Piedmont Parent Exceptional Child 2015-2016

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FEATURES

2 UNDERSTANDING AUTISM

11 F AMILY PROFILE: THE PRIESTS

The latest in awareness, treatment

6 ICAN HOUSE

12 FAMILY PROFILE: THE HUMPHREYS

Winston-Salem center helps social skills, boosts self-esteem

8 BUILDING CONFIDENCE Special Olympics North Carolina

10 FAMILY PROFILE: THE DONALDSONS

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

ADHD, adjustment and sensory processing disorders

Angelman syndrome

13 SPECIAL NEEDS APPS Our top picks 15 TRIAD RESOURCES Support groups, therapists, schools and more

piedmontparent.com | EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016

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Autism Spectrum Disorder A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND MORE ACCEPTING VIEW

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homas Jefferson. Albert Einstein.

Isaac Newton. According to Charlotte-based psychologist Frank Gaskill, these creative, brainy leaders probably had Asperger’s syndrome.

Gaskill produces the “Dr. G Aspie Show,” an online video series that covers a range of autism-related issues, and he has also written a graphic novel about a superhero with Asperger’s. Gaskill’s goal: Help individuals with Asperger’s feel comfortable with their identity. “Part of that,” he says, “is getting the message out to non-Aspies.”

Asperger’s, along with autism and certain developmental disabilities that can cause social, communication and behavioral challenges, are defined collectively as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The spectrum is broad.

Thanks to therapists and doctors like Gaskill, as well as parents, teachers,

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BY CAITLIN WHEELER advocates and adults with ASD, public awareness and understanding of this disorder has improved dramatically over the last few years. This means ASD is more likely to be recognized and diagnosed at an early age. It also means specialized treatment has become more accessible, and more time and money has been directed toward research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of ASD.

Acceptance and Early Identification Since 2000, the number of children diagnosed with ASD has risen from 1 in 150 to 1 in 68. In North Carolina, it’s 1 in 58. Over the course of his 30-year career, Dr. Kurt Klinepeter, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, has seen firsthand the increase in diagnoses of children with ASD and the changing public perception.

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

“A diagnosis of autism used to be a surprise,” Klinepeter says. “Now families come in and bring it up on their own.” This increase may be the result of improved efforts at diagnosis, a broader definition of ASD and/or more children with ASD. Before 2013, doctors made separate diagnoses for autism, Asperger’s, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and childhood disintegrative disorder. Today, in accordance with the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual (DSM-5), these disorders are all diagnosed as ASD in one of three levels of severity. Mild cases (level 1) are defined as “requiring support,” mid-spectrum cases (level 2) require “substantial support,” and the most severe cases (level 3) require “very substantial support.”

“Professionally speaking, it makes sense that these disorders are grouped

together — the breadth of the DSM-5 definition helps doctors diagnose children at earlier ages, but the single definition is hard for lay people to understand,” Klinepeter says.

The DSM-4 terms were in place for 20 years, and many doctors and families still find the terms, such as Asperger’s, useful descriptors.

A Diagnosis of Difference Klinepeter calls ASD “a diagnosis of difference.” Every child with ASD has unique symptoms and needs. Some children appear to have ASD, when what they actually have is attention deficit disorder or a learning disability. Some children grow out of their symptoms, other children grow into them. Autism experts suggest that parents not take the “wait-andsee” approach. Early intervention is valuable — the earlier the better.

“There’s nothing exclusive about behavioral therapy that couldn’t be helpful for any language/learning problem,” Klinepeter says.

In an effort to catch ASD early, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that every child be screened for developmental delays starting at his or her 9-month wellness visit. Even before that, parents should watch to make sure their child is meeting developmental milestones.

Symptoms can be spotted as early as 6 months and include concentrated interest in objects rather than people, less babbling than a typical infant, failure to respond when his or her name is called and decreased social smiling. At 12 months, a parent may see delayed gestures, delayed language and a failure to copy actions or sounds.

Older children and adults with ASD may have trouble with social, emotional and communication skills, and may display unusual behavioral tics, such as rocking and twirling, or self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging.

Children with ASD tend to start speaking later than other children, though a

high-functioning/high-IQ child (like the “Aspies” Gaskill referred to) might have good language skills by age 5, but use odd speech patterns, unusual accents and give monologues about a single topic without regard for the person listening.

Mentors and Support A keystone of North Carolina’s autism community is the Autism Society of North Carolina, which provides a broad range of support services. What started as a small group of parents in the late ’60s is now a statewide organization with headquarters in Raleigh and offices in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville and Fayetteville.

“We provide lifelong partnerships for families and individuals with autism,” says David Laxton, director of communications.

Highly cognitive children with ASD might require less intensive, though no less critical support. Gaskill has found that his patients — ages 4-18 — respond well to social skills groups. “They come to these groups and you can see them breathe a sigh of relief,” he says.

Gaskill’s goal is for these kids to be comfortable with their identity, which often includes addressing the bullying or misunderstanding they receive at school.

Treatment Options Some treatments require hours of behavioral therapy every week and involve some form of applied behavioral analysis. In the simplest terms, ABAbased models work to change behavior by encouraging positive behaviors and discouraging negative behaviors. Popular ABA treatments include the Early Start Denver Model for children younger than 18 months, a relationship-based approach known as “Floortime,” and the University of North Carolina TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communicationrelated Handicapped Children) program, which focuses on visual cues. Other treatments include occupational therapy, sensory therapy and speech therapy.

While there are no medications

that cure ASD, some help with related symptoms. For example, some medications might help manage high energy levels, inability to focus, depression or seizures.

Dietary treatments have also been developed, though they do not have the scientific support needed for widespread recommendation. An unproven treatment might help one child, but not another.

Educational Approach There are also educational options. ABC of NC Child Development Center in Winston-Salem was originally conceived by a group of parents eager for services for their children with autism. The cohesive activism of that group is a hallmark of North Carolina’s autism community.

“These parents are wonderful,” says Selene Johnson, executive director of ABC of NC and a board-certified behavior analyst who often goes to Raleigh with parents to lobby for various ASD issues, most recently for an autism insurance bill.

Denise Sasseman, a mother of three who lives in Cary, chose to send her 6-yearold child Oliver to The Mariposa School for Children With Autism in Cary. This nonprofit organization enrolls children ages 16 months through 16 years and attracts families from throughout North Carolina and beyond.

“We’re one of only a few schools offering one-on-one applied behavioral analysis,” says Jacinta Johnson, the school’s director. “We set goals for each student: for one it might be to enter preschool, for another it might be potty training. We define success specific to each child.”

For Sasseman and her son Oliver, success meant leaving The Mariposa School for Children With Autism to enroll fulltime in public school. “We wouldn’t have considered it possible a couple years ago,” says Sasseman. “Oliver had no functional communication, and now he’s thriving in public school. He gained so many skills at Mariposa. It’s an amazing place.”

Oliver is now receiving special services at his public school, Oak Grove

piedmontparent.com | EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016

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NC Senate Bill Offers Relief for ASD Patients On April 28, 2015 the North Carolina Senate approved Senate Bill 676, which requires group health insurers to cover adaptive behavior treatments for children with autism spectrum disorder.

“We have been working towards this legislation for seven years,” says Jenifer Mahan, director of advocacy and public policy at the Autism Society of North Carolina.

Before it can become law, the North Carolina House of Representatives must approve. As of June 2015, the N.C. House was considering a slightly different bill, and once they approve it, the Senate and the House have to agree on the final wording of the law. But the passage of Bill 676 is a big step — the House has passed more than one autism insurance bill before; the Senate has been more reluctant.

“Now I’m confident they’ll work out the differences,” says Mahan. “There’s been a tremendous amount of advocacy. The families, individuals and professionals have been great. They’ve called and written and sat down with representatives, and all that work has paid off. I’m delighted to see so much attention on this issue.”

An insurance bill will not only increase access to therapeutic services, but will most likely encourage service providers to expand offerings across the state.

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Elementary in Cary, and Sasseman has been pleasantly surprised.

“It is often considered best practice to include kids with ASD in regular classrooms,” says Leica Anzaldo, one of two lead therapists/trainers with the Autism Society. Anzaldo provides outreach and education to public schools throughout the state.

“We need to educate teachers and classmates about what it means to have ASD, and how they can help students with ASD learn and thrive.”

In addition to providing training for public schools, the Autism Society, Mariposa School for Children With Autism and similar organizations provide in-home training to individuals and families.

“ASD is a family condition,” Johnson says. “The entire family needs to understand their child’s treatment so they can provide a consistent learning environment at home.”

Cutting-Edge Research in North Carolina North Carolina has several cutting-edge research centers exploring the causes and treatments of ASD, including the TEACCH center at the University of North Carolina that specializes in community-based interventions; and the North Carolina Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology, one of five national research centers funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The most recent addition is the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. The interdisciplinary clinical and research facility is led by Geraldine Dawson, former chief science officer for Autism Speaks, who developed and validated the Early Start Denver Model — the first comprehensive early intervention program for very young children with autism. She is also the author of several books on autism, including “An Early Start for Your Child With Autism.”

“We are still learning so much about autism, from early brain development to the other end of the continuum, adults with autism,” Dawson says, noting that several hot topics being researched include genetic causes, environmental causes, drug treatments and gender differences (ASD is five times more common in boys than in girls, and experts are studying if this is because girls are underdiagnosed and/or if there are neurological differences).

