5 Reasons Why Autistic Adults Should Consider Tiny Homes
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…
MHAF Guest Author, Catherine Boyle: Putting Accessory Units in Reach for Families
We are honored to feature the following article on accessory units by guest author, Catherine Boyle (pictured above). Boyle is the president of Autism Housing Pathways, a Massachusetts non-profit that works with families to find or create housing options for their…
Person-Centered Planning: What is it, and why does it matter?
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…
“Who Moves?” Part II: Housing Terms Breed Confusion in the Disability Community
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)…
The Autism Housing Network: What Our Friends Are Saying
We’re grateful for the kind words and enthusiasm shared by individuals on the network. Your support means the world to us. Continue reading to see what our friends are saying about the new and improved Autism Housing Network: Some are recognizing the…
Independent Apartment Communities: What Are They, and Why Do They Matter?
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?” Part I: The Differences Between Shared Living and Adult Foster Care
"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…
Neurodiverse Cohousing: What is it, and why does it matter?
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…
Desi’s Desk: Tour a Community of 40 Neighbors with I/DD
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…
Down Home Ranch: A Place Where People of All Abilities Can Be Ranchers
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…