Independent Identity

Independent Identity's goal is to decrease the stress and worry for families of adults with autism and IDD while increasing independence and quality of life for those receiving services.

-increase job skills and sense of accomplishment for individuals receiving services
-increase social skills and elevate friendships for individuals receiving services
-increase leisure skills and quality of life for individuals receiving services
-increase independent living skills and accountability for individuals receiving services
-decrease worry and fear of the future for caregivers of individuals receiving services

The target client for Independent Identity will be adults with autism or IDD aged 18 or older and their family or caregivers who want to increase functional living skills for their loved ones. Specifically we specialize in serving adults who engage in aggression and property destruction and are not able to go into the community, clients who need support in learning job skills and maintaining employment, and/or clients who have little to no leisure activities or lack social skills. Initially, II will specifically target families who can utilize state granted benefit or private funds to pay for the tuition. In the future, II will work to target families who utilize insurance, Texas waiver programs, and Medicaid

Upon enrollment, a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and individualized assessments will be conducted by a BCBA on each client. Several goals addressing decreasing challenging behaviors and increasing vocational, independent living, social, and leisure skills will be developed based on the results from the FBA. Each student will have a detailed treatment plan that guides the course of services.
Each day clients will work 1:1 with an Independent Instructor, who is a registered behavior technician (RBT), using strategies of ABA to teach targeted skills. Some target skills may focus on dressing, hygiene, conversation, money management, cooking, cleaning, stress management, taking turns, and playing games. Under the supervision and direction of a BCBA the RBTs will collect data and monitor progress to ensure each client is making progress. Programing and strategies will be modified as needed. As progress is made, staff and clients will work to generalize skills to the community and other environments.

Independent Identity will partner with local businesses to have actual leisure and work tasks to teach to clients both at our location and in the community. II will plan community outings to various places such as the movie theatre, grocery store, restaurants, and gyms. Initially, staff at II will pre-teach at our location the skills and behaviors needed to attend these outings. Following teaching, staff will accompany members on outings to continue to develop skills. II will also work to educate and bring autism awareness to the community.

Independent Identity will be an intensive day program where adults with autism and IDD ages 18+ will attend on a daily basis and receive ABA therapy. Clients will receive 20-40 hours a week of therapy to address individualized goals based on current deficits and challenges. The highly credentialed staff of Licensed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) will supervise and direct staff, such as registered behavior technicians, to implement only research and evidence based strategies based on the principles of ABA.

www.bacb.com

Independent Identity recently established 501 c 3 status with the IRS in 2019. A board of directors was created and continues to meet quarterly at this time.

Fundraising has begun in order to raise start up costs to begin providing services. Our start up goal is $73,046.33. So far, we have raised $2,925.00. We will be dependent on fundraising each year in order to sustain our program while making services as affordable for families as possible.

Fundraising will continue into the new year with the goal of opening in June 2020.

Independent Identity is in search of a local facilities, such as a community center or church, to use and rent from for the first two years of services.