29 Acres

Our goals are to create -

A COMMUNITY WHERE an adult with ASD is supported to freely move around and not be in danger.
A COMMUNITY WHERE purposeful programming and the goal of greater independence is the standard.
A COMMUNITY WHERE exercise and choosing healthier food options can be a part of every day and accessing quality medical care is the norm.
A COMMUNITY WHERE adults with ASD can have friends and feel a sense of wellbeing and belonging.
A COMMUNITY WHERE persons with ASD have a clear path to their local communities so they can be around the people, places and activities they choose and that make them happy.
A COMMUNITY WHERE adults are encouraged to look for employment (or a volunteer opportunity) that matches their strengths and interests and are fully supported to be successful so they may feel productive and self-fulfilled.

WE engage adults in ongoing learning, meaningful employment and robust social interactions that provide continuous growth in a safe environment.

WE demonstrate improvement in Quality of Life (QOL) as measured by joy and self-fulfillment and other QOL indicators.

WE connect adults with ASD to their local communities and help them foster true friendships among peers, staff and neighbors.

WE reduce the incidence of depression and feelings of loneliness and not belonging. The amount of medications adults with ASD are prescribed for depression and disruptive behavior can be mitigated.

WE emphasize the importance of health and fitness and encourage participation in recreational activities, aerobic sports and exercises. We can introduce healthy food options as a replacement for foods with less nutritional value. Healthier lifestyles can become a way of life in our community.

WE further improve healthcare for adults with ASD by partnering with local medical professionals and tertiary medical centers so ongoing medical care is more easily accessible.

WE create a culture of empowerment for employed and volunteer staff by improving education and training opportunities coupled with better compensation and work conditions.

WE work with educational and training programs in the community and specifically at the University of North Texas to bring the most current best practices to the program and an ever replenished group of eager, energized and compassionate paid and volunteer workers.

WE further research in adults with ASD by actively pursuing opportunities to collaborate with our local universities and other organizations.

FINALLY, we believe the programs and environment at 29 Acres will result in less attendant care over a lifetime and a greater probability of productive work, resulting in net positive earned income.

We assert that the societal cost in expended dollars alone can be reduced in the context of a more full and rich daily life for an adult with ASD.

29 Acres will offer evidence based and customized programming for each resident to ensure tangible growth in the areas of career readiness/employment and independent living, while prioritizing relationship building, and good health and emotional well-being. While 29 Acres programming (Enrich29) will be available to all individuals living with us, residents will be encouraged to use the service provider of their choice.

As part of our commitment to continuously improve programming, we will hold ourselves accountable to outcomes, including quality of life indicators.

By partnering with local and regional universities and organizations, 29 Acres will serve as a training site for service providers and help to advance best practices in adult autism services. We will look for partners and research opportunities that help to advance best practices.

Our living community will be built for safety and security by connecting smart phones with smart homes through state of the art technology.

The homes at 29 Acres can be a first home or permanent home depending on our residents’ needs and their preferences for living.

In 2013 the scientific definition of autism was broadened to include all levels of functional severity under the broad designation of Autistic Spectrum Disorder or “ASD”.

29 Acres is being created to serve the entire group of people with ASD, thus the tag line “ At Home Across the Spectrum”

Recently, the US Government published an updated estimate of the number of children who have ASD – 1 in 45 persons. The number of people diagnosed with Autism in 2016 is over ten times the number diagnosed 40 years ago.

Prior to the 1970’s, the estimated 50% of adults with severe ASD were hidden away in institutions where they lived out their lives shunned from society and forgotten. Others who were less severely impacted were mislabeled as “strange” and either supported by family or lost in the world of the homeless.

Over the past 30 years, advocates and professionals have worked hard to create a more neuro-diverse culture that welcomes persons with disabilities, especially in our educational system, where the practice of less-restricted environments is heavily emphasized. Extraordinary gains have been made in the areas of early diagnosis and enhanced social and educational instruction. This cultural evolution has moved many folks with ASD into the mainstream of society.

However, as adults with autism “age out” of school, it has become painfully evident that their world shrinks dramatically. Faced with a disjointed service provider network, there are few options for ongoing support of independent living skills, connections to meaningful employment and opportunities to socialize and be with peers. Without ongoing support, adults with autism have been shown to lose skills.

The shortage of safe housing is even more evident.