IGNITE is a program of the Autism Society of North Carolina, with founding support from the Evernham Family-Racing for a Reason Foundation. Fall 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 3
Set A Goal? But How? How many times in your life have you been asked about your goals for the future? How would you answer if you had a limited concept of time and limited organizational skills? What is a goal, anyway?! At IGNITE, members are learning how to set goals and are being held accountable for the goals they set. We start with setting a very small goal that can be met in seven days, using the SMART method: Specific: The goal must be clearly stated, without words such as “more,” “longer,” or “better,” because they are too vague. Measurable: The goal should be something that can be measured so that success is clear.
IGNITE is a unique ‘peer-to-peer’ community center for young adults with high-functioning autism (HFA) or Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) offering activities, skills training, and educational workshops that foster social, financial, educational, and employment independence for its members. More importantly, IGNITE offers a social environment where members can connect with others and experience a sense of community.
For more information: Mindy Govan, IGNITE Director 704-897-8982 mgovan@autismsociety-nc.org www.ignite-davidson.org www.autismsociety-nc.org You can donate to IGNITE online or send a check made out to the Autism Society of North Carolina: IGNITE • 209 Delburg St., Suite 134 Davidson, NC 28036
Are you motivated? Traditionally, the A stands for attainable, but we prefer “Are you motivated?” so we know why the member wants to meet the goal. Realistic: Is the goal something that the member has the skills and ability to accomplish? Timely: Can the goal be accomplished in one week?
Members first complete a pie chart of skills and accomplishments in four life areas. They highlight the area in which they feel they have been the most successful and the one that needs their focus.
Meaningful day Each member has a goal sheet, and they (volunteering, school, write down at least two goals per week: work, IGNITE) one from the health and wellness area Social and the other of their choice. The interactions, following week, they tell the group Independent doing things about the goal and their progress living skills with others toward it. If they met the goal, Health, everyone cheers. If the goal was not wellness, met, the group brainstorms to support exercise the member in how to break the goal down into smaller parts to ensure success the next week. When goals are too big to accomplish in one week, we call it “Supermanning,” and we work instead to break that goal into baby steps. The members are eager to report on their successes and even their unsuccessful attempts each week. They enjoy both giving and receiving support on reaching their goals. Members can reach big goals (getting a driver’s permit, cooking a meal for their family, registering for college, getting a job, etc.) by breaking the goal into manageable steps, gaining support, and being held accountable. They keep a running log of all of their success, and suddenly, setting a goal is fun!
Member Spotlight: Girls’ Group Since our new Girls’ Group began in March, the young women in it have initiated communication with each other, increased opportunities for social outings, built friendships, and invited others to their homes. We asked the members to share their thoughts about the group; here are some of them. Why is having Girls’ Group important? Alex: If we didn’t have Girls’ Group, we couldn’t express ourselves freely. It gives us a safe place to talk about being girls, issues girls go through, our personal struggles, and views on the world. Grace: I love this group of ladies. I would do anything for them. Having girlfriends outside of family to hang out with is important. Allison: Autism in girls/women is severely underrepresented; it’s good to have a space where I feel safe sharing the unique challenges I face in my life without fear of judgment, and also just to be with other girls like me, to know that I’m not alone.
How have you grown/improved since joining Girls’ Group?
Jillian: It builds self-confidence and social skills. It’s useful to girls who only have brothers and need girl time.
Alex: It has pushed me to get out in the community and hang out with my fellow girls. It has helped me to communicate better. I’ve gotten to know a lot more about all the girls.
What is your favorite part of Girls’ Group?
Taylor: I open myself up the more I come to Girls’ Group.
Alex: Being able to connect and find similar interests with other girls who can relate. I love that what’s said in Girls’ Group stays in Girls’ Group.
Jillian: I’ve grown more sociable. We are alike in many ways, and we like to make each other feel better, and we can be honest.
Grace: My favorite thing is going out and socializing and being ourselves. Sometimes that is hard for me to do.
Grace: It has given me more girlfriends to hang out with and FaceTime with even if there is distance between us. I know I can rely on these girls.
Taylor: Communicating with each other about problems, getting to know each other, and planning outings outside of IGNITE. Rachel: My favorite thing is that I get to make new friends and also get to learn what is good for me to know being a girl.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi pre-screening proceeds to benefit IGNITE
Thursday Dec. 14, 2017
Doors open at 6 p.m. Our Town Cinemas in Davidson $25/ticket (includes any size popcorn and drink)
https://lastjedi.eventbrite.com
PG 2– IGNITE NEWS • Fall 2017
Allison: While I do have guy friends, I’ve always felt more comfortable around girls. I feel like I can relax and be myself more than I could before, and I can talk about things with them that I would probably never talk about with anyone else.
