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Ongoing Autistic Success In Society
IMPACT’s dream is to build local organic farm centers that maintain open space and at the same time offer the community the opportunity to buy fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products. These centers will also provide housing and employment for autistic and non-autistic individuals. A major focus of the plan is to purchase land in conjunction with local and county agencies upholding public access and use. IMPACT strongly believes that by working together we can create a better life for individuals with autism, and at the same time, contribute to society by using open space in a productive, regenerative, and environmentally responsible manner.
“The Farm Idea” What is it?
The farm idea is not a new one although it may sound new to people here. Several farmstead communities exist worldwide as an option to adults with disabilities. Most of these have long waiting lists and are not able to satisfy the increasing demand. Autism is now the #1 developmental disability in this country affecting one out of every 166 children being born today. Even if a cure or cause were discovered tomorrow, there still remains a large number of people who will need assistance coping with this, sometimes severe disability, for the rest of their lives.
There are many reasons why a farming life fits individuals with autism. Farm work provides space, quiet and fresh air. It provides the opportunity for these individuals to connect to the natural rhythms of the earth and animals, which they seem to have an affinity for. People with autism are concrete thinkers. Farm work provides almost immediately tangible results. Being on a farm provides natural opportunities for therapeutic interventions. Most importantly, growing needed food and employing sound environmental practices are a service that is noble and good for the community as a whole. It is extremely meaningful work and will be rewarding to all involved.
An important component of the “Farm idea” is to make the farms organic and regenerative in nature. The move towards organic produce, meats and eggs combines the idea of protecting and respecting the earth with respecting and protecting people on the earth. It emphasizes the link between food and health, which seems to have been forgotten in western civilization. Another added benefit to being organic comes from a marketing perspective. There is a real need to supply supermarkets and food chains like Whole Foods and Wal-Mart with these products. Consumer demands for this type of food have been increasing steadily over the past few years. Concerns about terrorism and our centralized food system exist. A move towards family farms and a decentralized system has a lot of appeal.
Finally the “Farm Idea” incorporates the growing and production of many goods and services. Besides growing crops, vegetables, and fruits, the farm could also produce flowers and plants, meats, eggs, milk, and cheeses. Depending on the acreage and building structures, different services can be made available to the public. Examples of these could include locations for tent weddings and parties with on-site catering; rental of horse stalls at reduced rate for town residents; dog kennels for care of dogs while owners are away; training centers for the training of dogs to work with the handicapped people; places to care for retired therapeutic riding horses, etc. On site tours could be provided to teach local school children about soil, plants and food as well as advanced environmental and conservation practices (such as solar roofing, recycling, composting etc.). This is the way to the future!
What Problems does this idea solve?
First, this idea preserves the quality of life that people move to the suburbs for. It not only preserves open space, but uses it to enhance the lives of the entire local community.
Secondly, bringing back farming as an occupation provides much needed work and residential opportunities for people with disabilities. It also provides respite for their families.
Thirdly, this idea provides a vehicle for volunteerism and education for the population as a whole. It sets up living examples of conservation, health and community living.
Is it something people with autism want?
The enthusiasm for this idea in the autism world is great. IMPACT has recently gained support from COSAC1 and Rutgers Farm Extension2. Other support will be forthcoming. This idea solves a lot of problems and offers a chance to use affirmative action to offset the damage done to increasing numbers of children from some “environmental accident.” IMPACT plans on enlisting the support of Temple Grandin (famous adult with autism), Autism Speaks3, and the DAN Group4. It is important to remember that this idea will not be for everyone but it adds another choice for people with disabilities, whose choices are often limited.
How can we integrate this into the community?
This is an important question and it is where some of these places have had problems. A unique aspect to IMPACT’S idea on this matter is to create several farms of various sizes as opposed to larger, more remote ones. This just makes sense in communities like Middletown that have limited open space. Small farms interspersed in the existing community where children have grown up and gone to school have the added benefits of staying close to family and the familiar. These are very important things to someone with autism and their families. This also has the added benefit of uniting a community through a common cause.
What should we call It?
OASIS. We have decided to form a new branch of IMPACT called Impact OASIS. OASIS stands for Ongoing Autistic Success In Society. This part of IMPACT, although our roots will still be in Middletown, will reach out to neighboring towns in Monmouth County to realize our dream. We chose OASIS because it conjures up visions of green. Green living is a life we want to create and promote for autistic individuals and society as a whole. We are excited to bring a positive note to the difficult world of autism.
