OASIS NC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to providing Outstanding Autism Support and Instructional Services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in North Carolina. We use evidence-based practices and highly individualized services and supports to target a broad range of educational, behavioral, social, and communication needs.
Oasis Day School Opening Fall 2013!
We are excited to bring the first private school for children with autism to Wilmington this fall. Click here for more information.
Also Accepting Applications for Summer Programs:
Click HERE to see what people are saying about OASIS NC!
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR… Hey, that’s me!
Thanks to the generosity of our friends, families, and the community, 2012 was a busy year for OASIS NC! We started the FIRST and ONLY after school program, 9 week summer camp, and middle school club for kids with autism in southeastern NC. For the new year, we have two more exciting adventures planned! First, we are collaborating with speech therapists, occupational therapists, play therapists, and psychologists to become an all-inclusive center for children with autism and their families. Think of how much time families would save if they didn’t have to drive all over town for speech, OT, and social skills appointments! And second, we are becoming a private school!! We will be starting small (grades k-2), but expect it to grow as quickly as our other programs. Stay tuned for more information!
While we would love to tell you exactly what each program looks like specifically, they are so individualized around every child’s needs that each week looks different depending on who is attending. I can tell you that all of our center based programs include typical school and play activities that are especially structured for visual learners and have an additional benefit of an embedded social skills curriculum critical for children with autism. For example, while we play a simple card game, we will also be teaching and reinforcing how to have a conversation back and forth, take turns, wait, use the appropriate voice volume, and more. Our goal is that your child has fun with new experiences, feels safe and nurtured, learns and practices social skills, and most importantly makes friends.
OASIS NC is a place where you do not have to defend or explain your child’s behavior. This is what Kim and I went to school for, have experience with, and most importantly… this is what we LOVE to do. We know how to get your child to participate, try something new, interact, and have fun along the way. While we cannot currently accept children with aggressive behaviors, we are accustomed to typical autism related behaviors and understand that there is a reason for it (usually communication based)…we really do! OASIS NC was not created to “fix” or find the cause/cure of autism… we’ll leave that to the people in the white coats. Instead, we celebrate children with autism and all of their unique gifts and personalities, while replacing the behaviors that prevent others from being able to appreciate who they are as well. We believe in our children and fully expect them to reach their potential.
As you may have already heard, the prevalence of autism is now 1 in 88. This is a 23 percent increase from the CDC’s 2009 report. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. However, insurance does not cover these kinds of programs and many families are unable to afford them. I invite you to explore this website to learn more about who we are, the great work we do, the children and families we support, and how you can help. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to experience how amazing it feels to make an immediate and significant difference in the life of someone with autism.
To my family, friends, and community supporters, who have helped the dream of OASIS NC become a reality with all of their unwavering support and belief…. Look what we did! This is your “baby” too… THANK YOU!!!
Most sincerely,
Erika
“Autistic individuals can achieve great things — but only if they’re supported by people who believe in their potential. Autistic people are often the creative innovators in our midst. They see the world through a different lens — and when their perspective is respected, they can change the world.” Lisa Jo Rudy, Mother, Writer and Consultant for autism (“Top 7 Autism Myths.” About.com 4 February 2010)