“There is hope that in the next few years, some of the clinical trials going on now will translate genetic findings into drug targets,” Dawson says. A Duke study seeks to determine whether infusions of umbilical cord blood — either that of the children themselves, or someone else’s — can reduce core ASD symptoms. A second study is looking at the potential benefits of oxytocin, a hormone used anecdotally in smaller clinical trials. Dawson notes that the Duke Center would love to partner with families for their studies. They offer free diagnostic and clinical assessments for those interested in participating. To register to take part in research studies at Duke University, go to autismcenter.duke. edu/research/registry-autism-research.

Klinepeter suggests that parents who suspect their child might have symptoms of ASD get connected to services as early as possible. “There’s a parallel system/ universe for children with developmental issues,” he says. “Inform yourself as much as possible. Understand that it’s a condition that responds to treatment. Be steadfast and push for your child.”

Sasseman believes it’s worth the effort. “We’re so lucky,” says Sasseman, of her son Oliver. “He’s an amazing kid. He’s got a great temperament. He works so hard. And he’s happy — he wakes up every day filled with joy.”

Caitlin Wheeler is a freelance writer living in Durham.

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

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piedmontparent.com | EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016

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7/27/15 3:00:56 PM

Photos courtesy of iCan House

Winston-Salem center provides support, social interaction for people with autism

BY ANNE WOOTEN GREEN

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s the parent of a young daughter with Asperger’s syndrome, Kim Shufran of Winston-Salem was frustrated with the lack of resources and the misguided notion that such children were impaired.

So in 2008, she decided to create her own resource — the iCan House — a place that has been a lifeline for hundreds of children and adults. It provides programs that teach and foster social development for those on the Autism spectrum and those who have ADHD or other challenges that inhibit social interaction.

The iCan House became a nonprofit organization in June 2009.

Shufran said that since opening, more than 400 people have attended iCan House programs.

“Today, 120 families depend on us every week to learn essential life skills and

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for support,” Shufran said. “At iCan House, children, teens and adults are learning skills to perform in school and be successful on the job. No other place like iCan House exists for someone to learn these skills while belonging to a group that accepts them.”

Two of the programs that help children (all participants at the iCan House are called members) are iClub (innovation club) Junior and iClub. Though the age groups are not set in stone, iCan Junior is for kids ages 8 to 10, while iClub members are generally in the 11-14 age range.

Sessions for iClub members run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. several days a week.

FAMILY JOURNEYS At a recent iClub meeting, while their children were upstairs, mothers waited downstairs, talking about their kids. The parents’ and children’s last names and

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

hometowns have been omitted for privacy.

Amy and her husband adopted Tasha from China when she was 11 months old.

“She lived her first year in an orphanage, and she had significant delays,” Amy said. “She didn’t speak her first sentence until she was 3 and a half.”

Tasha’s speech therapy revealed that she had apraxia, a communication disorder that affected her motor programming system for speech production. She has had difficulty in speech production, specifically with sequencing and forming sounds.

“The brain and the mouth aren’t communicating and so forming words is difficult,” Amy said.

Tasha has a “severe anxiety disorder,” Amy said. “Socially, it’s crippling.”

Her anxiety usually involves interactions with older adults. “It is so socially debilitating for us as a family.” She was later diagnosed with autism.

Amy found out about the iCan House in 2014. “That was prior to her autism diagnosis. But at the iCan House, you do not have to have a diagnosis to be a member,” she said.

iClub members enjoy curriculum-based social interaction at iCan House in Winston-Salem.

Real World Connections is an iCan House program for teens who meet and discuss a variety of topics.

Tasha, who is homeschooled, has been a member of the iCan House since January, and it has been a godsend for both Tasha and her parents.

According to Amy, “From the first time she attended a meeting, she felt comfortable. She loves the kids and has fun.

“She has an affinity for young people.

Young people are the facilitators in the meeting. So she looks up to them with awe and admiration and that is a perfect fit for her, just perfect.”

Tasha is an only child, and Amy and her husband work at different times “so one of us has always been with her.”

“It’s been just wonderful, it’s the first thing we’ve done that she looks forward to coming to,” Amy said. “Usually the night before speech therapy or other things that we’ve gone to, she gets very anxious and just starts having a breakdown or spending the whole time underneath a table. This is the first fully successful thing that we’ve had.”

Ryan, 9, has autism but “is very high functioning,” his mother, Brandy, said. He was adopted when he was seven weeks old from a foster adoption program in a state where the family previously lived.

Ryan is in general education, his mother said. “I’m a teacher, so he goes to school with me.” He is in the fourth grade.

Before entering kindergarten, Brandy said Ryan “was a little bit quirky, and I liked that about him.”

“Then his kindergarten teacher would tell me these stories, and I would be shocked and really taken aback,” she said.

“He had no concept of social awareness. He likes other children, but he has his way of seeing the world and marches to the beat of his own drum.”

“The first time he came to the iClub, afterwards he said ‘I want to come back, I love it there,’ ” she said.

“I’m excited,” she said. “Here he gets to be himself. Here he doesn’t have to be judged. I can already see an increase in his self-esteem.

“Before kindergarten, he had wonderful self-esteem. But when he started school, he was constantly being asked by adults, ‘Why do you do this?’ or ‘Why are you doing that?’ He was in the principal’s office in kindergarten.”

Brandy said that when Ryan is in the iCan House, “it’s like ‘ahhh.’ He’s instantly comfortable, at ease with himself.”

THE FACILITATOR Program assistant Kristin Patterson is the facilitator for the iCan Club. A native of suburban Atlanta, Patterson graduated from Georgia College and State University with a degree in special education. She taught for a year in Georgia before moving to Winston-Salem, where she taught special education for a year at Ward Elementary.

She said she learned about the iCan House from her fellow teachers. “I looked it up online and saw the members needed social skills so they would feel like they belong in a safe environment.”

In her sessions with the iClub and the iClub Junior, she uses a curriculum that focuses on making members feel safe and part of a group. “I have members tell the group about their interests, we play games and work through scenarios of coping with what they might face outside the group.”

She agrees with Amy that members feel more comfortable with younger adults.

“I think the kids think that younger people are kind of cool,” she said.

She said members come to the iCan House from all over western North Carolina, and some even travel from outof-state for the programs. Clubs are usually capped at eight members, she said.

To become a member of the iCan House, call 336-723-0050 to receive additional information and to start the admission process. You can also go to the website at iCanHouse.org. There is a fee for services.

Anne Wooten Green is a freelance writer and editor based in Winston-Salem.

She has a brother, 48, who has autism.

“Here he gets to be himself.

Here he doesn’t have to be judged. I can already see an increase in his self-esteem.”

— Brandy, mom to 9-year-old Ryan, who has autism

Girl Talk is a curriculum-based group for adolescent girls with differences such

as high-functioning autism. The program focuses on creating a positive self-identity.

piedmontparent.com | EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016

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BEYOND Track and Field Special Olympics North Carolina offers athletes the chance to shine year round

BY COURTNEY MCLAUGHLIN

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ustin Edmondson is a born athlete. At 10 months old he had a ball in his hand, and his walk quickly turned into a full run. By age 8, he was competing in track and field, soccer and basketball events — often as the youngest member of the team. Dustin is now 15 and attends Southern Guilford High School in Greensboro where he runs cross-country, and winter and spring track for his school. He is also one of the managers for his brother’s travel baseball team and dreams of working for the Charlotte Hornets someday.

All these accomplishments from a child whose mother was told he might not ever walk or talk. Dustin has cerebral palsy as a result of incurring two strokes at birth. Thanks to a physical education teacher who recognized his talent and drive, he became active with Special Olympics North Carolina while in elementary school.

“It’s amazing where he has come from,” says Dustin’s mother, Sherri Edmondson.

“Without the Special Olympics program, where would we be? We’ve never told him he cannot do something, we’ve always been positive with him,” she says.

Left to right: Bryan Hyatt, Israel Woods and Dustin Edmondson at the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games.

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EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

 Hard work and determination results in gold for Samantha Munson at the 2014 Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE Dustin is just one of more than 39,000 SONC athletes who participate in over 19 Olympic-style sports offered year round.

The organization offers a stepping-stone for athletes like Dustin to gain confidence, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and find a supportive community. Sports include everything from golf and roller skating in the fall to basketball in the winter, softball and aquatics in the spring, and equestrian and camp opportunities in the summer. There is no cost to athletes or their families to participate in Special Olympics, and SONC also offers free health screenings to athletes at statelevel competitions.

“There is always a season underway,” says Megan O’Donnell, vice president of communications for SONC. “Every county in the state has a local program so no matter where you live there is a program close by.”

Each sport has an eight-week season when athletes train to compete in local and state-level events. Athletes are grouped by age and ability. In Charlotte, the SONC chapter offers camp SOAR (Special Olympics Athletic Retreat) at the Jewish Community Center of Charlotte in the summer where athletes can try a variety of sports and see what they enjoy.

For children ages 2-7, Special Olympics Young Athletes emphasizes coordination, teamwork and developing motor, social and life skills through games and play.

“It’s up to the athletes and the families as to what their interests are,” says Greg Morrill, director of Special Olympics Mecklenburg County. “We look at the abilities, not the disabilities. We have some very accomplished athletes.”

POSITIVE IMPACT SONC athletes are given opportunities to explore their talents and leadership abilities beyond the sports arena through the Athlete Council, or by becoming a SONC coach or volunteer, or a speaker with the Global Messenger program. Through the Global Messenger Program, Dustin gets public speaking and presentation skills training. He

then goes out into the community to share his story and information about Special Olympics to inspire others, recruit athletes and volunteers, and help raise funds.