How can we share it?
To create one farm locally is a start, but definitely not the finish. The enthusiasm for this idea among parents of autistic children is too great to stop at one. These parents are an intense, hard-working group. They may be the group of people that has been missing to jumpstart the Regenerative Farming Model. Paring this group with groups such as the Rodale Institute5, NOFA6, The Camphill Foundation7, COSAC, Autism Speaks, Whole Foods, and NIFCA8, to us, is a winning combination. We want to create a model for a program that can be shared nationwide and these are national organizations.
How can we finance this idea?
Of course this is a big question. Initially land need to be purchased. Hopefully we can get assistance from the state and local governments to purchase the land or possibly receive some major land donations through private estates. Cost of land can also be supplemented with funds raised by the non-profit entity. Once land is obtained, grant money from farm organizations, the State Department of Agriculture, and environmental protection agencies may be available. Other grant opportunities will be explored as well. As farms become established and somewhat sustainable, money should continue to be available from the community, major donations, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Other agencies that would probably be involved may include Medicare and Medicaid. This issue needs real examination. The use of Government funds has its advantages and disadvantages.
FOOTNOTES:
- COSAC-Community Outreach and Services for the Autistic Community
- The Rutgers Farm Extension-Division of Rutgers that will consult on farming matters.
- Autism Speaks-Recently partnered with NAAR (National Alliance for Autism Research) Autism Speaks is a new organization dedicated to improving life for those with autism.
- DAN-Defeat Autism Now
- NOFA Northern Organic Farming Association Provides help to farmers seeking organic certification. www.nofanj.org
- Rodale Institute works with people worldwide to achieve a regenerative food system that renews and improves environmental and human health. www.rodaleinstitute.org
- Camphill Foundation- supports Camphill Movement which are farms designed as communities that support life and work of developmentally disabled people utilizing organic and biodynamic agricultural methods www.camphillfoundation.org
- NIFCA Network of International Farm Communities For Autism www.autismnetwork.net/communities.html
OASIS
Transitional Residential/Adult Independent Learning
(TRAIL) Center
OASIS/TRAIL Project Summary
OASIS is proposing to create a Transitional Residential/Adult Independent Learning (TRAIL) Center that will provide young adults with Autism a unique experience parallel to their non-disabled peers once they age out of the Board of Education system. After High School most young adults have a first opportunity to live on their own. Some go on to college; others may get a job and an apartment. Both begin to learn how to manage their own lives more independently; from ensuring there’s food in their homes for breakfast to learning how to manage their time and take on adult role responsibilities such as work, continuing education or other type of community role.
This process starts, for most young adults, at the age of eighteen. For individuals with Autism they are entitled to an education from their local Board of Education until twenty-one, hence delaying this move towards independence four years later than their peers. This service would remove that gap in terms of Real Life Skills growth by affording them the opportunity to move out on their own and experience the world the same way as their peers.
The OASIS TRAIL center will not only benefit individuals with Autism, but the community at large. The TRAIL center will be open land that can be utilized as an organic farm and as an example of “green” living. With the intent to maximize natural resources and preserve farmland the OASIS TRAIL center will provide the community with a host of opportunities for enhancing local education to students; recreation for all community members by providing accessibility to nature paths; provide organic products such as local fruits and vegetables; and eventually utilize the host site as a potential meeting and catering facility.
The OASIS Center will provide the following services to assist in facilitating the transition from the role of student to that of an adult for those served:
- Residential/Habilitation services
- Vocational services
- Recreational
- Respite services
- Continuing education & College preparation
General Operations
The TRAIL center will be open throughout the calendar year. From September through May, six to eight individuals will reside at the facility, parallel to that of a college dormitory. These individuals will be able to go home on weekends and Holidays, as any college student may choose. During the day these residents may continue to attend school, go to work and/or a vocationally-oriented program, or remain at the site and participate in a variety of activities and groups, dependent upon their needs. In the early afternoon, when they return from their day time schedule, residents will learn to utilize their time and maximize their independence by participating in an array of activities designed to facilitate their move towards greater independence. Learning how to utilize personal time; how to manage one’s finances; how to determine preferences, interests and hobbies, and self advocate for their needs and dreams will be built in to their daily schedules.
During the day, the facility can be used for education groups to learn about Nature, Social Studies, horticulture and other related subjects. Students in the community schools, as well as colleges, can access specific parts of the farm for educational and/or recreational purposes. These areas will be clearly delineated in order to ensure that the “home” component of the land is kept separate and discreet and respects the privacy of all residents served.
