A Model For What Can Be Done

by Kristina Chew · 2009-01-27 14:24:00 UTC
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Via the Easter Seals and Autism blog, an account of how one Chicago family found a place for their 22 year old autistic son, Eric: Two years ago, he was "declared a crisis case by the state" of Illinois. His parents, Larry and Beth Markin, did not like the "options" (which often seem to be the only alternatives offered), institutionalization or a group home. The Markins purchased Beth Markin's parents' house and refurbished it and then, as noted in the January 25th Chicago TribuneL,Larry Markin

...... poured a considerable amount of money into it, converting it to a state-of-the-art home for his autistic son, a personalized residence that takes into account his son's behavior and needs. The house has been remodeled to accommodate a still-undetermined second special-needs person, as well as a caretaker provided by an agency.

Eric has been living in the house since early September and, after a tough transition, has been getting used to his new house:

"At first, he automatically migrated to the basement when he got upset," Larry explains. "He did that probably the first two months."

Eric banged his head on and kicked the walls, but the hard wall construction stopped him from making a habit of such behavior.

The projector in the basement and the fish tank between his room and the living room helped calm him. After a couple of months of retreating to the basement, Eric now tends to hang out upstairs. And, his father reports, there have been no aggressive episodes for a few weeks.

"He seems to be enjoying himself," Larry says. "My wife goes over regularly, I go over there regularly. Eric goes to a day program. It's working."

The Easter Seals and Autism blog also links to Easy Access Housing for Easier Living Program, which has more information about creating "attractive, accessible housing" for individuals with disabilities.

Jim and i have thought about doing what the Markins did, buying a house for Charlie, refurbishing it, and making it a place for him to live, with staff and supports and, possibly, a roommate. I don't quite know how we might go about this, or whether this is possible, or if it will be the right living situation for Charlie when he is older. I like very much the idea of Charlie living in the community and not being isolated, segregated, "somewhere else"----and I thank the Markins and Eric for creating a model of what can, indeed, be done.

Photo by byrdiegirl.

Kristina Chew
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