“We see so many of our athletes gain greater self-confidence and self-image,” Morrill says. “And the benefits carry over into their daily lives, the classroom and in the community.”

Watching Dustin compete with the support and encouragement of fellow athletes and their families is one of the best things about SONC, Edmondson says. “All of his buddies cheer him on. There is nothing negative — it’s always positive, and that’s what sports should be,” she says.

From softball to gymnastics, Special Olympics North Carolina offers more than 19 Olympic-style sports throughout the year. Starting as young as age 2, children can be a part of the sports and activities offered through Special Olympics North Carolina.

GET INVOLVED Amy Clark works for CharlotteMecklenburg Schools and is a member of the adapted physical education instructional support team. She is also a swim coach for SONC competitors.

“I get a sense of satisfaction, pride and pure joy in watching these athletes work hard through their sport, attain their goals and display the most sincere sportsmanship for each other I’ve ever seen,” she says. Clark was a coach at the World Games in Los Angeles this past summer. “My athletes give me as much as I give them.”

There are myriad ways to become involved with SONC. Volunteers can become a coach or compete alongside an athlete through Unified Sports. Members of the community can also sponsor an athlete, join the Torch Run or volunteer at a sporting event.

“These folks come out and give of their own time,” Morrill says. “One experience and they are hooked.”

For more information about Special Olympics North Carolina, visit sonc.net.

Courtney McLaughlin is a freelance writer in Charlotte who has found much inspiration from these athletes who never give up.

Katie Cain of Forsyth County confidently shows off her medal after winning at the Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games.

All photos courtesy of Special Olympics NC.

Flexibility is crucial in parenting child with ADHD, adjustment and sensory processing disorders

BY TAMMY HOLOMAN All parents have seen their children have meltdowns; it’s part of growing up.

When Ezra Donaldson’s behavioral issues began, his parents initially considered it the “Terrible 2s.”

His aggression escalated as he grew older, and the Donaldsons thought the hitting, kicking, arguing and tantrums were a phase he’d grow out of. He didn’t.

Doctors said his behavior was “typical,” and he didn’t qualify for special education because he wasn’t developmentally delayed.

Eventually he was expelled from his preschool, and the Donaldsons continued their frustrating struggle to find help for their son, who now attends an exceptional child preschool class in Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools.

Recently, both of them shared some of their good and bad experiences as parents.

WHEN DID YOU LEARN THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS CAUSING EZRA’S BEHAVIORAL ISSUES? After he was expelled, which we knew was a possibility when he started school, the people at Amos Cottage Therapeutic Day Program are the ones who actually diagnosed him. They were so helpful to us.

They contract with an occupational therapy provider and did another eval on him, and that’s when we learned about the ADHD, adjustment disorder and sensory processing all linked together. They are a fabulous resource parents need to know about.

WHAT TYPES OF THERAPIES, SPECIAL CARE, MEDICAL NEEDS DOES EZRA

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EZRA DONALDSON, 5

HAVE NOW? Other than food allergies, medically, he’s completely fine. Neurotypical is the proper term. If you were to meet him, you’d never know his issues, and that’s part of our struggle. Cognitively he’s fine. It’s more emotional, about his attention and focus. He has a lot of big emotions, and he doesn’t always know how to handle them.

We’ve also gone to counselors together as a couple, and recently as a family.

WHAT METHODS HAVE YOU TRIED TO CHANGE HIS BEHAVIOR? We initially thought we’d discipline these problems out of existence, not realizing that something was really wrong. Now there are things we adjust in our parenting style every month. We have to be very flexible.

This morning, we were getting him ready to go to the beach, and he had a total meltdown. We were finally able to hug him and ask what was wrong, and he said, “I just don’t want to go to the beach again today.”

But it took him 20 minutes to articulate that he was just overwhelmed because we had been twice the day before. He’s really brilliant, and if we could just get him to consistently voice when he’s feeling like that all the time, we could prevent some problems. … Sensory strategies like listening to music or swinging in the hammock can be helpful. We’ve used a lot of different

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

Parents: Aprille and Russ Donaldson of Winston-Salem Sibling: The Donaldsons are expecting a baby in a few months.

incentive and reward programs. His room is a safe place for him to calm down, and then we can talk to him. ...

We have to constantly evaluate settings. We ask ourselves, is he acting out because he’s not focused because his body doesn’t feel right, or is he acting out because of defiance? Sometimes as a parent it’s hard to tell the difference.

We’re not going to try and remove every negative stimulus from his life, because that would be ridiculous. But if we see a situation that may turn into a big issue, we’ll just remove him from the situation or find another way to do the same activity. ... We also watch ourselves and take turns with him so that we don’t do anything to cause him to be even more upset if one of us is exasperated. As he’s growing, he’s making progress, and he’s also getting smarter, so that makes it a little easier. But you have to have the humility to as parents to say “Maybe this isn’t working.”

Sometimes we fail, which is hard, but we’ve had success, too.

Tammy Holoman is freelance writer in Winston-Salem.

‘Make sure you have people around you who understand,’ says mom of 5-year-old with bone disorder

BY TAMMY HOLOMAN When Leatrice Priest gave birth to her son Uriah, an X-ray revealed he’d had two fractures in utero that had healed themselves. After weeks of waiting for results of genetic testing, they learned he had Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a bone and connective tissue disorder that makes him susceptible to fractures and other injuries.

Today he’s a bright, active boy who enjoys playing with his younger brother, swimming and ninjas. His mother recently shared the family’s journey.

HOW WAS URIAH’S OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA DIAGNOSED? At his anatomy scan at 19 weeks, they detected that Uriah’s long bones were not the length that they should’ve been and sent us to a specialist, who then thought he had some kind of skeletal dysplasia.

They recommended that we medically terminate the pregnancy and that the bestcase scenario would be that he would live on respiratory support for his whole life if he didn’t pass away in utero. We went home and prayed about it and decided to move forward with the pregnancy. We went through the next 20 weeks, and he was delivered via C-section for our safety.

Then they discovered he’d already had two fractures. So the day he was born was the first day we’d ever heard anything about O.I.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? They sent us to a specialist in Chapel Hill, and he couldn’t really tell us what his future would be like. I decided to Google O.I. and found a Yahoo! support group. That connected me to a doctor who lives in Pinehurst who has two children with O.I.

URIAH PRIEST, 5 She connected us to a doctor in Omaha when he was 8 months old. He felt like we should wait on medication to strengthen the bones until he fractured again. He did at 15 months, and he was in a cast, and then in a spica (body) cast. It became a cycle, because not using the bones would weaken them, and they’d fracture again. So he began receiving bisphosphonates, which create a protective barrier around the bone so it doesn’t break as easily, sort of like when elderly women have osteoporosis. He also had surgery in 2013 to have rods put in both femurs.

WHAT TYPES OF THERAPIES, SPECIAL CARE, MEDICAL NEEDS DOES URIAH HAVE NOW? He has physical therapy every other week, and on weeks when he’s had a fracture or is in a cast, we generally do it more frequently to make him stronger. He is smaller, probably the size of a typical 2-year-old.

When he first started standing, he used a pediatric-type walker. But when he started walking, he didn’t need it unless he had a fracture. He walks, but for longer distances, because he’s smaller, he will usually use his wheelchair.

HOW HAS YOUR FAMILY COPED WITH YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL NEEDS? WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT HAS IT HAD ON YOUR FAMILY? My husband and I had to learn how to

Parents: Leatrice and Donnie Priest of Greensboro Sibling: a brother, Trajan, 2

properly splint him, and they provided us medication for pain. We had to follow Uriah’s lead and use our parental gut to know when we could treat him at home. After Trajan was born, our family was concerned about how they would safely play together, but we always explained to Trajan, even before he could talk, that you have to be careful with Uriah, so that has always been instilled in him. They wrestle, and although Trajan’s taller than Uriah, he still sees Uriah as his big brother. Uriah can do anything he wants to do. As long as it’s safe, we let him try. We don’t allow him to live in a bubble and say he can’t do things.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER NEW PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN? There is always someone going through what you’re going through, and it’s a matter of you being your child’s advocate. Make sure you have people around you who understand. I’m a parent mentor for the Family Support Network because I want to help other parents. You can pour love into your child, but you’ve got to realize that every day you’re not going to get all the answers right.

Tammy Holoman is a freelance writer in Winston-Salem.

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HOPE & HAPPINESS

5-year-old with Angelman syndrome is always joyful, determined

BY MYRA WRIGHT Like most young boys, Carter Humphrey loves playing outside. “He loves being outdoors,” says his mom, Milicent Humphrey. “He loves climbing, sliding … anything that any other 5-year-old boy would love, he loves, too.”

But unlike most kids his age, Carter cannot pedal a tricycle or a bike down a sidewalk. He can’t jump, and he is also non-verbal.

Carter has Angelman syndrome (AS), a rare neuro-genetic disorder associated with developmental delays, speech impairment, and problems with walking and balance. It occurs in about 1 in 15,000 births and is often misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy or autism.

Bryan and Milicent Humphrey were not aware of his condition when he was born. “He thrived as a baby. He was always happy,” Milicent says.

But by age 18 months, Carter’s parents were concerned that he wasn’t talking or even babbling. “He could stand, but he was very wobbly in his hips,” Milicent says. After several doctor appointments and specialist visits, genetic testing confirmed that Carter had AS. Since that diagnosis at age 2, Carter has received physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Not being able to communicate is one of the most challenging aspects to AS. “We are trying to find any avenue of communication to help him,” Milicent says. “Without words, he communicates with actions, so he might hit [others], but it’s not aggressively.”

