What parents want
At our February 2014 workshop on Dream Communities for ASD Adults, we asked two dozen parents the top characteristics they'd like to see in the ideal supported housing situation for their adult ASD children. In this compilation of responses, you'll see certain themes emerge, with safety, caring staff, affordability, and meaningful programming coming out on top.
Scroll down to let us know your dreams for adult housing for your ASD children.
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Dream: Find a 24/7 assisted 1:1 living environment for a low-functioning, non-verbal young man who has severe mood swings, can be self-injurious, and has OCD. He also damages property and can hit his caregivers.
Have the staff, program and financial resources to help residents design and live a rewarding, purposeful life engaged in the community, employment and social relationships.
Teach, support and live a blueprint for the greatest level of independence with no presumptions of limitations based on the resident's functional or emotional levels.
Fulfillment and happiness without family bankruptcy.
Passionate, reliable, qualified, compassionate staff; Affordable; Access to a variety of activities, jobs, outings.
Safe, caring, full life.
Staffing and training for ASD adults.
Affordability and vouchers/rent assistance.
Safe and playful learning community to live and thrive.
Housing for our son, with tax breaks and other help because it replaces institutions.
3-6 homes in the same neighborhood with a vibrant share of services.
Daily structured activities; safe and engaging place; close to town and accessible.
6-10 clients in a home-like setting, administered by a large, well-established nonprofit, in 2 houses next door to each other with large yards.
Good infrastructure (shopping, bus, community center, learning center), supervision (daily, nightly check-ins), apartment living (1 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, washer)
Social opportunities—movies, parties, enrichment activities; protected space - safe areas with staff who understand the needs of people with ASD; work programs to help people with ASD feel like they are living a meaningful life and have their own money; privacy and independence.
Freedom to chart own path, free of parents; safe with right level of support; employment.
Dreams: Housing with support staff; activities/job to engage him and him purpose and fun; ability to have a life partner and have a family.
Safety; offers healthy social relationships; promotes health lifestyles, eg, exercise, nutrition, etc.
Treated with respect, talked to nicely, not sexually assaulted; access to therapeutic recreation such as pool/hot tub/swings; safe home in good location and loving staff; access to high quality food.
My son has medical issues, my most important aspect for his future is health needs; motivating activities - preferably something productive...producing a product, possibly for sale; loving, caring, compassionate staff.
Safety/security; community, sense of belonging, enjoyment.
Safe, social, enriching.
For severe individuals - more support 24/7 care and self care issues; communication for non-verbal individuals; activities, sports, entertainment; teaching skills or working on their own strengths and weakness skills, affordable prices of rent and living costs for the individuals and their families.
Staffing (quality, stability); quality of life (meaningful work, activities, community); location (close to family); permanence (secure property, funding, to the extent possible); supportive community.
Caring staff, promote independent living as much as possible; transportation; close to daytime adult program; promote work if possible.
Safety, location, care assistance.
A safe environment, friends and social opportunities, and long-term stability, self-sustaining.
Scroll down to let us know your dreams for adult housing for your ASD children.
-----------------
Dream: Find a 24/7 assisted 1:1 living environment for a low-functioning, non-verbal young man who has severe mood swings, can be self-injurious, and has OCD. He also damages property and can hit his caregivers.
Have the staff, program and financial resources to help residents design and live a rewarding, purposeful life engaged in the community, employment and social relationships.
Teach, support and live a blueprint for the greatest level of independence with no presumptions of limitations based on the resident's functional or emotional levels.
Fulfillment and happiness without family bankruptcy.
Passionate, reliable, qualified, compassionate staff; Affordable; Access to a variety of activities, jobs, outings.
Safe, caring, full life.
Staffing and training for ASD adults.
Affordability and vouchers/rent assistance.
Safe and playful learning community to live and thrive.
Housing for our son, with tax breaks and other help because it replaces institutions.
3-6 homes in the same neighborhood with a vibrant share of services.
Daily structured activities; safe and engaging place; close to town and accessible.
6-10 clients in a home-like setting, administered by a large, well-established nonprofit, in 2 houses next door to each other with large yards.
Good infrastructure (shopping, bus, community center, learning center), supervision (daily, nightly check-ins), apartment living (1 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, washer)
Social opportunities—movies, parties, enrichment activities; protected space - safe areas with staff who understand the needs of people with ASD; work programs to help people with ASD feel like they are living a meaningful life and have their own money; privacy and independence.
Freedom to chart own path, free of parents; safe with right level of support; employment.
Dreams: Housing with support staff; activities/job to engage him and him purpose and fun; ability to have a life partner and have a family.
Safety; offers healthy social relationships; promotes health lifestyles, eg, exercise, nutrition, etc.
Treated with respect, talked to nicely, not sexually assaulted; access to therapeutic recreation such as pool/hot tub/swings; safe home in good location and loving staff; access to high quality food.
My son has medical issues, my most important aspect for his future is health needs; motivating activities - preferably something productive...producing a product, possibly for sale; loving, caring, compassionate staff.
Safety/security; community, sense of belonging, enjoyment.
Safe, social, enriching.
For severe individuals - more support 24/7 care and self care issues; communication for non-verbal individuals; activities, sports, entertainment; teaching skills or working on their own strengths and weakness skills, affordable prices of rent and living costs for the individuals and their families.
Staffing (quality, stability); quality of life (meaningful work, activities, community); location (close to family); permanence (secure property, funding, to the extent possible); supportive community.
Caring staff, promote independent living as much as possible; transportation; close to daytime adult program; promote work if possible.
Safety, location, care assistance.
A safe environment, friends and social opportunities, and long-term stability, self-sustaining.