Been busy

Again, I apologize for not getting a post up here as soon as I should have. I have not been fallow though.

I would like to point you to a web site I have started with a couple of high school friends of mine, Kevin Walsh and Peter Kalinski. Please take some time to check out diggingDetroit.com .

The three of us were raised in the small Detroit suburb of Clawson and all three of us have great interest in the history of the region's hub: the city of Detroit.

Kevin has spent his career as an educator; initially as a high school teacher in Royal Oak and West Bloomfield and currently at University of Phoenix teaching video production. Pete worked as an archivist at the Henry Ford for several years and currently teaches history for Oakland Community College. Me, I'm an amateur historian interested in Detroit's history that isn't cars and Motown.

We've started a history blog covering interesting stories in and around the city; stories people don't know about and wouldn't expect out of the "car capitol of the world" and the cradle of Motown music.

Check out our first episode on Tommy's Detroit Bar & Grill. A cool little establishment down at Fort and 3rd Street in the space between Fort Street Presbyterian Church and Joe Louis Arena.

I have also started a Brownie troop and launched a write-in candidacy for Clawson School Board.

Lastly, I have started an entries for Shouldn't Be Secret on Upwardly Global and Arts and Scraps. Two really cool nonprofits looking to improve our communities in radically different ways.

Please stay with me, I haven't stopped this blog, just got a little distracted.

--Thomas J. Reed, Jr.
Chief Grant Consultant
Third Coast Consultants, LLC
thomas.reed@me.com

Homes for Autism

It seems every few years the authorities reestimate the statistics for autism. Recently, the numbers were moved up to be one in 88 children (1 in 58 for boys) will develop some form of autism; up from one in 150 (which was scary enough). The focus of most efforts to deal with this is children, but those living with autism do not remain children; they have every chance of living as long a life expectancy as any other individual.

Homes for Autism has steps into the void that exists once an individual with autism comes of age. This organization currently supplies homes for adults with autism; their logo, above, was designed to illustrate this focus. In the future, they plan to also offer respite care.

Homes For Autism works with new families to set up new homes. This process includes working with families and County Community Mental Health organizations to find homes that meet clients’ unique needs, negotiating leases and enabling the residence to be a good neighbor to the community.

Homes for Autism provides initial home down payments to buy the home and becomes a financial partner with residential families to ensure the success of clients in this living situation. The organization also takes responsibility for the maintenance of existing homes. The goal is to establish homes that will be self-supported.

Recently, Homes for Autism entered into a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, which established a sixth house for adults with autism in Waterford. Homes For Autism also partnered with Christ The Redeemer church in Orion Township to renovate the house. The church had its 17th year of fund raisers for Habitat and this year its beneficiary was Homes For Autism.

The Waterford house is a 3 bedroom 1 ½ bath in a residential community. Three adults will live there with 24/7 care. Occupancy is expected in November.

Homes for Autism relies in large part on substantial contributions from from interested individuals and generous corporations to continue to provide its housing needs. A recent Oakland Press article highlighted the contribution of AT&T.

Senator Jim Marleau (from left), Bill Schramm, Lori Doughty and Senator Dave Robertson hold a $5,000 check donated by AT&T to organization Homes for Autism. Submitted by Nick DeLeeuw (from the Oakland Press article).

Currently, Homes for Autism has a paid staff of only one: the Executive Director, Anne Gerard. Volunteers are an important resource to Homes for Autism’s work helping out with residential home health care providers and the families supported by the organization.

For more information on Homes for Autism, and to learn how you can become involved and support their work, click here.

Home page: www.homesforautism.org

Homes for Autism Mission Statement:

Homes for Autism provides and maintains houses for adults with autism and developmental disabilities.

Homes for Autism exists to help people with autism achieve their best and to live and grow towards a better quality of life. We specialize in creative solutions to meet the needs of the people we serve and their families.