Carter’s lack of speech also means he communicates by making noises.

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CARTER HUMPHREY, 5

“He is not quiet. He is loud. … He gets excited, he is happy and usually laughing,” Milicent says. “But if he does get upset, he doesn’t have the words to express himself, so he may scream or yell or drop down to the ground.”

Unfortunately, when these situations occur in public, Milicent notices the glare of strangers. “At first glance, he does not appear different. So when he does have an outburst, I get a lot of looks.”

And while Carter has a younger brother, the Humphreys are unable to leave their two sons alone together to interact. “They can’t play together. …

I know siblings are going to fight, but Carter doesn’t understand how strong he is,” Milicent says. Yet she remains positive. “We have our struggles, but I think every family with siblings have struggles.”

Aside from him not being able to communicate, Carter is a typical child, according to his mom.

“The sky is the limit for him. … He is very determined. He might not be able to verbally speak, but that’s not going to stop him from being happy, and that’s the most important thing.”

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

Parents: Bryan and Milicent Humphrey of Greensboro Sibling: Ethan, 19 months

Carter also recently started using Proloquo2Go on his iPad. The symbol-supported communication app allows him to read pictures and put them in sequence to communicate with his parents and caregivers, and he is making tremendous progress.

Physically, Carter also pushes himself. “He is such a strong child that he has learned how to work around his boundaries,” Milicent says. “He is not as coordinated as other children, but he has learned how to climb the jungle gym at the playground.”

Milicent says she has learned that it’s important to build a strong support team. “It’s a huge benefit whether that be friends, family, doctors or therapists.”

It’s also critical to be an advocate your child. “Never be afraid to ask for a second opinion, or push for the teacher, therapist, doctor that you are comfortable with,” she says. “Having a pediatrician and specialists that you are comfortable with and that you know listen and take your concerns seriously are very important.”

Apps to Help Children With Special Needs

BY MYRA WRIGHT

W

ith so many apps available for kids with special needs, it can be difficult to choose which are best for your family. Here are our top picks.

DUKE REGISTRY for Autism Research Become a partner with us in our goal to develop more effective treatments!

Birdhouse for Autism. A handy app that helps parents track sleep habits, medication, diet, therapies and more.

Available for iPhone, iPod, Kindle Fire and Google Play. Free.

Find out about studies for which you or your child may qualify.

CanPlan. Breaks down activities into easyto-follow steps for people with cognitive challenges. Reminders help users stay on track. Available for iPhone and iPad. Free.

Choiceworks. Helps kids complete daily routines, understand feelings and improve patience. The app was created for caregivers to encourage a child’s independence, selfcontrol and to recognize positive behavior. iPhone and iPad. $6.99.

1-888-691-1062 Elise.nelson@duke.edu

autismcenter.duke.edu

Connecting with Each Child through our new differentiated learning programs • PACE for children who struggle with reading and writing (grades 1-6)

See.Touch.Learn. This visual instruction app replaces flash cards with more than 4,400 images and 2,200 exercises. iPad. Free.

Dexteria Dots 2. Improves fine motor skills while also helping kids practice visual motor and memory skills, and learn greater-than, less-than, equal-to math concepts.

Recommended for ages 5-10. Requires iOS 6. iPhone or iPad. $2.99.

Give Me 5. Kids answer questions about social situations after watching short videos about manners, feelings, words, people and places to help learn social skills. iPhone, iPad and Google Play. $5.99.

Injini: Child Development Game Suite.

Offers 10 games for young children with developmental delays to reinforce fine motor skills, memory, cause and effect, visual processing, and more. iPad. $29.99.

• Quest for high-functioning autistic children (early childhood through grade 4) At Our Lady of Grace School, we strive to teach children at their learning levels. We help them grow -- in their faith, in their knowledge of academics and in their friendships.

OLG offers traditional classroom instruction for students who are 3 years old through eighth grade, including STEM for middle school. We will begin programs for differentiated learning in the 2015-16 school year.

Call our admissions director today to find out more. limited enrollment openings.

201 s. chapman st., Greensboro www.olgsch.org | 336.275.1522

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Miller Street Dance 11532 Providence Road, Suite O, Charlotte 704-889-8637  millerstreetdanceacademy.com S PECI A L A DV ERTISIN G FE ATU R E

C

C

one Health offers families access one Health offers families access to the brightest medical to the brightest medical talent and talent and most comprehensive range of children’s most comprehensive range of children’s services, all delivered with warmth and compassion. services, all delivered with warmth and Recognizing that children require care that’s just right for compassion. Recognizing that children their chronological and developmental age and needs, Cone require care that’s just right for their Health providers work with family members to form a vital chronological and developmental age relationship that assures the best options and outcomes for and needs, Cone Health providers work each child. with family members to form a vital Cone Health services include: Level II & III Neonatal relationship that assures the best options Intensive Care at Women’s Hospital; Pediatric Intensive Care; and outcomes for each child. the Children’s Emergency Department and Level II Pediatric Cone Health services include: Level II Trauma Services at The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital; & III Neonatal Intensive Care at Women’s and adolescent medicine and other specialties at the Cone Hospital; Pediatric Intensive Care; the Health Center for Children.

Children’s Emergency Department and To learn more about all of Cone Health Children’s Level II Pediatric Trauma Services at The Services, visit www.conehealth.com/children.

Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital; and adolescent medicine and other specialties at the Cone Health Center for Children.

To learn more about all of Cone Behavioral Health MillerChildren’s Street Dance conehealth.com/child-behavior Health Services, visit www.

11532 conehealth.com/children.

Providence Road, Suite O, Charlotte Cone Health Children’s Services conehealth.com/children

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JANUARY 2015 |

charlotteparent.com

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

704-889-8637  millerstreetdanceacademy.com

Don’t Wait!

C Early dental visits are significant for:

one Health offers families access to the brightest medical talent and most comprehensive range of children’s services, all delivered with warmth and • Good Nutrition Noble Academy compassion. Recognizing that children • Speech Development helps students require care that’s just right for their chronological and developmental age with learning • Spacing for Permanent Teeth and needs, Cone Health providers work differences excel with family members to form a vital • Self Esteem in a supportive relationship that assures the best options educational and outcomes for each child. environment Cone Health services include: Level II where they can & III Neonatal Intensive Care at Women’s achieve their Hospital; Pediatric Intensive Care; the highest potential.

Children’s Emergency Department and www.smilesrfun.com Level II Pediatric Trauma Services at The H. Cone Memorial Hospital; and “We Make SmilesMoses Happen!”

Where the Difference is adolescent medicine and other specialties Over 30 years of service to thefor area! at the Cone Health Center Children.

To learn more aboutYANCEYVILLE all of Cone BURLINGTON Behavioral Health 3310 HORSE PEN CREEK ROAD conehealth.com/child-behavior Health Children’s Services, www.

3154 South Church St 1203 Vaughn Rd 3150visit NC Hwy 86N 336-524-5439 conehealth.com/children.

336-228-8392 GREENSBORO, NC 27410 336-694-1114 Cone Health Children’s Services

Drop-in tours available every Thursday 9-11 am

Learning

336.282.7044 • www.nobleknights.org conehealth.com/children

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EXCEPTIONAL 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com JANUARY 2015 CHILD | charlotteparent.com

S E R S SPECIAL NEED

R U O

S E C

Support for Triad Families For parents of kids with special needs, finding help can be challenging. We’ve compiled valuable resources for families on the following pages. You’ll find support groups, therapists, specialized programs and more!

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SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES

ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION

Freedom Mobility Aids freedommobilityaids.com 205 Cedar Lane, Clemmons 766-8520 Mobility and accessibility equipment.

Forsyth Medical Supply

3041 Trenwest Drive, Winston-Salem 768-5512 Home medical supplies including mobility products.

Guilford Medical Supply

guilfordmedicalsupply.com 2172 Lawndale Drive, Greensboro 574-1489 Home medical supplies including mobility products.

Ilderton Conversion Co.

ildertonvans.com 701 S. Main St., High Point 841-2020 Sells new and pre-owned accessible vans and provides assessment and installation of adaptive equipment.

Nu Motion

numotion.com 7908 Industrial Village Road, Suite B, Greensboro 315-8762 Specializes in pediatric mobility and seating.

Safe Ride Wheelchair Transportation Winston-Salem 995-7529 Low-cost wheelchair transportation service.

SCAT — Specialized Community Area Transportation Service

greensboro-nc.gov 223 W. Meadowview Road, Greensboro 333-6589 Greensboro Transit Authority’s shared-ride transportation service for eligible riders who have a disability.

Willard’s Cab Co.

willardscab.com P.O. Box 871, Winston-Salem 725-2227 Provides medical transportation to individuals with special needs.

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ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT AND TOYS/ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

AbleData

abledata.com 103 W. Broad St., Suite 400 Falls Church, Va. 800-227-0216; 301-608-8998 Database of assistive technology; website includes consumers’ guide and funding sources.

AblePlay

ableplay.org Reviews and ratings of play products for children with special needs.

eSpecial Needs

especialneeds.com 877-664-4565 Adaptive equipment including toys, baby gear and mobility aids.

National Lekotek Center

lekotek.org 2001 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, IL 773-528-5766 A nonprofit organization that offers toy-lending libraries for children with special needs. Also offers therapeutic play sessions, trainings, and monthly webinars for parents and professionals.

