Nonverbal until age four, Dr. Stephen Shore was diagnosed with "atypical development" and "strong autistic tendencies." Labeled "too sick" for outpatient treatment, Dr. Shore was recommended for institutionalization. With support from his parents, teachers, wife, and friends, Stephen is now a…
One of my biggest concerns, like most others out there, is about the future. We all deserve one, and many of us try our best to build it. Whether it’s our career, finances, social life, or elsewhere, every one of…
I began working as an Occupational Therapist in 2005 and had my first experience working with people who have acquired disabilities in Adult Rehabilitation. I then worked with pediatrics and children with developmental disabilities. After seeing patients in their homes,…
MHAF is starting an exciting new series entitled "Autism Gurus" that features professionals who have significant experience and/or training in working with adults on the autism spectrum. This series includes, but is not limited to, doctors, dentists, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals…
Tiny home skeptics are asking, “Who would ever want to live in a 350 square-foot space?” As evidenced by the 40,000 attendees of the last Tiny House Jamboree in Colorado Springs, a lot of people! I am a host home provider…
Person-centered planning is more than just a buzzword, it is a system shift that puts the desires and life goals of a person in the center of a support system. Historically and today, people with autism and other intellectual/developmental disabilities…
The following hypothetical situation is based on observations from a recent visit to an Independent Apartment Community, Casa de Amma: Imagine walking into your apartment lobby after a long day ... Your neighbors greet you by name as they sift through…
"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…
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…