#1 ·
So, we’re parents to a 21-year-old guy on the spectrum. He’s still living at home with us and is currently attending school over at Beyond the Horizon. Lately, we’ve been spending a lot of late nights just thinking about what his life looks like once he finishes school—but more importantly, the heavy stuff, like what happens to him when we aren't around to look after him anymore. We’re active members of Autism Speaks, and they’ve already successfully set up two residential communities (one down in Jerusalem and another in a nice suburban neighborhood). Our big dream now is to get a third community off the ground, something small and cozy for about 5 to 8 residents. The way we’re looking at it is that we, as a group of parents, would buy the land ourselves and build a high-efficiency prefab house on it. Basically, we’d own the property and lease it back to the Autism Society of America, who would then handle all the professional staffing and day-to-day operations. Right now, there are three of us parents involved. If anyone out there is feeling that same weight on their shoulders, wants more details, or even just wants to go visit the existing homes to see how they work, please reach out. If you're worried about your child's future, let's talk. And just a heads-up, it doesn't necessarily have to be people on the spectrum who join this specific setup.