North Carolina Assistive Technology Program (NCATP)

ncatp.org • 3407 W. Wendover Ave., Suite H, Greensboro 297-2180 • 131 Miller St., Winston-Salem 716-8030 State agency with local centers providing information, demonstrations and short-term loans of assistive devices, plus used-equipment listings and referrals to funding sources.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER/ASPERGER’S

ABC of N.C. Child Development Center

abcofnc.org 3904 Old Vineyard Road, Winston-Salem 251-1180 Specialized school for children with autism-spectrum disorders including Asperger’s. The school also provides parent education, social-skills groups and spaces for typically developing children in an

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

inclusive preschool program.

Autism Center for Life Enrichment (ACLE)

autismsociety-nc.org 810 Warren St., Greensboro 333-0197 Offers services including day programs and skills instruction for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

Autism Society of North Carolina — Triad Region Services

autismsociety-nc.org 9-A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro 333-0197 Community-based services include home and community support, day support, long-term vocational support, supported employment, respite, individualized caregiver training and education, personal care, and skills instruction.

Autism Society of North Carolina — Forsyth County Chapter

Winston-Salem autismsocietyforsythcounty@ gmail.com Volunteer organization offering information and support to individuals living with autism.

Autism Society of North Carolina — Guilford County Chapter

Greensboro asnc.guilford@gmail.com Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support for Guilford County residents who are on the autism spectrum as well as their families, teachers and caregivers.

Autism Speaks

autismspeaks.org The nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Includes comprehensive list of resources by city and state.

A Bridge to Learning ablearning.com PO Box 2081, Lexington 601-1810

A nationally accredited agency providing quality services to children, adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Provides home-based and facility-based services.

Family Support Network of Greater Forsyth County

thecfec.org 703-4289 Provides free support services to family members of children with special needs.

Greensboro TEACCH Center teacch.com 925 Revolution Mill Drive, Suite 7 334-5773 Services include diagnostic evaluations, treatment planning and implementation, education, consultation, supported employment assistance, training opportunities and research.

iCan House

icanhouse.org 862 W. Fourth St., Winston-Salem 723-0050 iCan House is a nonprofit organization that provides social and learning opportunities for those with social differences and communication challenges (ages 8-adult). Although a diagnosis is not required to participate, some have autism, Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, anxiety or other related communication disorders. Using a club-based model along with a curriculum, participants learn and practice concrete social and perspective-taking skills and also develop greater self-awareness and increased self-esteem. iCan House is a place of belonging for parents and families as well as the participants.

BLIND/VISION IMPAIRED

Community Low Vision Center/Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind

wsifb.com 7730 North Point Blvd., Winston-Salem 759-0551 Offers comprehensive eye exams by specialists, individualized training and a complete line of low-vision products.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES  Industries for the Blind — Greensboro

920 W. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro 274-1591 Offers opportunities for people who are blind to achieve greater vocational, personal and economic independence.

The Governor Morehead School Preschool Satellite Program

ncoes.net/gms_preschool.shtml 501 S. Mendenhall St., Greensboro 334-3748 The Governor Morehead School serves children identified with visual impairments from birth to 5 years. Free services include direct and consultative special education that can be provided in a variety of settings, including developmental day centers, LEAs, mainstreamed settings and home settings.

Services for the Blind — Winston-Salem

4265 Brownsboro Road Suite 100, Winston-Salem 896-2227 District office works in areas of prevention of blindness, conservation of sight, restoration of vision, independent living, and job placement for the blind and visually impaired.

CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

Camp Ann

High Point City Lake Park 601 W. Main St., Jamestown 883-3481 A summer day camp program for school-age children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Camp Carefree

campcarefree.org 275 Carefree Lane, Stokesdale 427-0966 A free, one-week camping experience for children with specific health problems and disabilities. Also offers sickle cell anemia camp and hosts a camp for Muscular Dystrophy.

Camp Carolina Trails

diabetes.org/adacampcarolinatrails Held at YMCA Camp Hanes, 1225 Camp Hanes Road, King 919-743-5400, ext. 3217 Residential camp for children in 3rd-11th grade living with

diabetes. Offering medical and nutritional care as well as a staff comprised mostly of young adults also living with diabetes.

Camp Imagine

autismsocietyfc.org Held at YMCA Camp Hanes, 1225 Camp Hanes Road, King 922-5722 kboccardi@aol.com A summer residential camp for children ages 7-17 with autism spectrum disorder or related communication disorders.

Camp Joy

myguilford.com/parks/haganstone-park/camp-joy/ 6100 Hagan Stone Park Road, Pleasant Garden 373-2954, 373-2735 A summer day camp for individuals age 5 and older with special needs offering two three-week sessions for individuals with developmental disabilities and a one-week session for individuals with physical disabilities.

Camp Royall

camproyall.org 250 Bill Ash Road, Moncure 919-542-1033, ext. 102 Camp Royall is run by the Autism Society of NC, serving individuals from age 4 up to older adults on the spectrum. Camp programs are offered year-round, including summer camp, mini-camp weekends, family days and adult retreats. Camp Royall provides campers with typical camp activities, just in a very structured and specialized way, the majority of our campers receive 1:1 supervision.

EMFdiscovery

easternmusicfestival.org/ community/camps 200 N. Davie St., Suite 303, Greensboro 333-7450, ext. 226 Designed for rising 1st-5th graders diagnosed with HFA/ Asperger’s syndrome who function independently in a group setting and are interested in music. EMFdiscovery participants receive an introduction to classical music and the orchestra through hands-on learning.

Experienced music and special needs resource teachers provide a

kid-friendly and creative approach to music through instrument demonstrations, making and playing instruments, singing, and a unique introduction to melody, harmony, and rhythm.

Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center Summer Riding Session

riverwoodtrc.org 6825 Rolling View Drive, Tobaccoville 922-6426 Riverwood offers eight weeks of group lessons for typical and disabled children ages 3 and up and adults.

SOAR

soarnc.org P.O. Box 388, Balsam 828-456-3435 SOAR’s adventure programs are for youth ages 8-25 diagnosed with LD and/or ADHD. Activities include rock climbing, backpacking, whitewater rafting, snorkeling, fishing, SCUBA, kayaking, horseback riding, llama trekking, mountain biking, caving, riflery and exploration. Locations in NC, WY, FL, CA, NY, Costa Rica and Belize.

Victory Junction

victoryjunction.org 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman 498-9055 Victory Junction enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment.

CHILD CARE

The Arc of High Point/ Community Connections Family Life Center

arcofhp.org 153 E. Bellevue Drive, High Point 884-7179; 883-0650 Provides day-care services for children ages 1-12 with developmental disabilities as well as children who are typically developing.

Gateway Education Center gateway.gcsnc.com/pages/ Gateway_Education_Center 3205 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro 375-2575

Public school with four infant/ toddler classrooms that serve children with special needs ages birth to 3 years.

Guilford Child Development — Regional Childcare Resources and Referral Line guilfordchilddev.org 1200 Arlington St., Greensboro 378-7700 Child-care resource and referral agency links families with childcare providers and community services. Oversees Early Start/Head Start programs.

Work Family Resource Center

workfamilyresource.org 530 N. Spring St., Winston-Salem 761-5100 Provides consumer education, referrals and resources to promote quality child care in Forsyth County.

CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS

American Asthma Foundation

americanasthmafoundation.org Box 0509, UCSF, San Francisco, Calif.

415-514-0730 National foundation provides information, resources and updates on news and treatments for asthma.

American Cancer Society — Greensboro Chapter cancer.org 4-A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro 834-0844 Information, support, research and resources for individuals living with cancer.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — Carolinas Chapter

cff.org/chapters/carolinas/ 7101 Creedmoor Road, Suite 130, Raleigh 800-822-9941 Support, advocacy, resources and education for people affected by cystic fibrosis. Pediatric care center is at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Kids Path at Hospice of Greensboro

kidspath.com 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro 621-2500

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S PECI A L A DV ERTISIN G FE ATU R E

I

f a Piedmont Triad family suspects their child has autism, they could wait over a year for a diagnostic evaluation. And once diagnosed, families often find themselves in a complex world of multidisciplinary appointments and therapies.

ABC of NC is relocating, adapting and expanding to make things easier for families with children with autism.

The center, located in WinstonSalem, is a not-for-profit organization that provides quality, individualized diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational services that address the core-deficits of autism spectrum disorders.

With a move to a more convenient campus on Friedberg Church Road, ABC of NC’s growth initiative includes an expanded clinical building to complement the existing school building; the addition of speech and occupational therapy services; independent living labs; dynamic openair environments; and a “gymatorium” for recreation opportunities for children and trainings for parents and professionals.

“The goal is to reduce wait, drive and application times, so families experience more efficient delivery of the highest level of appropriate services,” said Selene Johnson, executive director of ABC of NC. “We are also excited that more health insurance companies are providing autism coverage for behavioral therapies, like

those offered at ABC of NC, leading to more affordable and more accessible services.”

“I have turned my car into a combination playroom, classroom, and therapeutic facility,” said a Kernersville mother with a child with autism, “I spend entire days shuttling my child from appointment to appointment. It is counterproductive and frustrating. We need a one-stop shop. ” “Our mission is to provide

ABC of NC Child Development Center 3904 Old Vineyard Road, Winston-Salem, NC 336-251-1180  abcofnc.org

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cutting edge services using evidence based strategies within a caring environment to help children with autism develop to their full potential,” said Johnson. “With our multidisciplinary, individually tailored, and developmentally appropriate programs, the children we serve will reach their highest potential.”

