West Virginia
New support group at WVU aims to help parents awaiting autism evaluation, services • West Virginia Watch
West Virginia parents may face long waiting periods to get their child services for autism, or even to see a provider for an evaluation. A new support and education group at West Virginia University aims to help them in the meantime.
The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities is starting Mind the Gap in August. The group will be facilitated by Dr. Amy Kurowski-Burt, an occupational therapist and Heather Merritt, the center’s positive behavior support curriculum developer.
Burt said the idea for the program came about working with families at the center, noticing that parents can wait sometimes two to three years for an autism diagnosis or to get services for autism.
“Research tells us that early intervention is the most effective for really any pediatric diagnosis,” Kurowski-Burt said. “The sooner you get to it the better they will be long-term through teenage years and adulthood.”
The group will focus on supporting and teaching parents what they can do for their children while they’re waiting for evaluations and services like therapy or an individualized education plan for school, Kurowski-Burt said.
“It’s not just the therapist, it’s people who are with them all the time that can make the difference,” she said. “So that’s the parents, the siblings, the grandparents, the neighbors. So what information can we give them to help their child be the best they can be.”
Merritt and Kurowski-Burt did a survey and got more than 150 responses from parents about what topics they’re interested in learning about through the group.
“Across all age groups, we found parents all want the same type of information, and need the same type of support,” Merritt said. “And so, we took that coupled with the nationwide Mind the Gap curriculum and kind of just developed the plan to support families the best that we can here.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of one in every 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. The disorder is characterized by ongoing social problems including difficulty communicating with others and repetitive behaviors as well as limited interests or activities. Symptoms typically are recognized by the time the child is two.
Due to a nationwide shortage of providers such as psychologists, psychiatrists and developmental pediatricians, parents can wait two or three years just to have their child evaluated for autism, Burt said.
Many parents are interested in learning what autism is and what it means for their child, along with how to get the child ready for school and what behaviors to expect.
“I’ve run a similar group like this in the past at a previous agency I was at, and I have found that the support alone, parent to parent or caregiver to caregiver is so valuable, because what may work at somebody’s house, somebody else might not know,” Merritt said. “And so when they share those ideas it carries on within the community, and so they can lean on each other not only for support, but also with ideas of how to help their child.
Kurowski-Burt said she’s excited to support families who are falling into a “gap” for services and to empower people with disabilities not to wait for a provider.
“If we give these families strategies of things that they can do in their home or community that’s going to make a difference,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who’s specialized – they can do stuff too. Providers also are awesome, but families don’t have to wait for someone to tell them what to do.”
Mind the Gap will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each first Wednesday of the month beginning in August. Participants can attend in person at the center in Morgantown or virtually.
The support and education group is free to attend, but registration is required. To register, visit https://cedwvu.wufoo.com/forms/mind-the-gap-parent-education-and-support-group/
West Virginia
Uniglobe’s annual Travel Show in West Virginia offers unique insight into your next vacation destination
TRIADELPHIA, W.V. (WTRF) — Tables filled with destination hot spots from across the ocean to right here in the states filled the Highlands Event Center during Uniglobe’s annual Travel Show.
Whether it’s taking a scenic train through the U.S. or riding aboard a top cruise liner, travel experts had all the tips for the top vacation spots around.
Owner Jennifer Merryman says each year this event helps clients gather inspiration for their next great getaway.
“It’s a walk-through event where you can go and visit with vendors, talk to them, get inspired about where to go, ask questions as well as just learn about destinations. It’s not a forced booking; it’s a leisurely event to figure out where your next adventure is going to be.”
Jennifer Merryman, owner, Uniglobe Ohio Valley Travel
For more information on Uniglobe visit their website here Full-Service Travel Agency | Uniglobe Ohio Valley Travel | United States
BECKLEY, W.Va. — The momentum behind “Ambrosia!”—an award-winning West Virginia–made screwball comedy—continues to build as filmmakers announced that the film has been nominated for Best Picture at the Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival.
A contingent from the production that was filmed in Beckley will attend the festival screening in Rehoboth Beach, with hopes high for an award, filmmakers say.
“We’ll update you with pictures and such from the weekend,” producer Saja Montague said in a Facebook post. “Thanks to all who were involved. We are keeping the train rolling.”
Produced by Butter Chicken Pictures and Mtn Craft, the 90-minute comedy “Ambrosia!” was written and directed by Shane Pierce and David Gravely, who set out to create a modern throwback to the screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age.
The story follows an innkeeper navigating a houseful of eccentric guests and unpredictable staff—an ensemble-driven setup reminiscent of comedy classics such as “Bringing Up Baby” (1938).
Producer Saja Montague said audience interest in digital access has been strong, although streaming availability will be available later.
“We’ve had many excited community members asking about its availability on digital streaming services, but most film festivals will not accept the film if it is streaming,” Montague said. “So we won’t be able to make those commitments until later.”
Montague said the team is currently coordinating with theaters across West Virginia and the region, a process that requires individual agreements for each venue. “It’s an involved process that couldn’t be approached until the movie was ready,” she said.
Meet the comedy makers
The all–West Virginia cast and crew is a point of pride for the filmmakers. Principal cast members—listed alphabetically—include Sandeep Chugg, Eliska Hahn-Diller, Kelsey Hofe, Sam Ingram, Afsheen Misaghi, Hannah Moore-Hughes, Robby Moore, Chris Oxley, David Sibray, and Adam Taylor.
Behind the camera, the production includes director of photography Justin Litton, composer Mathew Jackfert, and sound recordist and audio engineer Aaron Griffin. Executive producers are Chris Oxley, Ann Worley, Richard Hendrick, Kim and Jason Vance, and Sharon and David Gravely Sr.
Supporting cast and background performers include Scott Worley, Steve Clark, Maury Kaplan, Christian Kaplan, Kati Grimmett, Seth Hughes, Robert John Quesenberry, Danny Boyd, Dave Traube, Mariah Plante, Jim Wolfe, Kevin Traube, Christian Shumate, and Debra, Preston, Devyn, Maddy, and Barbara Lanna.
Production-crew members include Dylan Cane, Tijah Bumgarner, Sam Payne, Emilee Pyrtle, DeeDee Ellison, Ann Worley, Will Radford, Kati Grimmett, Tyler Evans, and Emily Butcher.
Film sponsors include Ann Worley, Richard Hendrick, Kim and Jason Vance, Chris Oxley, David Gravely, and Sharon Gravely.
Following its regional screenings, “Ambrosia!” is expected to be released globally on streaming platforms, though specific dates have not yet been set.
“Ambrosia!” has also won Best Feature Comedy at the Western Canada International Film Festival.
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West Virginia
W.Va. Wildfire And Appalachia’s Declining Population, This West Virginia Morning – West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, high winds Wednesday fanned more than 20 fires across the state. As Chris Schulz reports, the largest of those fires is still burning.
And, the population in central Appalachia has been in decline for decades. As jobs went away, young people did, too. Now, a series of population estimates shows things might get even worse. Journalist Jim Branscome grew up in southwestern Virginia and recently covered this story. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with him. West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
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