place for my brother to grow?

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I'm not the parent of an autistic child but the sister of one. However, this seems like a good place to ask this question (I'll be the guardian of my brother eventually).

My brother is nineteen and autistic. He speaks little, is hyperactive, has OCD, and apparently has the mental capabilities of an eight-year old (this was the conclusion of some psychiatric test he was given). I also have autistic qualities, but do not have the limitations my brother does. My brother lives with our mother, who spends a lot of her time teaching him. My mother has spent a lot of time in conflict with school authorities with regards to the SPED program, and my brother has been moved from program to program in various towns-- some private, some public. This struggle has taken a huge toll on my mother, not to mention my brother.

I'm looking for a place where my brother can gradually learn to be self-dependent. I'm not talking about a program so much as a community (a town or city) where my family can be at home, and which is friendly towards autistic people and people with disabilities. Do any of you have thoughts, or would like to share your experiences?

Please see the following recent post from Susan Senator's blog.



MODEST PROPOSAL FOR SENATOR BROWN RE ASD ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS

I am a single mom. My son with ASD is 14, and I anticipate with pleasure the idea of him having the option of living with me as an adult–just as the grown up neurotypical sons and daughters often more back during hard times. Of course, I hope he will continue to build skills which will possibly give him the option of living away as well.

So let’s think of micro home-based businesses, e.g. an urban microfarm if your lot is large and you’d love to raise very locally grown vegies for the neighbors, a micro B and B of a single room or two where DS or DS can help cook up and serve breakfast–all the while improving work skills and enjoying life and the increased socialization that goes with any business and saving the parents from dealing with bureaucratic complications.

So, say, Senator Brown, how drafting a bill for a tax break of 5 or 10 grand or so to help us 99% with our own tiny start ups–help improve your tax base when we do turn a profit while improving quality of life for ASD families who want to do something like this?

— added by Sarah on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Love it! Will share if it happens! Meanwhile, did you send this to him? I hope so!

— added by Susan Senator on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 12:35 pm

I would assume that areas with high clusters in the kids (all the high tech areas) are likely to have what you would like for the adults, not so much services as acceptance. I know there are group homes and such around here, which I've heard good things about, but the flip side is just living here is outrageously expensive.