For more information about ABC of NC, visit www.ABCofNC.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES  Offers homecare services for children (birth through 18) living with progressive and potentially limited life expectancy. Grief counseling is also available for ages 3-18 in Guilford County grieving the illness or death of a loved one.

conehealth.com/services/ rehabilitation/outpatientrehabilitation/locations Cone Health offers a comprehensive, family-centered approach to physical, occupational and speech therapy for children.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation — Piedmont Triad Chapter

Cone Health Outpatient Rehabilitation Center - Audiology

jdrf.org/triad 216 W. Market St., Suite B, Greensboro 373-1768 Fundraising, resources and support for families, children and adults with type 1 diabetes.

Piedmont Health Services and Cell Agency

piedmonthealthservices.org 1102 E. Market St., Greensboro 274-1507 Sickle cell disease testing, education, genetic counseling and support services. Serves six counties: Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham, Randolph and Caswell.

DEAF/HEARING IMPAIRED

Beginnings for Parents of Hearing-Impaired Children

ncbegin.org 156 Wind Chime Court, Suite A, Raleigh 800-556-2796; 800-541-4327 Provides emotional support and access to information as a central resource for families with deaf or hard of hearing children, age birth through 21 years in North Carolina.

Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CSDHH)

csdhh.org 1175 Revolution Mill Drive, Studio 15, Greensboro 275-8878; 274-1461 (TTY/VP) A nonprofit agency serving Guilford County and surrounding areas in advocacy, information, support and referral. Also provides sign language interpretation, sign language classes and captioning services.

Cone Health Outpatient Orthopedic and Pediatric Rehabilitation Program 1904 N. Church St., Greensboro 271-4840

conehealth.com/services/ rehabilitation/outpatientrehabilitation/outpatientservices/audiology 1904 N. Church St., Greensboro 274-7956 Provides comprehensive and indepth hearing assessments for infants, children, adolescents and adults. Services include evaluations for auditory processing, tinnitus, vertigo and middle ear function monitoring.

The Ear Center of Greensboro

earcentergreensboro.com 1126 N. Church St., Suite 201, Greensboro 273-9932 Hearing evaluation and testing, hearing aids and hearing implants for hearing restoration and other audiology services.

The North Carolina School for the Deaf

ncsd.net 517 W. Fleming Drive, Morganton 828-432-5200 Day/residential facility for the education of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

UNCG Speech and Hearing Center

http://csd.wp.uncg.edu/shc 300 Ferguson Building, 524 Highland Ave., Greensboro 334-5939 Evaluates speech and language development in children, and also has summer preschool and early elementary-school language groups.

DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS

Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) brennerchildrens.org/CDSA/ • Amos Cottage 3325 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem 713-7412

• 123 W. Center St. Extension, Lexington 713-7465 A regional early intervention center for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities or delays. Offers evaluation, treatment, service coordination and consultation services to families of children birth to 3 years in Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties.

Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) — Greensboro

beearly.nc.gov 122 N. Elm St., Suite 400, Greensboro 334-5601 Federally funded statewide program that offers early intervention services for birth to age 3. Serving Guilford, Alamance, Rockingham, Randolph and Caswell counties.

Care Coordination for Children (CC4C)

communitycarenc.org 641-3181 Free case management service for eligible children from birth to 5 years. Serves children born at risk for developmental delays, children who have difficulty learning to speak or other delays.

Family Services of the Piedmont

familyservice-piedmont.org • 315 E. Washington St., Greensboro 387-6161 • 1401 Long St., High Point 889-6161 • Jamestown Building 902 Bonner Drive, Jamestown 889-6161 Largest private nonprofit agency serving children and families in Guilford County. Offers assessment and referrals, as well as individual and group therapy for children on a variety of issues including ADHD.

Horizons Residential Care Center

horizonscenter.org 100 Horizons Lane, Rural Hall 767-2411 A residential facility for children and adolescents who have severe mental disabilities and developmental delays. Horizons also offers respite care.

The Arc of Greensboro

arcg.org 14-B Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro 373-1076 Promotes and advocates for opportunities that empower people with developmental disabilities to have choices as they live their lives in the community.

The Arc of High Point

arc-of-hp.com 153 Bellevue Drive, High Point 883-0650 Nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the well-being of persons with developmental disabilities through advocacy, research and education.

DOWN SYNDROME

Down Syndrome Network of Greater Greensboro team-up.org A group of parents who are committed to supporting one another, sharing important information and advocating for the very best in school and community services for children with Down syndrome.

Piedmont Down Syndrome Support Network

pdssn.org 4715 Yadkinville Road, #144, Pfafftown 480-8871 Provides support and information to parents of children with Down syndrome in the Piedmont.

DISABILITY SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY

Americans with Disabilities Act

ada.gov Information and assistance about disability rights.

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities aamr.org 501 3rd St. NW, Suite 200, Washington. D.C. 202-387-1968 Promoting public awareness and access to education, health care and vocational services.

Benchmarks

cfsa-nc.org 2609 Atlantic Ave., Suite 105, Raleigh 919-828-1864

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SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES An association of members who provide quality critical care to North Carolina’s most vulnerable children and families.

March of Dimes North Carolina Chapter

Greensboro 272-0855 Private practice specializing in behavioral health services including diagnosis and counseling for adults and children.

marchofdimes.com/northcarolina Greater Triad Division 410 Brookstown Ave., Winston-Salem 723-4386 Funds research and provides community services, education and advocacy to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA)

Easter Seals Disability Services

Cheshire Center Communication

nc.easterseals.com • Greater Winston-Salem Developmental Disabilities Services 4407 Providence Lane, Suite A, Winston-Salem 757-4681 • Greater Greensboro Early Childhood, Foster Care & Family Services 3405 W. Wendover Ave., Suite C, Greensboro 545-6338 In conjunction with the CDSA, helps families access services for children with developmental disabilities.

Triad First in Families (TFIF)

triadfirstinfamilies.webs.com 500 W. Fourth St., Suite 201-C, Winston-Salem 757-8721 Helps individuals with developmental disabilities and/or families find resources, including monetary assistance, to meet needs for which there are no other funding sources. Serves Forsyth, Davie and Stokes counties.

Wrights Law

wrightslaw.com Information about special education law, education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.

EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION

Carolina Psychological Associates

carolinapsychological.com 5509-B W. Friendly Ave., Suite 106,

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Greensboro: Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham Counties ncei.org 122 N. Elm St., Suite 400, Greensboro 334-5601 Early intervention services for children birth to age 3.

cheshirecenter.net 2500 N. Church St., Greensboro 375-2240, 800-360-1099 Pediatric speech-language, community-based rehabilitative services (C.B.R.S.), physical therapy and occupational therapy to infants and toddlers.

Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) Winston-Salem: Davison, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin Counties ncei.org

Amos Cottage

3325 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem 716-2372 Early intervention services for children birth to age 3.

Cornerstone Behavioral Medicine

cornerstonehealth.com 1701 Westchester Drive, Suite 850, High Point 802-2002 Psychological testing and an autism diagnostic testing clinic.

Tristan’s Quest

tristansquest.com 115-A S. Walnut Circle, Greensboro 547-7460 Comprehensive psychological assessments and educational testing.

UNCG Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Clinic adhdclinic.uncg.edu 1100 W. Market St., third floor,

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

Greensboro 346-3192 Provides assessments for learning disabilities in children and adolescents. Offers a full range of evidence-based assessment and treatment services.

HOME HEALTH SERVICES

1st Choice Home Care Inc.

1stchoicehomecareinc.com 1515 W. Cornwallis Drive, Suite 100, Greensboro 285-9107 Provides a comprehensive array of services to assist in any home health-care treatment plan to patients in Guilford, Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Randolph and Stokes counties.

Bayada Nurses

bayada.com Offers home health care with specialties in pediatric nursing and habilitation, which serves clients in North Carolina who have autism spectrum disorders, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.

COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN (CAP/C)

Woody’s Mom Inc.

woodysmom.org 515 Keisler Drive, Suite 101, Cary 919-228-2844 Offers long-term, home-based nursing and other medically necessary services, supplies and equipment to children with special health-care needs and who live at home with their family in Davie and Davidson counties.

Cone Health HomeCare Providers

armc.com 3025 S. Church St., Burlington 538-8557 Lead CAP/C (Community Alternatives Program for Children) Case Management agency for Alamance County. Provides nursing assistants to care for children with special needs in their homes. A contracted agency for Cardinal Innovations and a provider for inhome respite and personal care for the I/DD population (intellectually and developmentally delayed).

LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CHALLENGES/ ADHD/ADD

ADHD Parent Support Group of Forsyth County 441-5698 Support group for parents of children with ADHD. Meets at Trinity Center, 640 Holly Ave., Winston-Salem.

Cone Health Developmental and Psychological Center

conehealth.com 719 Green Valley Road, Suite 306, Greensboro 275-6470 Interdisciplinary team of medical professionals provides neurodevelopmental and psychological evaluations, and treatments for children, adolescents and families. Addresses a range of developmental problems, including medical, physical or psychological/ emotional issues.

Focus

focus-md.com 3625 N. Elm St., Suite 110 A, Greensboro 398-5657 A medical practice for children and adults with ADHD. Provides objective testing, medical treatment and behavior modification strategies.

Learning Disability Association of North Carolina

ldanc.org PO Box 388, Balsam support@ldanc.org Education, resources, support and research for families dealing with learning disabilities. Meetings are held at Noble Academy, 3310 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro.

