AFAA Partner Releases Reports on Meeting the Housing Needs of Adults with Autism

NEW YORK, N.Y. (February 16, 2010) – Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), a consortium of leading autism advocacy organizations and service providers focused on addressing the increasing and unmet demand for effective services for adolescents and adults with autism, today commended the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) – an AFAA partner – and collaborating organizations for their release of a new report on the housing needs for adults with autism.

The SARRC study, “Opening Doors: A Discussion of Residential Options for Adults Living with Autism and Related Disorders,” focuses on the residential concerns of adults with autism and encourages the development of replicable residential models that offer quality, affordable housing options. It addresses current and projected demand for life-long living options that support the segment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders unable to live independently. The study also explores the financial catalysts needed to spur private and public sector investment to meet expected demand and advocates for the creation of public, private and non-profit collaborations to address long-term residential concerns. The study is a collaboration between the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Arizona, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), the Arizona State University (ASU) Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family and the ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

A companion study, “Opening Doors is Advancing Full Spectrum Housing: Designing for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” was produced by the Arizona State University Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family, and ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The studies were funded through grants by Urban Land Foundation, Pivotal Foundation and SARRC.

“These important studies from SARRC are a direct outcome of AFAA's work over the past two years to focus attention on the needs of adults with autism and to formulate specific action plans,” said Peter Bell, AFAA co-chair and executive vice president of Autism Speaks. “We applaud SARRC and its partner organizations for presenting informed, actionable information about how we can provide quality, productive and stable housing options for the growing number of adults with autism.”

“One of the tenets of AFAA is to respond to the pressing question that's looming today for millions of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: Who will care for my child when I'm no longer able to do so?” said Denise D. Resnik, SARRC co-founder, editor of Opening Doors and mother of an 18-year-old son with autism. “The dramatic increase in the population of affected individuals gives rise to serious concern among families, service providers, government and the community at-large that residential services for post-school-age adults with autism and developmental disorders must be created as an integral part of a healthy community's housing plan and opportunities.”

Last November, AFAA held a national Town Hall meeting at sixteen different sites across the country with the goal of developing an actionable national policy agenda for life-long living and learning with autism. At each site, working groups – including adults with autism, family members, community members, neighbors, employers, service providers, representatives of funding and support agencies, elected officials and others – worked to establish priorities for meeting the needs of adults with autism in several key areas, including employment, housing, safety, recreation, transportation and social opportunities. Proposals developed during the course of the day-long session were voted on electronically by all participants to develop a focused agenda for change.

The next phase of AFAA will be an Autism Congress to be held in Washington D.C. later this year. The Congress will set forth recommendations for new public policy and changes to existing policy; empower national and regional networks to advance public policy and support of life long living and learning with autism and generate awareness and support through earned media.

For information about the AFAA National Town Hall, please visit www.afaa-us.org.

About Autism
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism increased 57 percent from 2002 to 2006. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

About AFAA
Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) is a national consortium seeking to create meaningful futures for adults with autism that include homes, jobs, recreation, friends and supportive communities. This unique national consortium has united to set national priorities for adults on the autism spectrum and to transform public policy and programming for teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Throughout 2009, AFAA will collect information, develop strategic solutions and advance the national agenda.

Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, and the New York Center for Autism are the AFAA organization chairs. The AFAA partners are: Global Communities of Support; Alpine Learning Group; The Autism Program of Illinois; The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation; Easter Seals; Hallmark Community Solutions; Organization for Autism Research; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center; and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.

For more information, please visit www.afaa-us.org.