Re: What adults with autism need

[Guest guest]

Hi, there. I am with a new nonprofit organization in Houston

offering a free day program, vocational program, for adults with

developmental disabilities. Our program is no cost whatsoever as we

are grant funded, we even provide lunch. But, we only have 15 slots

available for the first class. We are teaching the vending machine

business - both classroom and hands on training is provided by

teachers certified in special education. If you know anyone who

would qualify for the program and would be interested, you can email

me or call us at . Right now our website isn't up but it

will be www.heartprogram.org.

>

> For one thing, in Texas they need access to HCS or CLASS. So many

are languishing on these long waiting lists. That is why I am

championing a waiver for persons, especially adults, with autism.

This is not a unique idea because I have run across at least two

states who have been successful in doing just that. They have put

autism as a real priority! If you all are interested then I will be

glad to send you all some links to information. Also, we need to use

a functional criteria in determining who is eligible. That way some

of our Asperger persons and those with related conditions would

qualify.

>

> We need to develop housing options for persons with autism that are

not just group homes or foster homes. I have been able to obtain

Section 8 for my son who is in HCS too, so Section 8 cuts down on the

cost of his apartment. I don't know anyone else in the state that

does that regarding autism. My son signs his own checks, with help,

from the checkbook the he and I share. He has signed his own lease

so the apartment is HIS. If the care provider decides to leave then

the apartment belongs to my son. By the way, the current care

provider has been with my son for 13 years now. He gets paid very

well by HCS. However, if he shares the rent with my son then my son

has to count it as income and might thus lose Section 8. So his

provider doesn't pay rent. The provider is paid very well...both by

HCS and free rent. With the work the provider does for my son he

deserves even more than he receives. Also, the way it works, the

provider can come and go during the daytime while my son is away so

he has time to see his children by a previous marriage and help at

their school.

>

> Another thing adults need is real work or things to do with a

possibility of learning during the daytime. These individuals don't

need daycares where they sit and sit with nothing to do and eagerly

wait for transportation home. My son lives for his long bus ride

home. It's terrible! HCS is supposed to provide teaching and

training but there are few such opportunities.

>

> Adults who live in their own apartment with HCS and have guardians

like myself who have to handle balancing the books and filling out

the paperwork should have access to a fiscal intermediary (someone to

help with the finances.) We need self-determination, choice and

money following the person. I want to create a living arrangement

that will survive me when I am no longer on this earth. I want what

is called a

microboard

> http://www.communityworks.info/articles/microboard.htm which

is a one person HCS (or CLASS) agency with a board of directors of

friends and family, and advisory board of professionals like doctors,

educators, music therapists etc. And an association so we can have a

place to choose who we want for a case manager, how training is to be

done, how we are going to secure insurance for the individuals and

staff and have a choice of other services for staff and individuals.

>

> Right now Texas is focusing on helping people transition out of

nursing homes and ICFMR, large institutional settings. We need to

get them to focus on a broader base, especially on adults with autism

who have been so forgotten that I have been asked, " Do adults with

autism exist or are they all dead? " " Where are they? " " We never see

them or hear about them. "

>

> Adults need choices so they can decide what they want to do and

where they will go. They do desperately need a real life!

> Martha

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