Hey guys, I just wanted to say thanks again for everything. Working at Gracelyn was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I have learned more than I thought was possible over the last 2 years, including a lot about myself. I came into this field not knowing much about it, and now it’s something that I feel very passionate about. I really appreciate the opportunities you gave me, and it was awesome being part of the team.
Thank again!

Doing something for somebody: the word Caregiver is often used in this field. One possible result is that consumers may become dependent on you. You may not notice their true potential because you are in their way.

When it comes to hygiene or household tasks, each consumer’s journey is unique.  Are we here to teach them the skills or to support them to have the habits?

... for donating your time and skills. Each day you come over, the quality of life for the guys and integrity of Koinonia increases!

“It is projected that as many as 500,000 autistic children will reach adulthood in the next 15 years. These adults will have varying levels of independence, and will outlive their parents. Where will they go? This is the question that a collaborative report by the Urban Land Institute Arizona (ULI), the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), and Arizona State University (ASU) tries to answer.

The study focuses on the residential concerns of adults living with autism and related disorders and is designed to advance the development of replicable residential models that offer quality, affordable housing options within the fabric of their communities. It also addresses current and projected demand for life-long living options that support the segment of individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders unable to live on their own. Further, the study explores the financial catalysts needed to spur new investment by the private and public sectors to meet projected demand and advocates for the creation of public, private and non-profit collaborations to address long-term residential concerns.

Because of growing advocacy for community-living options for adults with neurobiological conditions and because of the aging of their parents in whose homes they live, many are seeking residential opportunities and accommodations outside traditional institutions and the parental home. Architects, housing providers and developers are being called upon to plan, design, retrofit and develop homes and residential developments that best fit the needs and aspirations of this new housing consumer.”

See the article.
Discover the study.

Access the entire article by clicking here.

When Jeff Sell’s twin sons were found to have autism 13 years ago, he, like so many other parents in the same situation, found himself with a million questions: Will my children be able to function? What are the best treatments and where do I find them? How will this affect the rest of my family?

And besides those monumental worries, Mr. Sell kept asking himself another fundamental question as he began the long string of doctor and therapist visits with his sons: “How in the world am I going to pay for all this?”

Autism trends, treatments and therapies routinely make headlines. Often overlooked, though, is the financial burden for many families with autistic children.

Treatment is extremely expensive. Direct medical and nonmedical costs can add up to as much as $72,000 a year for someone with an extreme case of the disorder, and even $67,000 a year for those on the lower end of the spectrum, according to a study from the Harvard School of Public Health.

That figure includes medical costs like doctor visits, prescriptions and occupational and speech therapy, as well as expenses for things like special education, camps and child care, said Michael Ganz, the author of the study, who is now a health care consultant.

“It can cost $3.2 million to take care of an autistic person over the course of his or her lifetime,” the study said.

More families are grappling with the disorder than ever before. One of every 110 8-year-old children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism — and one of every 70 boys, according to the latest survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, released last fall. That is up from one in 150 children in a comparable report released in 2007.

...

One of our consumer talking to his Dad about the benefits of getting a job… or not!

We put relationships first.
We maybe have a unique opportunity for you.
If you…
have integrity,
enjoy people,
are accountable,
are open to learning,
are eager to grow,
are able to give and receive feedback,
want to positively influence others to achieve the highest and best within them,
... you might just be one of the authentic individuals we’re looking for.