What’s Happening at IGNITE? Money-Management Class Thank you to Summer Isenhour and Fifth Third Bank for providing a money-management class at IGNITE! The 10-week class offered sessions on banking services, ATM and debit cards, checking account balances, credit, and writing checks. Members said they learned about the importance of budgeting and how to obtain and use debit and credit cards. “I learned about checking accounts and savings accounts and that we have to monitor them all the time because we need to make sure how much we have or have spent,” one member said. “This class has taught me money skills to help me for the future,” another member said. Members also said that they hoped the class would be offered again and that they would recommend it to their peers.
IGNITE’s Continued Health and Wellness Initiative Members at IGNITE have continued to increase their variety of activities and exercise within each week. We look for activities that include wellness components. In addition to our walking and exercise groups each week, we have added field trips in the community, including nature hikes, kickball games, doing a corn maze, and touring Bank of America Stadium. During exercise groups, we are beginning to explore non-traditional fitness programs such as kickboxing, Zumba, and yoga. The members create a bulletin board with a health tip each month to encourage healthy habits such as drinking more water and good sleep hygiene.
IGNITE NEWS • Fall 2017 – PG 3
Donor Spotlight:
Champions
Champions Sports Performance is an invaluable partner in IGNITE’s focus on healthy lifestyles for members. Owner Greg O’Connor reached out to IGNITE after hearing about the program in the local newspaper in fall 2015. He and his team have provided a weekly fitness class for IGNITE members at the Champions facility in Cornelius ever since. “It was a perfect match from the start,” O’Connor said. “The guys (there have only been one or two females over the years) are so sincere and into each other, kind, friendly...just a joy to coach. They are excited to come and really try hard.” They have moved to a mostly strength-based program recently to get members “fired up about building muscle,” O’Connor said, explaining that most adults with autism need to work on their body composition. Performance Coach John Jakubik said the Champions staff enjoys working with IGNITE. “We look forward to having the guys in here every single Monday,” Jakubik said. “They bring life to us, and I know we bring life to them. As much as it benefits them, I think it benefits us even more.” “It’s been a great partnership, and we look forward to continuing that for sure.”
The classes complement IGNITE’s health and wellness focus, which includes structured, self- guided workouts, daily morning exercise and walking options, and nutrition and cooking classes. “The staff are fantastic examples of fitness and character, always cheering members along,” said Mindy Govan, IGNITE Director. “The partnership encourages members to be fit and have a healthy lifestyle – it’s not just about the time that they are at the gym. You can’t put a value on that.” O’Connor said it is important to him to help people in need in society. “I get very emotional about it. I have always been like that!”
Ray J’s Reviews Check out IGNITE member Ray J Evernham’s movie reviews online: www.facebook.com/pg/rayjsreview
Just got done seeing “IT” and.....it’s not only one of the BEST horror movies of the year, but also one of the BEST movies of the year I went in with high expectations and those expectations were met for sure The movie is terrifying, intense, exciting and, actually quite hilarious! The film also includes some surprising realistic special effects! The whole entire cast is fantastic The standouts of the cast for me, would have to be Finn Wolfhard (who plays Richie and who you may recognize from the HIT Netflix series “Stranger Things”), he has some hilarious and sarcastic one liners, Sophia Lillis (who plays Beverly), Jack Dylan Grazer (who plays Eddie), he is also very funny, Jaeden Lieberher (he plays the main character Bill), and of course Bill Skarsgard (who plays the horrifying Pennywise the dancing clown fantastically) You know a movie is good when the first showing is sold out and when the audience applauds at the end I give “IT” 5 out of 5 floating red balloons. PG 4– IGNITE NEWS • Fall 2017
CAR SHOW HOSTED BY RAY EVERNHAM
25 th
NOV
GATES OPEN FOR SPECTATORS AT 10 A.M.
10 AM
GATES OPEN FOR CAR ENTRANTS AT 7 A.M.
TO
4 PM
LIVE MUSIC SILENT AUCTION CARS FROM THE AMERICARNA TELEVISION SERIES LOCAL CELEBRITIES & THEIR CARS AND MORE!
INGERSOLL RAND CORPORATE HQ 800 BEATY STREET, DAVIDSON, NC 28036 PRE-REGISTER BEFORE NOVEMBER 1 - $25 AFTER NOVEMBER 1 AND ON EVENT DAY - $30
BENEFITTING IGNITE IS A COMMUNITY CENTER IN DAVIDSON, NC FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM OR ASPERGER’S SYNDROME
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.AMERICARNALIVE.COM