An autism diagnosis need not stand in the way of homes, friends, jobs and supportive communities. Learn how you can be part of igniting a more hopeful genera- tion of housing options for individuals with Autism and their families.
Shortcomings & Gaps in the System: What’s standing in the way of significant progress? Making the Case: Economic, community and healthcare perspectives
Research Approach: Strategies for addressing the housing crisis and better outcomes Speaking the Same Language: New narrative for supportive housing for special populations
Better Data, Better Policy: Collecting data on what works and needs to work better, informing future developments and supportive public policy
We are today with housing options for people with autism where senior housing was 60 years ago. We need more options, price points and locations, recognizing that, like age, a diagnosis is not a prescription for what a person needs or wants in their home.
Speaker: Denise Resnik
Denise Resnik is the founder and president/CEO of First Place® AZ (established in 2012), co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC, established in 1997), and founder and CEO of DRA Collective, a marketing/communications firm (established in 1986) that servesclients in a variety of fields, includ- ing real estate, economic development, healthcare, education and hospitality. Her adult son Matt, who has autism, and others with different abilities inspire her work. A native Phoenician and international leader in Autism, Denise has raised community awareness and more than $85 million for Autism, primarilyfrom Arizona sources. The supportive community—facilitated by SARRC, First Place and dozens of partnering organizations—inspired PBS NewsHour to produce a two-part, na- tionally broadcast series citing Phoenix as “the most autism-friendly city in the world.”
