Autism Support Group of Genesee County
“Our Vision for an Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Autism”
Description of the Problem
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. Ten years ago the rate of autism was 1 in 10,000. Today, Autism Spectrum Disorder occurs in 1 per 150 births. People with autism live a normal lifespan and most will not be able to live independently. While some progress has been made in providing services to children diagnosed with autism, little has been done to prepare for the care that will be necessary when these children reach adulthood. Parents of children with autism struggle every day to manage their care, ensure their safety, and help them to develop the skills necessary to achieve their full potential and level of independence. What keeps these parents awake at night is one question: ‘What happens after I’m gone?” (Statistic Source: Autism Society of Northwest Ohio-www.asno.org)
Mission:
To provide residential, employment and general life supports for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) so that they can lead involved and valued lives and achieve their maximum level of functioning and independence. To provide families with peace of mind, answering “what happens after I’m gone?” with “a happy, full, productive life.”
Overview:
Autism is a ‘spectrum disorder’ meaning that an individual may be mildly, moderately, or severely impaired in one or more of the characteristic areas, resulting in a unique profile for each individual. Any plan for adult services will need to address the unique needs and capabilities of individuals across the spectrum. It is not ‘one size fits all.’ We propose three models of residential programming that will meet varying needs, provide the maximum level of independence that can be achieved by each individual, with services customized to meet the needs of each individual participant. The three residential programs will include:
The Bittersweet Farm Model:
Our proposed farm-based residential community program is based on the successful Bittersweet Farm model. Bittersweet Farm is a farm-based homestead for individuals with autism. Bittersweet Farm is located on 80 acres near Toledo, Ohio. It has been providing state of the art services to people with autism for over 20 years. The expertise of the staff and the outcomes of the programs stand out as innovative and effective. Bittersweet is one of only a few programs around the country dedicated to adults with autism. We are working with the staff at Bittersweet through their Consultative Services Program to develop the programs and operational capabilities in order to replicate the Bittersweet model locally. According to the Bittersweet Farms model “a farm setting offers rich, varied and abundant opportunities for self-paced, distraction-free activities that are perceived as immediately meaningful by our individuals…It is a bucolic, secure and safe environment in which individuals with challenging behaviors and limited social and communication skills can grow and develop into their fullest potential.” www.bittersweetfarms.org
Funding:
Our initial funding will be through a combination of (a) state and federal dollars, (b) grants, and (c) fundraising and private donations. The ongoing operations and programming will be funded through (a) participant government assistance, (b) participant family financial support, (c) donations and fundraising activities (d) grants and (e) net revenues generated from for-profit subsidiaries. The state and federal dollars available only cover the basics and sometimes not even that. Medicaid continues to cutback on funding and now, for example, no longer pays for dental services. In order to provide top quality services and programming, we need to develop compatible for-profit businesses to help fund ongoing operations.
How You Can Help:
You can help by donating your time, talent, skills, materials, printing, and most of all, much needed financial support to the Autism Support Group of Genesee County. The Autism Support Group of Genesee County is a charitable, 501c3 organization. We have no paid staff…only dedicated volunteer families who donate their time and efforts to make this project a reality. We have established an Adult Residential Community Fund for this project and all donations are tax deductible. 100% of these donations will go to this fund.
To donate any amount, please make checks out to:
The Autism Support Group of Genesee County
P.O. Box 217
Grand Blanc, Mi. 48480-0217
(on the memo line, please write “Adult Residential Community”)
or Click here to pay online using Paypal:
