Farmstead Community for Adults w/ Autism

[Guest guest]

Another farm-stead community being developed: This one in Ohio. A quality alternative to the typical "dispersed" group home model for those who want that choice.

Complete article at

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/residency-program-offers-activities-safe-haven-for-adults-with-autism--773009.html

A miniature subdivision of homes, surrounded by a farm and woods with trails, and soon to boast a 9,000-square-foot activities building, horse arena and sports facilities. Someday they hope to add an indoor pool.

With only six buildings housing four “farmers†each, the farm will fill up fast. Since the goal is to keep it serene, there are no plans to expand the operation.

But organizers say the impact on the community will be larger.

The project will create more than 50 jobs in County. The day center will serve several autistic adults in the community who don’t live on the farm. And organizers hope to offer therapeutic riding to children and adults alike with developmental disabilities.

Dennis , volunteer president of Safe Haven farms, said his dream is for the farm to become a model home for adults with autism.

“It’s an underserved population, substantially,†said. “We hope to be a model for future homestead communities.â€

The hard part is building it, he said.

Construction is being funded with roughly $1.7 million in private donations and a bank loan of roughly the same amount. Plus, an army of volunteers from General Electric — which retired from — a few Eagle Scouts and other community members helped out.

But once it’s up and running, it will be sustained with the same Medicaid waivers and Social Security benefits used to pay for housing and care at group homes or facilities.

With autism rates ballooning in America — roughly one in 110 children born with the disability, by some estimates — said “we don’t have the ability to serve the adults we have now.â€