Intentional or "Campus" Communities for Adults with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
A growing number of families are interested in developing small "communities within a community" to provide supported and well-supervised housing for their adult children with autism, featuring well trained staff, robust programming, vocational opportunities, and therapeutic and sensory amenities such as pools, swings and protected outdoor space.
For examples of intentional communities serving adults with developmental disabilities around the country, please see http://ltoventures.org/communities-to-watch/, with additional information below. You are also encouraged to visit the FRED Conference website at fredconference.org.
For examples of intentional communities serving adults with developmental disabilities around the country, please see http://ltoventures.org/communities-to-watch/, with additional information below. You are also encouraged to visit the FRED Conference website at fredconference.org.
Intentional Communities in California
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Gary Shupin Independent Living Community, San Francisco:
The Gary Shupin Independent Living Community provides a warm environment and the personalized support that enables young adults with developmental disabilities to live independently and to enjoy the amenities of the San Francisco Bay Area. Staff works closely with residents on acquiring skills —whether it is opening up a bank account, setting and maintaining a budget, going to the grocery store, taking public transportation, laundering clothing, dressing for work, planning and cooking meals, or a variety of other activities of daily living. Sweetwater Spectrum, Sonoma:
A pilot "community within a community" in downtown Sonoma, featuring four homes with four bedrooms each, a community center and amenities including pool, fitness center and small working farm. Peralta Apartments, Friends of Children with Special Needs, Fremont: A multifamily complex of 40 bedrooms, 26 occupied by adults with special needs. Collectively owned by investor families, and adjacent to the FCSN community center. Clearwater Ranch Community, Cloverdale:
We are families of individuals with developmental disabilities who banded together to develop an integrated community. Clearwater Ranch Community is a project where families are creating a safe, wholesome housing for their special needs adult children to support life-long independence. It is located in Cloverdale, CA, a town in the beautiful Sonoma County. Clearwater Ranch currently has openings for special needs adults (age 20 and above). |
Vine Village, Napa:
A model community for adults with special needs, featuring residential and day programs in Napa. Kainos, Redwood City: The mission of Kainos programs and services is to provide a wide variety of residential, vocational and related services, with the highest quality training and support, to adults with developmental disabilities so that each individual may maximize his or her potential and become an active member of the community. Big Wave, Half Moon Bay (planning stage): The Big Wave Project is dedicated to: Creating an inclusive and interactive community of people and businesses; Providing a purposeful, independent life for individuals with developmental disabilities through affordable housing, meaningful employment, and supportive community. Sunflower Hill, East Bay (planning stage): Our goal is to create a sustainable, special needs community for individuals and families seeking programming and residential options. Camp Hill, Soquel:
The mission of Camphill Communities California is to provide a nurturing and dynamic residential community where adults with developmental disabilities live, learn and work together with professional care givers and volunteers. Located on six acres of land near Santa Cruz. |
Intentional Communities Outside California
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Center for Discovery, New York:
The Center’s approach to the design of residential programs is based on the idea that while individual impairments cannot be ignored, they need not be limitations. A great deal of thought, planning and effort goes into creating opportunities for each resident to develop their potential, to make choices, and to discover and develop abilities in every aspect of their life. 3 Bluebirds Farm (formerly 3 Irish Jewels Farm), North Carolina: "Empowering families impacted by autism to spread their wings." Currently operating programs for school-aged children in North Carolina, with a plan to establish a residential community for adults who have aged out of their programs. LTO Ventures, Nevada: LTO Ventures supports and endeavors to learn from innovative live / work / play community models for adults with Autism or similar development disabilities around the U.S. that are currently operational or in planning/development stages. Also aiming to create a privately funded community model of autism housing in Nevada. |
Bittersweet Farms, Ohio:
A pioneering farm community for adults with autism, Ohio. Safe Haven Farms, Ohio: Residential and day programs for adults with autism. Madison House Autism Foundation, Maryland: Leaders on the adult autism housing crisis, advancing the mission to achieve true housing choice for adults with autism. Down Home Ranch, Texas: Serving primarily adults with Downs Syndrome. First Place, Phoenix: First Place is developing a mixed-use property and new home option that is supported and community connected. The property includes apartments for residents, a residential academy for students and a training institute for professionals and support service providers. Eden Autism Services, New Jersey: Group homes and many other programs in central New Jersey. |
Please note this is a partial list of housing options and does not purport to include all organizations serving people with autism. Inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. Organizations are listed at the discretion of Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area. The information is gathered primarily from public sources and is not guaranteed to be accurate. To suggest additions, please email erikankent@gmail.com.