Lexercise

lexercise.com 310 S. Harrington St., Suite 122, Raleigh 888-603-1788 Online help for struggling readers, writers and spellers. Also offers free dyslexia testing online.

UNCG Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Clinic uncg.edu/psy/clinics/adhd 1100 W. Market St., third floor, Greensboro

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES  346-3192 Provides assessments for learning disabilities in children and adolescents. Offers a full range of evidence-based assessment and treatment services.

MENTAL HEALTH/ BEHAVIOR COUNSELING

Amos Cottage Children’s Treatment Program

brennerchildrens.org 3325 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem 713-7492 Provides a supportive treatment setting for children ages 3 through 7 who experience emotional and or behavioral problems.

Cone Health Behavioral Health

conehealth.com 700 Walter Reed Drive, Greensboro 832-9700 Offering a range of outpatient services for children and adults.

Cornerstone Behavioral Medicine

cornerstonehealth.com 1701 Westchester Drive, Suite 850, High Point 802-2002 Psychological testing and an autism diagnostic testing clinic.

Mental Health Association Forsyth County triadmentalhealth.org 1509 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem 768-3880 Promotes mental health for children and adults through advocacy, outreach, education and support.

Mental Health Association in Greensboro mhag.org 301 E. Washington St., No. 111, Greensboro 373-1402 Provides services and programs that promote mental health and support recovery from mental illnesses.

NEUROLOGICAL, NEUROMUSCULAR AND SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND DISORDERS

Cone Health Child Neurology conehealth.com

1103 N. Elm Street, Suite 300, Greensboro 271-3331 Provides skilled care for developmental and neurological disorders, including migraines, ADD/ADHD, autism, epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, developmental delay and cerebral palsy. Each offers evaluation and management of diseases affecting the nervous system and muscles.

Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association Inc./Gateway Education Center

greensborocp.org 3205 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro 375-2575 An early intervention program focused upon the needs of children ages birth to 3 with severe developmental delays and medical disabilities.

Epilepsy Foundation of North Carolina

epilepsync.org 1920 W. First St., Suite 5541-A, Winston-Salem 716-2320, 800-451-0694 Statewide toll-free helpline, support groups, workshops, school programs, information and referral, patient education, health fairs, advocacy, special events, and medication assistance.

Epilepsy Institute of North Carolina

eiofnc.org 1311 Westbrook Plaza Drive, Suite 100, Winston-Salem 659-8202 Independent nonprofit corporation dedicated to enriching the quality of life for children and adults challenged with epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

Muscular Dystrophy Association

mda.org 1500 Pinecroft Road, No. 109, Greensboro 856-1591 Information on clinics, support groups, summer camps and equipment for children with muscular dystrophy.

Spina Bifida Association sbancsc.org 800-621-3141

Resources, information and advocacy on the treatment for and prevention of spina bifida.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTS AND ORTHODONTISTS

Clemmons Pediatric Dentistry

2311 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, Winston-Salem 631-4770 Specializing in dental care for children with special needs.

Dr. Roslyn Crisp & Associates, DDS

smilesrfun.com • 1203 Vaughn Road, Burlington, 228-8392 • 3154 S. Church St., Burlington 524-5439 • 3150 NC Highway 86 North, Yanceyville 694-1114 Specializing in dental care for children with special needs.

Reynolds Orthodontics

• 6161 Lake Brandt Road, Summerfield 644-1664 • 1304 Beaman Place, Greensboro 274-7649 Orthodontist practice works with children with all types of special needs.

University Dental Associates First floor, Watlington Hall, 1 Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem 716-2160 Specializing in dental care for children with significant developmental disabilities.

PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Alamance Regional Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic armc.com 3806 S. Church Street, Burlington 278-8700 Offers sensory integration treatment, partial-weight-bearing gait training, theratog fitting and orthotics casting.

Brenner Children’s Hospital brennerchildrens.org Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem 716-WAKE

Offering outpatient physical therapy for children with neuromotor disabilities or congenital musculoskeletal anomalies. Also offers outpatient occupational therapy for children with fine motor, oral motor, adaptive or sensory deficits.

Community Access Therapy Services

3511 W. Market St., Suite B, Greensboro 294-3338 Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and educational therapy services.

Programs for sensory integration, therapeutic listening, feeding disorders, handwriting and autism spectrum disorders.

Cone Health Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

conehealth.com 1904 N. Church St., Greensboro 274-7956 Outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy.

High Point Regional Health System Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

highpointregional.com 601 N. Elm St., High Point 878-6915 Outpatient physical and occupational therapy for children.

OT 4 Kids Inc.

ot4kids.squarespace.com 440 Central Ave., Lexington 236-6546 Provides occupational, physical and speech therapy for children with special needs.

Burlington Recreation and Parks

BurlingtonNC.gov/youth • 1333 Overbrook Road, P.O. Box 1358, Burlington 222-5030 Offers several recreational programs for individuals with developmental disabilities including summer camps and Special Olympics.

Bridge II Sports

bridge2sports.org 4122 Bennett Memorial Road, Suite 105, Durham 866-880-2742

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SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES Creates opportunities for children and adults who are physically challenged to play team and individual sports by providing equipment, developing sports, teams and coaching, helping them to develop confidence and self-esteem.

Carolina Spirit Athletics All-Star Cheerleading

carolinaspiritathletics.net 6204-C Hackers Bend Court, Clemmons 462-1351 cheer4csa@hotmail.com Competitive cheerleading team for children with special needs.

Clemmons Gymnastics

clemmonsgymnastics.com 4786 Kinnamon Road, Winston-Salem 766-3599 Gymnastics classes for children with special needs.

Challenger Sports League

arcg.org 14-B Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro 373-1076 Through the Arc of Greensboro and in partnership with Greensboro Parks and Recreation, offers programs and outreach including adaptive baseball, basketball and bowling activities for more than 80 school-age children with disabilities.

Greensboro Ballet

greensboroballet.org Greensboro Cultural Center, 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro 333-7480 Offers dance classes for children with special needs, including a special Dancing Above the Barre program.

Greensboro Parks and Recreation MainStream Resources Unit

greensboro-nc.gov 373-2735 Recreational programs and special events for individuals ages 5 and up with mental, physical and visual special needs.

Greensboro United Soccer Association’s TopSoccer greensborounited.org 6105 Townsend Road, Browns Summit 358-8030

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Open to any child, age 3 or older, regardless of diagnosis or ability. Players include children with autism, Down syndrome, intellectual and motor challenges, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities.

High Point Parks and Recreation Special Populations Department

highpointnc.gov 136 Northpoint Ave., High Point 883-3469 Year-round recreational and leisure opportunities for children and adults with disabilities. Programs include field trips, community integration outings, bowling league, holiday parties, Camp Ann, The Miracle League and Special Olympics.

Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center

horsepower.org 8001 Leabourne Road, Colfax 931-1424 Operating an equine program for children ages 3 and up with a diagnosed physical, emotional or social disability.

Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center

riverwoodtrc.org 6825 Rollingview Drive, Tobaccoville 922-6426 Professional equine-assisted activities for children and adults with special needs.

Baseball program for athletes with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Players play on a specially equipped adaptive baseball field that allows those utilizing wheelchairs and walkers the opportunity to move around the field without barriers.

Winston-Salem 727-2440 Serving children ages birth through 11 with a variety of special needs, predominately physical. Offers developmentally appropriate education and therapeutic interventions.

Tumblebees Ultimate Gym

Club Z! In Home Tutoring

Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department: Special Populations Unit

Gateway Education Center

tumblebees.com 6904 Downwind Road, Greensboro 665-0662 Offers gymnastics and movement classes for children with special needs.

ci.winston-salem.nc.us 2301 N. Patterson Ave., Winston-Salem 727-8000 Offers several programs for disabled youth, including The Saturday Club, Life Skills and Aquabilities.

SCHOOLS, SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, TUTORING AND CLASSES

ABC of N.C. Child Development Center

abcofnc.org 3904 Old Vineyard Road, Winston-Salem 251-1180 Private, specialized school for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Special Olympics Guilford/ Greensboro

Academic Associates

sonc.net 3409-B W. Wendover Ave., Greensboro 544-0578 More than 500 athletes train and compete year-round in Special Olympics Greensboro programs.

academicassociatesinc.com 711 Westchester Drive, Suite 202, High Point 886-4198 A comprehensive educational facility offering tutoring, testing and other educational services for all students.

Special Olympics Guilford/ High Point

Allegro Music Therapy and Education Services

The Miracle League of High Point

The Children’s Center (part of The Centers for Exceptional Children)

sonc.net 136 Northpoint Ave., High Point 883-3481 Offered through High Point Parks and Recreation, trains athletes in more than a dozen different sports.

hpmiracleleague.org 136 Northpoint Ave., High Point 883-3481

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

allegromusictherapy.com 681-8104 allegromusictherapy@gmail.com Provides individual and group music therapy and education in a variety of settings.

thecfec.org 2315 Coliseum Drive,

clubztutoring.com/Greensboro 5603 W. Friendly Ave. No. 281, Greensboro 605-5749 Offers in-home tutoring in Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Summerfield and High Point. gateway.gcsnc.com 3205 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro 375-2575 Public school with four infant/ toddler classrooms that are funded by the United Way and the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Association. These classes serve children with special needs ages birth to 3 years who are experiencing a variety of developmental delays and medical issues.

Haynes-Inman Education Center

200 Haynes Road, Jamestown 881-7170 A Guilford County public separate school ranging in age from preschool to 22 with severe to profound cognitive and/or physical disabilities.

