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Championing Lifespan Needs
Hot Topics – November 2014
2014 Housing Conference Report
More than 200 people attended our
October 24 “A Place for Us:
Supported Housing Solutions for
Adults with Developmental
Disabilities” and our Oct 25 housing
workshop.
On behalf of the board of directors of
Autism Society San Francisco Bay
Area, welcome to our debut newsletter,
The central theme? A staggering need for long-term, well supported
the Update.
housing options for the skyrocketing population of dependent adults,
and the need to invent new solutions. Thanks to our more than 25
Children with autism become adults
speakers for making this conference a huge success. Learn more here.
with autism. In the Bay Area, and
Videos coming soon!
across the state, we have entered a
period of crisis. The autism generation
is aging out of school into a strapped
adult system unprepared to serve so
many and with such intensive needs
—for housing, adult day programs,
supported employment, case
management and abuse prevention,
medical care. The list is long.
Full program here. Links to some of our conference presenters:
Madison House Autism Foundation, Desiree Kameka:
http://www.madisonhouseautism.org/
First Place, Denise Resnik: http://firstplaceaz.org/
Jill Escher, Autism Society SF Bay Area, sfautismsociety.org
Safe Haven Farms, Denny Rogers: http://www.safehavenfarms.org/
Housing Choices Coalition, Jan Stokley: http://housingchoices.com/
Housing Consortium of the East Bay, Darin Lounds: hceb.org
California now counts more than
Life Services Alternatives, Dana Hooper: lsahomes.org
72,000 individuals with more severe
forms of autism (and there are probably Shire House, Liz Kane: shirehouse.org
AspenNet, Meg Fields: aspergersteam.com
at least that many with milder forms of
ASD not served by Regional Centers). The Big Wave Project: bigwaveproject.org
Sunflower Hill, Susan Houghton: sunflowerhill.org
Our developmental services system
Rident Park, Irma Velasquez and Larry Grotte:
was designed at a time when autism
was barely a blip on the radar, but now [email protected]
“Let’s Buy the Farm!” Susan Riggle and Alex Krem:
70% of Regional Center intakes are
[email protected]
autism. Regional Center workers face
overwhelming caseloads. Adult autism The FRED Conference, fredconference.org
Sweetwater Spectrum, Deirdre Sheerin: http://sweetwaterspectrum.org/
programs are bursting at the seams.
Gubb & Barshay, Natalie Gubb: http://gubbandbarshay.com/
Openings in residential homes are
Gilfix & LaPoll, Michael Gilfix: http://gilfix.com/
nearly nonexistent, and housing
Brilliant Corners, William Pickel and Barry Benda:
options are typically available only to
http://www.westbayhousing.org/
the wealthy.
So it should not come as a surprise we
are focusing our efforts on the dire need
to expand lifespan options. If you have
a child with autism, soon you will have
an adult with autism. Please join us in
our efforts to make the Bay Area a
welcoming community where our
special children can thrive for a lifetime.
Autism Housing Under Threat
Jill Escher
President
California Launches Task Force on DDS Services for Autism and
Developmental Disabilities
California could strictly limit supportive housing as part of its
implementation of Medicaid funding. We oppose any attempts to crush
housing options, particularly in light of the exploding numbers of adults
with autism. By November 26, 2014, please write an email to
[email protected] to ensure viability of autism-friendly housing
options throughout California. Further info here.
President
[email protected]
In a quiet yet important move, California's Secretary of
Health and Human Services Diana Dooley has
convened a task force regarding the future of community-
PS: Learn more about California's
autism explosion (no, it's not better
diagnosis) in our backgrounder
"72,000-and-Growing: California's
Autism Epidemic" here.
_______________________________
based services and supports for the rapidly growing
population of Californians with autism and developmental disabilities.
We are enthusiastic about the possibilities ahead and submitted this
letter... (more)
ABLE Act Would Allow Autism Parents to Create Tax-Free
Accounts for Their Disabled Children
We know the importance of saving every penny to help support the
lifespan needs of our children. ABLE would allow tax-free savings
accounts for all Americans with disabilities. ABLE accounts would give
you a place to deposit savings without worrying about losing Social
Security and Medicaid benefits. Under current law, those entitlements
are jeopardized if savings exceed $2,000.Three-quarters of the U.S.
Senate and House of Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors.
Write your legislators today, and learn more from Autism Speaks here.
_______________________________ ________________________________________________________
Autism Community Calendar
Commentary: A Parent's View of Neurodiversity
Full Calendar • Support Groups
Fri., 11/7: Autism Family Friday Jazz
Jam, San Francisco (more)
Mon., 11/10: Deadline for
submissions to "Autism Arts
Holiday Gift Guide" (more)
by Sigrid Van Bladel
Neurodiversity encompasses a wide range of
neurological differences (be it autism, ADHD, sensory processing
challenges, dyslexia or other variations) and means different things to
different people. There is a substantial movement within the autism
community to promote neurodiversity and have society stop treating
Wed., 11/12: Life Care Planning: More autism as a disorder and see it instead it as just one of many possible
neurological variations. "Don't try to cure or help us," the argument
than a Special Needs Trust, San
goes, "we don't have a disorder and don't need help.”
