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Steve Muller elected President of NARPAA
July 12, 2010
Steve Muller Selected as 2010 President of National Organization
The National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism, NARPAA, voted Steve Muller president of the organization at their annual meeting in Dallas this week. Muller is the executive director of The Homestead in Pleasant Hill, one of several service providers from across the country that has joined together to improve adult options for people with autism.
There is not a "cookie cutter" solution to supporting anyone with autism. Rather, there needs to be a variety of options. NARPAA is interested in improving the quality of life for all people with autism with its main goal - to assure the availability of residential services and other supports for adults with autism throughout their lives.
Children with autism face many challenges. Fortunately, children with autism are expected to live a traditional life span - that means kids will become adults - and the majority of their life will be spent in adulthood. And the one thing we can count on is that these children will grow older and enter an adult service delivery system that is under-funded and unprepared for this unique population. This is a quality of life issue, but more than that, it is a fiscal responsibility issue.
"One particular challenge is that the method we pay for adult services in the country varies from state to state, sometimes from county to county or even town to town," Muller said. "We would never stand for this level of extreme inequality in our children's school systems yet it remains the rule in our country's response to adults with autism. We need to confront the uncomfortable reality with real solutions."
Autism is exploding. With the number of children with autism increasing, so too, are the consequences. Among them are the options available when these kids turn 18. Our nation has done well with what has been accomplished in the field of education for disabled children in school under age 21. Now, however, the nation must address the severe shortage of services to adults--and their caretakers--in this country. There is a national crisis in services for adults with developmental disabilities, especially residential services, and especially for those with autism.
The critical shortage of services for adults with autism is a daily hardship for tens of thousands of families in the U.S. who struggle to provide a meaningful and productive life for their loved one who has aged-out of school. Since 1975 when the Education for All Handicapped Act (now Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, I.D.E.A.) mandated a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities, parents took for granted their child had a firm and mandated right to services. Many are stunned to learn that when their child leaves school, the mandate for services ceases.
Many children "age out" of the educational system only to find that little to nothing exists for them past graduation. There are no residential providers to assist in finding roommates to share costs, locate an apartment, access food stamps, sign up for utilities, or purchase furniture, household items or groceries. There are no employment programs to help transfer skills learned in school to the workforce. There is no job coach to help navigate the want ads no subsidized transportation system to help get to and from work.
But a few have access to a team of professionals working on their transitions so that upon graduation, there are supports in place. The interdisciplinary team is made up of agency and human service professionals, case managers, family members, job coaches and medical professionals. They work to locate housing, access food stamps and purchase household items. They are also available to work with local employers and help transition the skills learned in school to the workforce. They provide support and assistance and identify solutions to help the person understand their surroundings.
The reality it that options for many adults with autism look more like the first example. Long waiting lists to access funding or service providers can result in institutionalization, hospitalization, homelessness and incarceration. Families quickly realize they must adjust their expectations from fighting for additional hours of therapy to trying to find any assistance for basic supports for their adult child.
"We are grateful for the leaders that have successfully convinced key decision makers that our public schools can and should provide equal access to education for children with special needs," Muller said. "But now it's time for a new discussion. We must raise awareness of a national standard for meaningful and appropriate supports for adults with autism to successfully live and work in our communities."
NARPAA has been a leader in creating outcome standards, on-line training courses and consultation for professionals and families interested in helping people with autism. The organization works to promote best practices and quality standards through training, provide open access to underserved populations, facilitate an exchange of information among members and partners to promote efficiency and effectiveness, and promote effective public policy relating to the needs of adults with autism.
About The Homestead
The Homestead is a private, non-profit organization that provides innovative solutions for children and adults with autism, their families and allied professionals. Services are provided in the community, in homes and in a unique agriculture based campus program. Autism is a neurological disorder that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed causing problems in communication, learning and social skills. It occurs in roughly 1 of every 110 births.
For more information, contact us through the "Contact Us" option on this website.
