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The Homestead receives Polk County Community Betterment funding
May 17, 2010
The Homestead was awarded a $3,000 Community Betterment Grant from the Polk County Board of Supervisors for the Autism Clinic. Funds will be used for therapy room supplies and equipment for use by our Applied Behavior Analysts.
Staff at the Autism Clinic will provide direct intervention services using research based practices while collaborating to provide training and support to families and schools. The Autism Clinic will also serve as a resource center for families and professionals seeking to better understand how to respond to the unique needs of autism.
"We are pleased to provide funding that allows organizations in Polk County to serve the citizens of Polk County," Polk County Supervisor Tom Hockensmith said.
Individuals with autism require specialized assistance and training in order to maximize access to social, educational, vocational and family activities. With that individualized support, amazing things can happen. Individuals learn to communicate more effectively, better care for themselves, develop relationships with those around them and lead more fulfilling lives. Supporting children with autism with the right interventions will reduce the need for life-long, expensive supports in the future.
Often we claim that a success can be recognized by the fact that a new problem has been created and calls for new programming. One example--upon admission of a new, young girl with limited verbal skills, the mom broke down and cried saying, "I just want her to talk. I have never heard her say I love you." The program manager explained how communication programming would look and that we all looked forward the day when this parent would be begging her daughter to stop talking for a moment. Several months later the program manager got a phone call from this same parent. She called from a wedding the family was attending and she was ecstatic. She explained that during the ceremony while the groom was speaking of his love for his bride, the little girl stood up and loudly announced "I love you mommy" for the world to hear.
One in 110 children born today is expected to develop autism. With the establishment of a centralized location dedicated to autism, The Homestead Autism Clinic will have the ability to treat more children, recruit and train more staff, and provide a resource center for families and professionals seeking to better understand how to respond to the unique needs of 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
Steve Muller
Executive Director
1625 Adventureland Dr., Suite B
Altoona, IA 50009
p515.967.4369
f888.228.8476
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