"Who Moves?" is a two-part series that discusses the differences between Shared Living and a Family Host Home/Adult Foster Care and why the distinction between these terms is important. As the Housing Director at Madison House Autism Foundation, I am…
When I give presentations or consult for emerging housing options, I often hear that individuals with I/DD want to live in a supportive and affordable neighborhood. Walking to a friend’s home, having regular opportunities for activities, being recognized as a…
In 2013, in the middle of a New Jersey suburb, a small apartment building was built to offer a supportive housing options to about 40 residents with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). Those who live there choose from either a one bedroom…
Driving through rural Texas, I didn’t know what to expect from a “farmstead.” There are mixed opinions in the autism world about whether farmsteads are isolating and segregating; or if they give access to a lifestyle otherwise not available to…
With already so few opportunities and scarce funding available to adults on the autism spectrum, why would policymakers create even more hurdles for autistic adults? Policy developed to protect and empower those with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities is…
On January 12, 2016, Desiree Kameka, Director of Community Education & Advocacy at Madison House Autism Foundation, delivered a powerful speech before the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee regarding the urgent needs of adults on the autism spectrum and their families. Please…
Access to affordable and supportive housing is becoming increasingly challenging, and funding for waiver supports and housing vouchers is not meeting the demand. It is concerning that professional, non-state resident advocates are writing letters to Medicaid authorities in Arizona and…
Denny Roger’s daughter, Emily, was at a dead-end. Her family modified their home so she could have her own space, but her frequent meltdowns expressed her dissatisfaction and frustration. She moved into a home in the community with a roommate,…
As a director at Madison House Autism Foundation, my search for insights, solutions, and direction in better serving adults with I/DD has been both a personal and professional mission. In my quest for answers, I joined 1,200 professionals in Washington,…
It took a lot of work, but the ABLE Act was finally passed and offers a fantastic financial tool for individuals with disabilities to soon take advantage in their state. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act allows individuals with…