Episode 3 - Autism and I/DD Housing, with Scott Mendel and Ashley Kim Weiss of Together for Choice

What are the different types of housing for autistic and I/DD adults? What's an ICF? What are Home and Community-Based Services? Why are waitlists so long? Why do some disability rights advocates attack freedom of choice in housing? Scott Mendel and Ashley Kim of Together for Choice put it in perspective, hosted by Jill Escher.

Highlights:

• What are ICFs? Is there really an entitlement? Sort of, but it may be far away and of low quality. What different kinds of ICFs are out there? The real reason that state-run ICFs are more expensive than private ICFs.

• What is HCBS? Why are there such long waitlists in most states? The problem of the lack of political will.

• Why we need a person-centered full continuum of care rather than arbitrary rules about housing settings.

• Absurd state rules that place autistic clients in more costly and inappropriate settings.

• How severely autistic clients with HCBS can become isolated and disconnected from the community.

• The severe staffing crisis seen across the country.

• The need for families to meet with legislators and share their stories. Advocacy matters.

Links:

Together for Choice: http://togetherforchoice.org

NCSA National Grassroots Network: https://www.ncsautism.org/nationalnetwork

About

Autism Confidential (AutismConfidential.org) is a production of the National Council on Severe Autism. NCSAutism.org.

All views expressed on Autism Confidential are those of the individual speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NCSA or its board of directors. The podcast is for informational purposes only and does not offer any medical or legal advice.

Produced by Lee Syatt. Do you want to start a podcast? Go to www.leesyattconsulting.com