N.C. Pre-K Program

• Alamance-Burlington School System — 570-6644 • Davie County Schools — 751-0016 • Smart Start of Forsyth County —725-6011 • Guilford County Partnership for Children — 274-5437 • Randolph County Partnership for Children — 629-2128 • Stokes Partnership for Children Inc. — 985-2676 North Carolina’s state-funded prekindergarten program for at-risk 4-year-olds, including those with chronic health conditions or special developmental/educational needs.

The Music Center

Greensboro Cultural Center 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro 373-2026, 373-2712

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES  Offering music classes for children with special needs.

Noble Academy

nobleknights.org 3310 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro 282-7044 Private school specializing in working with students with a diagnosis of ADHD or another diagnosed learning difference.

Peak Performance Learning Center Inc.

1400 Battleground Ave., No. 202F, Greensboro Phone 549-6212 Research-based interactive Metronome® program “trains the brain” to plan, sequence and process information more effectively. Improves symptoms associated with ADHD, autism, sensory integration and auditory processing disorder.

The Piedmont School

thepiedmontschool.com 815 Old Mill Road, High Point 883-0992 Private school that works with children with learning disabilities and/or ADHD.

The Special Children’s School (part of The Centers for Exceptional Children)

thecfec.org 4505 Shattalon Drive, Winston-Salem 703-4191 Serves children with special needs ages 3 to 11 in an inclusive environment, which allows children with and without special needs to model and interact with each other.

Also includes a Pre-K classroom for typically developing 4-year-olds.

Summit School — Triad Academy

547-7460 Nonprofit developmental center where children, teens and their families can receive quality mental health and academic services in a child- and family-friendly environment.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and educational therapy services.

Programs for sensory integration, therapeutic listening, feeding disorders, handwriting and autism spectrum disorders.

Wesleyan Christian Academy Enrichment Center

Cone Health Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

Speechcenter Inc.

High Point Regional Health System Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

The Vision Therapy Center

wesed.org 1917 N. Centennial St., High Point 884-3333 Specialized program within Wesleyan Christian Academy for students with learning differences.

SPEECH/LANGUAGE, BRAIN FUNCTION AND VISION THERAPY

Alamance Regional Medical Center Pediatric Rehab Center

armc.com 3806 S. Church St., Burlington 278-8700 Offering outpatient speech therapy for children.

Augmentative Communication and Assistive Learning Clinic

brennerchildrens.org Brenner Children’s Hospital, Winston-Salem 716-3103 Works with children who are nonverbal or whose speech and/ or language skills are severely impaired. One of two clinics in N.C. that provide a multidisciplinary evaluation for children with AAC needs.

Brenner Children’s Hospital brennerchildrens.org Brenner Children’s Hospital, Winston-Salem 716-WAKE Outpatient speech/language therapy.

highpointregional.com 600 N. Elm St., High Point.

878-6915 Outpatient speech and language services for children and adults.

Ling & Kerr

lingkerr.com 1319 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington 370-4070 Private speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Milestones Treatment and Learning Center Inc.

3640 Westgate Center Circle, Suite A, Winston-Salem 659-0806 Speech and language therapy facility offering speech-languagehearing assessments and therapeutic interventions and academic tutoring to individuals of all ages.

Neurofeedback Associates Inc.

cheshirecenter.net 2500 N. Church St., Greensboro 375-2240, 800-360-1099 Pediatric speech-language therapy to children from birth to school age.

enhancedbrain.org/greensboro_ neurofeedback.html 2309 West Cone Blvd., Suite 210, Greensboro 540-1972 Uses noninvasive training techniques to train the brain and body to help reduce symptoms of disabilities, including ADHD, autism, developmental delay and learning disabilities.

Community Access Therapy Services

Peak Performance Learning Center

summitschool.com 2100 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem 722-2777 An instructional program that is highly individualized, researchbased and designed to meet the unique learning needs of students with dyslexia and related languagebased learning differences.

Cheshire Center Communication

Tristan’s Quest

3511 W. Market St., Suite B, Greensboro 294-3338

tristansquest.com 115-A S. Walnut Circle, Greensboro

conehealth.com 1904 N. Church St., Greensboro 271-4840 Outpatient speech therapy for infants to school-age children.

1400 Battleground Ave., No. 202, Greensboro 549-6212

Research-based Interactive Metronome® program “trains the brain” to plan, sequence and process information more effectively. Improves symptoms associated with ADHD, autism, sensory integration and auditory processing disorder. speechcenter.net 185 Charlois Blvd., Winston-Salem 800-323-3123; 725-0222 Private practice providing speech-language pathology services including evaluation and individualized therapy. visiontherapycenter.org 1330 Ashleybrook Lane, Winston-Salem 774-1770 Treatment for Learning-related vision problems related to ADD/ ADHD, dyslexia, eye tracking/eye teaming and reading problems.

SUPPORT SERVICES

Alamance Partnership for Children

alamancechildren.org 2322 River Road, Burlington 513-0063 Nonprofit organization provides programs and services for families and young children in Alamance County.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions (Alamance County)

cardinalinnovations.org 2929 Crouse Lane, Suite B, Burlington 513-4222 A managed behavioral health-care organization focused on helping individuals access the services they need to lead better daily lives.

Serving individuals needing mental health, intellectual/developmental disability and substance use/ addiction services by providing operations and systems; delivers services through a member-driven program. Serves several counties including Alamance.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions (Davidson County)

cardinalinnovations.org/piedmont 245 Le Phillip Court NE, Concord 704-721-7000 A managed behavioral health-

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 BUSIN E SS

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES care organization focused on helping individuals access the services they need to lead better daily lives. Serving individuals needing mental health, intellectual/developmental disability and substance use/addiction services by providing operations and systems; delivers services through a member-driven program. Serves several counties including Davidson.

CenterPoint Human Services

cphs.org 4045 University Parkway, Winston-Salem 714-9100 State-mandated local management entity and Medicaid-funded managed-care organization in charge of overseeing the delivery of publicly funded mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services (MH/DD/SAS) in Forsyth, Stokes, Davie and Rockingham counties.

CenterPoint works closely with community partners, advocates and service providers to address service. Offers a 24/7 toll-free customer services line.

Family Support Network of Greater Forsyth

fsngreaterforsyth.com 4505 Shattalon Drive, Winston-Salem 703-4191 As an outreach program of The Centers for Exceptional Children, provides support to families who have children with special needs (medical, developmental or other). Currently serve Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties.

Family Support Network of Central Carolina

fsncc.org 801 Green Valley Road, Greensboro 832-6507 Provides support and resources for families of children with prematurity, developmental disabilities, chronic illness, and other special needs.

Serving Alamance, Caswell, Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham counties.

Lindley Habilitation Services

lindleyhabilitation.com 4214 Beechwood Drive, Suite 101, Greensboro 855-3755 Partners with consumers, families and the community to provide exceptional service to exceptional people.

985-2676 Nonprofit organization provide programs and services for families and young children in Stokes County, including administering the Smart Start program.

MISCELLANEOUS

Annie Penn Sleep Center

618 S. Main St., Reidsville 951-4548 Sleep studies are offered on children age 1 and older.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Cone Health Sleep Disorders Center

conehealth.com 509 N. Elam Ave., Suite 300-D, Greensboro 832-0410 Location serves children age 5 and older needing evaluation and treatment relating to a variety of sleep disorders.

please call 336-983-4789 or email advertising@piedmontparent.com

Food Allergy Families of the Triad

650-759-5336 foodallergyfamilies@gmail.com Offers free monthly educational seminars and community education.

Food Allergy Research and Education

foodallergy.org Information, programs and resources related to food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Kids-Eat Program brennerchildrens.org

Brenner Children’s Hospital, Winston-Salem

716-8097 Provides evaluation and treatment for children with growth, swallowing or behavioral feeding disorders in children served with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Sensory Storytime

forsyth.cc/library/RuralHall

Forsyth County Library Rural Hall Branch 7125 Broad St., Rural Hall 703-2970 Story time for all ages that focuses on children with special needs and their caregivers by creating therapeutic activities from picture books.

Sandhills Center

sandhillscenter.org 1120 Seven Lakes Drive, West End 800-256-2452; 910-673-9111 Local management entity/managed-care organization of the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Serves Guilford and Randolph counties.

Stokes County Partnership for Children stokespfc.com 151 Jefferson Church Road, King

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D IR EC TO RY

EXCEPTIONAL CHILD 2015-2016 | piedmontparent.com

INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MUSIC THERAPY Traditional and Adapted Lessons for all ages and abilities (piano, voice, guitar, uke) Music Connections

Small groups for both special need and typical children and adults use music activities to achieve social, cognitive, motor and communication goals. Activities include singing, movement, instrument playing and other forms of creative expression.

For more information, call 336-681-8104 email Allegromusictherapy@gmail.com visit allegromusictherapy.com Positive Outcomes through the Power of Music

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From specialized neonatal and newborn care to family-centered approaches to treating your child's medical, developmental and behavioral needs, Cone Health offers families access to a wide variety of pediatric medical and behavioral health specialists and the most comprehensive range of children’s services — all delivered in kid-friendly surroundings with warmth and compassion. Cone Health Children’s Services include: Level II & III Neonatal Intensive Care at Women’s Hospital; Pediatric Intensive Care; the Children’s Emergency Department and Level II Pediatric Trauma Services at Moses Cone Hospital; and the Cone Health Center for Children with specialties including adolescent medicine. Cone Health also offers pediatric sleep centers at Annie Penn and Wesley Long hospitals.

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