Autistic adult avoids regular mental health system through family-owned private Michigan home

Web posted at 07-Mar-98 10:44 Central European Time

Some families are making a difference with their own private initiatives, meant to secure a fulfilling life for their adult autistic children. For example, the Cameron family have bought a home in Ida, Michigan for their autistic son Patrick, 23. The home is owned by Patrick's parents, Susan and Brian Cameron.

They lived together as a family for Patrick's whole life, but it was time for him to establish himself in his own home and be on his own as much as possible. The house is also home to two other adults with a mental handicap, making the costs managable through sharing of expenses.

Typically, mental health clients live in group homes owned by corporations or businesses. Depending on the size of the home, residents often share bedrooms because there's not enough room. This is a highly stressful and unhealthy situation for an autistic adult, among whose basic needs are privacy and time alone.

At the Ida home, the Camerons have the ability to make their own decisions and choices. Additionally, the three residents do their own chores and have much more responsibility.

"It is not a mental health home and that's significant," said Mark Rodan, program director at Monroe County Community Mental Health, who originally suggested this initiative to the Camerons. "We wanted to empower people to own places of their own."

When evaluating group homes, the Camerons didn't like the lack of control and instability, like when some clients are forced to move from group home to group home. Besides, some of the houses just didn't meet their standards. In their own house, they can hire their own staff, screen Patrick's potential roommates, make their own changes. That was a huge advantage. The Camerons now have the stability they strived for.

"It is a big commitment because it is our home," Mrs. Cameron said. "We have much more control with the issues we feel are very important to Patrick."

In the month since buying the house, Mrs. Cameron said the neighbors and other supporters have donated items and helped with small repairs. The home is staffed 24-hours a day and the workers are there to guide the three.

CMH's Rodan acknowledged that families of handicapped adults can't always buy a home because they can't afford it. But he also said the agency is willing to work with individual clients' families.

"We are ecstatic about this," Rodan said. "It's not going to be possible for those with limited resources. But we're going to be creative and work with families who might not be able to afford it."

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