 3
Ray J’s Reviews Check out IGNITE member Ray J Evernham’s movie reviews online: www.facebook.com/rayjsreviews
While the first five minutes or so seemed to be promising, unfortunately “Thunder Force” feels more like a messy farce The dialogue is hardly funny, and the film itself is lacking in fun, and action! It’s such a shame, because I really do enjoy both Melissa McCarthy, and Octavia Spencer most of the time, but it seems as if whenever Melissa McCarthy works with her husband, Ben Falcone, and he directs/produces the movie (such as “Tammy”, “The Happytime Murders”, “The Boss”, and “Life Of The Party”) the outcome is usually underwhelming...especially considering McCarthy has done such bold & hilarious material with other directors (such as “Bridesmaids”, “The Heat”, and “Spy” with Paul Feig) A quick rundown of the plot: Emily Stanton (played by Octavia Spencer), and Lydia (played by Melissa McCarthy), both whom have two super opposite personalities, befriended each other in middle school after a bullying incident. After getting through high school, both Lydia, and Emily have completely different visions on where they are wanting to go in life, and end up going separate ways. Emily lost her parents
in an attack of supervillains, or “miscreants”, and she wants to fulfill their wish of creating a series of treatments that will give superpowers to humans in hopes of bringing the miscreants to justice someday. Lydia is just a bit on the lazy side Flash forward some years, and Lydia makes a visit to a now highly successful Emily at her scientific facility. Of course when told not to touch anything, Lydia just has to touch EVERYTHING, and low and behold ends up getting hit with some needle injections. Come to find out, Emily finally was able to create a series of treatments to give humans superpowers (only those injections were supposed to be for Emily, and not Lydia). That’s okay though, because now that Emily knows the formula for the treatments, she is able to make hers, but in pill form (not injection needles). 33 training days later, Lydia, and Emily duo up as a team, and become “Thunder Force”. This definitely isn’t the worst film I’ve ever seen, but I wouldn’t go rush to watch it again, or recommend you hurry and view it (but you do you) The film also stars Jason Bateman, Bobby Canavale, Melissa Leo, Pom Klementieff, and Tyrel Jackson Williams. I really don’t know what to say about this film The acting is ok. You can tell that both actresses are trying to do their best with the absolutely more than mediocre material they were provided with. “Thunder Force” is now streaming on Netflix, and I rate it 1.5 out of 5 stars & 1/2
LIFE in Practice at IGNITE Cooking Skills
Beginner Cooking Skills group helps members acquire the foundational skills needed be able to cook independently. It is a weekly 90-minute group; in the first half of the group, a new skill is presented through visuals, videos, games, and other activities; the latter half of the group provides time to cook a recipe and practice the new skill. The group was designed so that members only use skills that have been taught and explained, and each session builds on the previous week by allowing members to add more skills to their “toolbox” and create more advanced recipes. Some of the skills achieved this session have included: proper dishwashing; using kitchen utensils and measuring; stove and oven safety and use; box and scratch recipes; cracking, cooking, and hard-boiling eggs; peeling produce; mashing potatoes; using a can opener; boiling, steaming, baking, and
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sautéing; whisking; cooking with canned and frozen foods; knife skills; and meat safety and sanitation. This group has allowed members to practice and solidify these new skills throughout the entire session. Members have made a variety of recipes including edible cookie dough, mashed potatoes, cheddar biscuits, pancakes, scrambled eggs, pasta and veggies, canned taco soup, cucumber tomato salad, egg salad, ground beef, and much more.
Donor Spotlight:
Innova Disc Golf Innova Disc Golf, which was founded in 1983, is the brand chosen by many disc golf champions, and Dave Dunipace, their co-founder and CEO, holds patents for disc golf design. “Innova has a long tradition of supporting programs that promote disc golf as a sport that provides healthy recreation throughout one’s life,” says David Shope of Innova. “When the Autism Society approached us with a desire to include disc golf in its programming, we were eager to help.” Disc golf is one of the fastestgrowing sports in the United States, and IGNITE Raleigh is part of the movement! In January 2021, the Raleigh location received a generous donation of 45 discs from Innova Disc Golf. Disc golf is now part of IGNITE Raleigh’s regular programming, with members playing a few times each month. “Disc golf has been a game changer for us during COVID to help members get outside for fresh air, explore new areas in their community, safely interact in an activity, build confidence, exercise more, and step out of their comfort zones,” says Dianna Padilla, program director at IGNITE Raleigh.
Members who have learned how to play disc golf are now introducing their families to it, and both physical and social skills are developing during games. “Playing a round of disc golf typically includes more than a mile of walking while enjoying social interaction,” says Shope. “The game requires focus and a variety of skills you can test. In our experience, disc golf has been therapeutic to so many.” He points out that members will be able to take this activity with them if they travel, as there are more than 7,000 disc golf courses in the United States, many of them free to use. “Partnering with groups like IGNITE helps us to change lives, one throw at a time.”
