It was only a few decades ago that people with I/DD were, more often than not, hidden behind closed doors, not allowed to go to school, and banned from having a typical life. Fortunately, this attitude has largely changed, yet…
The Autism Housing Network (AHN) was developed from a call for next steps outlined in the the first-ever study to focus on the housing challenges of adults with autism and other neurodiversities in 2009, Opening Doors: A Discussion of…
There are 7.37 million adults with I/DD in the United States. 6.14 million do not receive any publicly funded residential supports. Families and loved ones of adults with I/DD know that housing is a complicated piece of the puzzle. It…
For the past four years, I worked for 801 East Shelter/Transitional Rehabilitation Program in many roles and completed more than 500 intake interviews/screenings. I observed a majority of those individuals had co-occurring disabilities, i.e., substance abuse and mental health issues.…
Going grocery shopping, out for a meal at a restaurant, or to the movie theater can be a minefield for autistic people, presenting many obstacles that neurotypical people do not think twice about. The difficulties that come with the unpredictability…
This article is Part II of a series. Please see Who Moves? Part I for background discussion leading to this article. The Shared Living Guide As state developmental disability agencies are beginning to replace the terms Adult Foster Care (AFC)…
"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…
Madison House Autism Foundation President, JaLynn Prince, addressed the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), the federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorders. Mrs. Prince’s speech declares the urgency…
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…
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,…