Housing Options for Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Options, Innovation, and Opportunities

This conference will provide a background of the current state of the housing system for adults but also showcase innovative ways parents and organizations have designed solutions. Our audience should be able to walk away from the conference with the following:

Understanding of the challenges and issues in the current system for housing and housing supports for adults on the autism spectrum.
Insight into different models that were created to provide ideas for parents.
Opportunity to connect with the speakers and other parents who are in similar situations.

Conference Schedule:

9:30: Registration/Breakfast

10:00: Welcome Dr. Bruce Ettinger, Executive Director, Spectrum360

10:15 - 12:00: Call to Action: Understanding the System.

The Housing Crisis Lisa Parles, Esq., Parles Rekem, LLC
Family Finances and Public Funding for Community Living Diane Riley, Supportive Housing Association & Donald Brown, a Special Needs Funding Coach
Working with Towns and Municipalities Tom Toronto, Bergen County United Way

12:00 - 12:30: Lunch provided by Spectrum360

12:30 - 2:00: Innovative, Family-Driven Supportive Housing: From Idea to Implementation

Learn about three innovative models which were driven by families who had a vision for supportive housing based on the principles of inclusion.

CoHome - Nathaniel Diskint, Executive Director & Mike Conley, parent
Wright Independent Life Option (WILO), Maplewood (B) - Keldrick Wright, Founder
NEXT for Autism (Professional Family Teaching Model) - Brad Walker, VP, Community Living Supports

2:00 - 2:15: Closing Remarks and Next Steps

2:15 - 3:00: Networking