Trio pitches plan for autism residential facility

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Trio pitches plan for autism residential facility

Ambitious plan would create site for adults with autism at Dubuque property

By Andy Piper TH staff writer 12/13/2008

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=226088

A mutual acquaintance suggested a meeting of the minds.

Breyan Strickler, an English professor at Loras College, was seeking ways to preserve one of the last strips of undeveloped land within Dubuque's city limits -- the former Lange Greenhouse property near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Kennedy Road.

Meanwhile, Craig and Alyson Beytien were looking into what the future holds for their 15-year-old autistic son once he turned 18 and legally became an adult.

"We began about a year ago in conversations with Marilyn Althoff, of Hills & Dales, and the mutual recognition that there are significant gaps in services for this growing population of adults with autism," Craig Beytien said. "We've networked with other families in the area faced with a similar challenge. What do you do when these children become 18? What kind of opportunities are there for them?"

As the Beytiens researched those questions, they discovered The Homestead, near Des Moines, and Bittersweet Farms, in Whitehouse, Ohio, residential facilities specifically designed for adults with autism that provide work on-site through farming.

They then received a call from Strickler, who describes herself as an environmentalist and social ecologist, and the three agreed to meet at the 4 1/2-acre Lange Greenhouse property to exchange thoughts.

"My original idea was to create a community garden," Strickler said. "It should stay a working farm. It can't be preserved with a picket around it."

Through a melding of the minds, the concept of Red Oak Farm emerged, based on those other residential homes for autistic adults.

Craig Beytien said the property galvanized fledgeling support they already had received in talking to community leaders and lending institutions. The trio thought the property wouldn't go up for sale until early spring and they would have time to write grant applications and seek funding for their project, which could run in excess of $2 million, including the purchase price of the property listed at about $985,000.

"Everyone we talk to is very excited about this, but in reality, it's going to be very hard to do," Beytien said. "We're virtually going to have to raise all of the money and relatively quickly. We've got the passion and some ability, but does the economic model support it? We are now literally putting together a business plan that we can put in front of potential investors."

To learn more about the Red Oak Farm concept, visit theredoakfarm.org or call Alyson Beytien at . To learn more about residential living for autistic adults, visit http://www.theredoakfarm.org/index.htmlYou live life online. So we put Windows on the web. Learn more about Windows Live