Raleigh Member Spotlight:
Hunter Ellis
Hunter was born in Texas and moved to New Jersey as a child. In 2012, Hunter and his family moved to Clayton, NC. Hunter has one brother and one sister. Hunter says he enjoys spending time with his family. Hunter graduated high school and hopes to someday get his degree in communications to become a sports broadcaster. Hunter’s interests include watching TV shows such as “The Office” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” He also enjoys playing on his phone, running, and reading for IGNITE’s book club. When asked to describe himself, Hunter shared that he is willing to learn, kind, and is a nice person! Hunter is an Eagle Scout, and one of his projects was building a bench for a track and pole-vaulting team. Hunter joined IGNITE in September of 2018 after his parents told him about the program. Hunter was interested in IGNITE because it is a place where you can make friends and learn independence skills. Hunter’s favorite groups have been game time, movie night, and dating and relationships. His favorite event so far was the SVRA racing event. Since joining IGNITE, Hunter says that he has made
new friends, is willing to talk to any staff or member, does his own laundry, and cooks more. Some of the goals that he has reached are looking at dating sites to become more informed, and he has started running and stretching regularly. Hunter describes IGNITE as a friendly, fun, and safe environment. He says that some of the topics discussed at IGNITE may be challenging, but it is an open, safe space to talk about them. Hunter likes that people can share their interests and opinions with each other and find similarities. A positive during COVID for Hunter was that IGNITE was a stress reliever for him. In five years, Hunter sees himself mastering independence skills. He hopes to drive, find employment, and have a girlfriend. The advice he would give to someone would be “Don’t give up!”
IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2021 –PG 5
What’s Happening at IGNITE? (continued) POBS: Planning, Organizing, Budgeting, & Scheduling Planning an event or outing from start to finish can be challenging. What if you show up at a store and it is cash only? Maybe a business is only open on certain days. What if you must buy tickets in advance, or the event is already sold out when you show up? IGNITE members are learning just how important each of these minor details are by planning every detail of their monthly community outings at various locations. During POBS group, we work on Planning, Organizing, Budgeting and Scheduling. Members start by brainstorming ideas and places they would like to go and create a list of possibilities. Then, they narrow down the choices by talking amongst themselves, sharing opinions, problem-solving, and working as a team. After discussing as a group, they vote on the place they would like to go to. Once a winner is decided, members research details and how they will spend their time at this location. They also focus on important things to keep in mind, including what to wear, cost of the activity (if any), parking, and the location of the activity. If we cannot find information by researching online, members call the place in front of the group to get their questions answered! Members have seen how making these kinds of calls takes practice, courage, and stepping out of their comfort zone. So far, we have planned outings to parks, ice cream shops around Downtown Cary, mini golf, escape rooms, and even ice skating! Throughout all this planning and organizing, this group has facilitated self-growth, communication, independence, and socialization. We have talked through different views in a positive way and made sure everyone’s opinions are heard!
IGNITE Staff
Mindy Govan, Director
Mindful Movement Mindful Movement is a wellness group which rotates through a variety of gentle wellness activities. The variety of activities makes it a group that all members can attend and find something they enjoy. This group is offered jointly between all three IGNITE programs, helping to foster our greater IGNITE culture! This group is set up in three parts: first, there is a gratitude journal prompt, in which all participants spend a few minutes answering a question such as “What made you smile today?” Afterwards, members can share their responses with the group, creating a positive atmosphere fostering mindfulness and gratitude. One member said, “The gratitude prompt during wellness group is my favorite part of my Wednesdays. It gives me something positive to look forward to!” Next, the group practices a one- to two-minute guided breathing exercise. The breathing exercise offers members an opportunity to experience the calming effects of deep, focused breathing. This practice stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest system”), which helps calm the mind and body when upset or stressed. Members are able to take these new breathing techniques home and add to them their “bag” of coping skills to be used when needed. Last, the final 30 minutes of group is spent learning the benefits of and practicing the main wellness activity. Some of these activities have included: Tai Chi, Chair Yoga, Pilates, Laughter Yoga, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Step Aerobics, Yoga, Zumba, and Meditation to name a few! When attending this group you are sure to smile, feel positive, have fun, and maybe even break a sweat!
Davidson Staff
Raleigh Staff
Greensboro Staff
Alicia Lenhart, Senior Program Director Ashura Colquhoun, Program Coordinator Julianne Wade, Ray J Evernham, Program Coordinator Office Assistant
Dianna Padilla, Program Director Sarah Lewis, Program Coordinator Ashley Shoemaker, Program Coordinator
Allison Butwinski, Program Director Emily Crisco, Program Coordinator
PG 6– IGNITE NEWS • Spring 2021