Francisco (more)
Thurs., 11/13: Silicon Valley
Autism/DD Housing Networking
Group, Palo Alto (more)
Our son, whose autism is quite severe and whose suffering and
frustration as a result of his autism are significant, has a real need for
help and so is not particularly served by this movement. What he does
share, however, is a longing to be embraced and accepted for who he
Thurs., 11/13: Successful Community is.
Living for Adults with Developmental
Embracing neurodiversity means more than merely embracing
Disabilities, SF (more)
differences. We need to embrace empathy and patience as well. I find
it difficult not to be unnerved by my son's anxious and repetitive
Sat., 11/15: Oklahoma! Free Open
Rehearsal for Special Needs
behavior; after answering for the umpteenth time that a favorite
babysitter won't be here til Saturday, I can feel quite frazzled. In a
classroom, wiggly kids — who may be dealing with balance and
Sat., 11/15: Play Your Way at
proprioceptive challenges to their sensory system, i.e. a poor sense of
space — can be quite distracting to their classmates. Students who
don't have an easy grasp on social convention and might stand too
Families (more)
Children's Discovery Museum, San
Jose (more)
Thurs., 11/20: San Mateo County
Autism/DD Housing Group (more)
close for comfort (until reminded not to) might be off-putting, until you
realize they are more likely than not doing the best they can, and their
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intention is definitely not to make you uncomfortable. There is nothing
more heartbreaking to me than our barely verbal son sobbing "sorry,
sorry!" after an outburst when he knows his autism has gotten the best
Bay Area Autism Holiday Giving
of him.
Guide 2014
Tis the season to make donations
before December 31!
My son's hard work is inspiring, and I marvel at how he sees the world
differently from me. Where his verbal abilities are limited, his
understanding of others and his uncanny ability to pick up on people's
before December 31!
Ask friends, family and co-workers to
join us in making donations to our
heroic and wonderful Bay Area
autism-serving nonprofits. See our
list of 44 organizations (and more to
come) here.
moods and states of mind is at times profound. He will pierce through
the clouds and see the sadness or anxiety behind a smile, whereas I
may well be fooled by the decoy.
A week ago, our 11 year-old daughter started sobbing uncontrollably.
When asked what was troubling her so, she replied, "I feel bad for AJ.
He tries SO hard and nobody gets him!" Her empathy for her brother
was beautiful, and her sadness saddened me. The world would be a
beautiful place indeed if we could all just "get" each other.
The author lives with her family in San Francisco. Published with
____________________________
Regional Housing Groups
Volunteers throughout the Bay Area are
coming together to form regional
autism/developmental disability
housing networking groups. They
feature guest speakers, advocacy
discussions, and networking
permission from the author and No Bully, nobully.org.
________________________________________________________
Field Notes: My Son's Group Home Is Closing, Where Can He Go?
by Christine Kiebert-Boss
In a few days my son's group home in Scotts Valley is set to
close. After endless calls and emails, I can find no other
options. All five residents of the home, which has been in business for 15 years, need
to transition into new placements but there are none to be found. It's possible another
operator will take over the home, but we don't yet know.
opportunities. Learn more and get
involved. Details.
Cole has had a diagnosis of autism since he was 2.3 years old and is mostly nonverbal. He is generally a very happy, easy going guy. But, unfortunately, he grew too
big for me—a single mom—to handle when he exhibited aggressive behaviors.
San Francisco County – Meets 1st
Tuesday of the month 6:15-8:15pm at
He moved into the group home in May 2013. It was a difficult transition, but only for
me. At the home, with its structure and trained staff, he has been happier than ever
before. With a visual schedule, and a teacher watching over him, he can make a grilled
cheese sandwich for himself, shave his newly hatched beard and focus on academics,
which he tries hard at. He loves his outings with his housemates.
Support for Families of Children with
Disabilities, on Mission Street.
San Mateo County – Meets 3rd
It is very disturbing that there is such a shortage of housing for the developmentally
Thursday of the month in San Mateo, 7- disabled. We need to support group homes, they must be adequately funded. I am
9pm.
Santa Clara County (Silicon Valley) –
Usually meets 2nd Thursday of the
month at Abilities United, Palo Alto, 79pm. Yahoogroup here.
trying not to panic.
The author lives in the Santa Cruz area.
________________________________________________________
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area
PO Box 249
San Mateo, CA 94401
East Bay – Meets one Saturday a
month in or near Union City.
Details and contact info
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Autism Research Wants You!
With Stanford, UCSF and other local
institutions in our backyards, we have
an array of opportunities to contribute to
autism research. See our list of
research projects here and get
involved.
[email protected]
1.650-637-7772
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area is an all-volunteer, grass-roots
organization of parents, family members, friends and professionals
concerned about the well-being of local autism families, with an
emphasis on expanding the limited lifespan care options for the
dramatically increasing numbers of adults with autism.
Email Us • Website • Facebook
Donate • Volunteer
2014-15 Board of Directors
President: Jill Escher
Vice President: Connie Boyar Frenzel
Secretary: Jennifer Sullivan
Treasurer: Irma Velasquez
All Board Members
___________________________
Please let us know about your
upcoming autism-related events and
news at [email protected]. We
are an all-volunteer organization and
will respond as soon as we can.
____________________________
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Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area
P.O. Box 249
San Mateo, California 94401
US
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