After May the TRAIL center will become a “camp/respite” center for individuals throughout the summer. Similar to a Bed and Breakfast Inn, individuals with Autism in the community will be able to utilize the TRAIL environment as a vacation environment for two-week periods. Summer recreation, farm chores, and other camp-type activities will be scheduled for two-week cycles in order to maximize the resources of this environment to as many individuals with Autism as possible (approximately twenty-four individuals can be served minimally if one calculates six individuals for 4 two-week cycles). The “camp” opportunity will also serve as a Respite for parents and families and be a parallel experience to other young adults who attend summer sleep-away camps. If possible, the facility will also offer a day camp for any young adult, in order to ensure an integrated environment for all.
Residential Services
The OASIS TRAIL center will provide housing for six to eight individuals with Autism from eighteen to twenty-six years old. These individuals will all have their own rooms and share a kitchen and other amenities of a “farm” environment. Skill building may include, but not be limited to daily living skills such as grooming and meal preparation; healthy eating and living choices; housekeeping skills; self awareness and advocacy strengthening; money management, etc. Learning how to utilize one’s leisure time will also be part of the planning in order to ensure that personal energies can be directed to as many personally productive activities as possible throughout one’s day.
Vocational Services
The TRAIL center will also serve as a Vocational service. Potential opportunities for vocational skill – building and job training may include:
- Gardening and nursery skills
- Agriculture training and exposure
- Working with animals
- Organic and environmental farming skills
- Creative arts utilizing flowers & plants
- Catering opportunities/Food Service
- Operating a Retail business selling arts and organically grown products
Individuals who reside at the center will be able to participate in a variety of activities in the late afternoons and/or weekends. During the day many of these opportunities can be used to provide skills training for other individuals with developmental disabilities who have already aged out of the Board of Education and are seeking a realistic vocational training program that will lead to integrated employment.
Recreational Services
The TRAIL center will also be utilized by the local community in many ways. Walking nature paths, jogging through the land; and just finding a cozy environment to read or meditate will all be available for the community at large. Afternoon tea will be served to the public in the historic home daily from 3:00 to5:00pm (free for senior citizens of the town). Paths and grounds will be open for specific times of the day, with gates closing in the early evening to ensure that residents are safe and be ensured privacy for the majority of their time at home.
Respite Services
As stated above, the facility will be used as a Respite/Camp facility from June through September. Residents who reside there throughout the autumn and winter seasons will return to their family homes. New participants will be scheduled for two-week cycles to reside at the facility, providing respite for both themselves and their families.
Consumers to be Served
From September through May, Individuals with Autism between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six will utilize the facility from September through May each year. These individuals will demonstrate a desire to live on their own similar to their siblings and non-disabled peers. Individuals served will be able to function within a certain skills frame in order to ensure that appropriate staff supervision is available to support these individuals in their experience. Individuals will be screened and a team of professionals will review applicants and ensure that the supports available will match the individuals’ needs in order to ensure their own protection and welfare at all times.
Process used to develop proposal
This proposal was created 100 percent by the input of families and parents based upon their children’s needs and desires. IMPACT families have become cognizant that their children with Autism were not being afforded the same opportunities as their other children once they became adolescents and young adults. While their nondisabled siblings were beginning to attend college and work part-time, these individuals were still at home, dependent upon their parents and/or other family members for entertainment and activities once they completed school for the day/week. This often becomes complicated when parents are balancing the needs of other family members (including themselves); their careers, and the time it takes to complete routine chores that go into the running of a household.
While other families go through the natural process of their children becoming more independent and leaving home these families were becoming more stressed. The needs of an adolescent/young adult are far different than that of a child, and involve much more planning and time to ensure that they can be productively engaged in activities of choice. Complicate this with the additional needs of full time support during these leisure activities, and families have no time to run errands and/or manage their own personal needs.
As a result, these families came together to explore where the gap was between their children with challenges and other children in their families. They noted that while the other children were off and running in their late High School years, the children with challenges not only were in school while residing at home for an additional four years, but also in need of more intensive supports when engaging in community-based age-appropriate activities. This became the seed to look for an alternative experience that would parallel the developmental process of other teenager and young adults in the family. The group then began to formulate the aforementioned concept and is now seeking funding and support to convert this concept to reality.
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