Writing in the Sacramento Bee, Dr. Louis A. Vismara says he’s working with a group to develop a planned community on 577 acres in the Sacramento area. It would serve vulnerable adults including people with autism, senior citizens and those with other disabilities.

A founder of the MIND Institute at UC Davis and the father of a teenaged son with autism, Vismara says he has “personal heartache” over California’s lack of preparedness for the tsunami of children with autism who are now approaching adulthood.

He envisions a community with some 3,000 “green” homes as well as shopping, jobs, parks and recreational activities. An estimated 20 percent of the housing would be designated for people with autism and other disabilities, he said, and jobs would be found at area farms and community gardens. An excerpt:

Living in close connection with the diverse group of people who will be drawn to this community will lend immeasurable richness to residents’ lives, allowing them to tap deeply into their own humanity. It’s the life many of us say we want, and it’s the life I envision for Mark now and after I’m no longer able to care for him.

With this community, Sacramento could lead the way in creating smart and sustainable development that can be replicated across the state and throughout the nation. It will keep Sacramento where the MIND Institute placed it in the fight against autism: at the cutting edge.

This community could be a real jewel for Sacramento. Our sons and daughters deserve no less.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 3:08 pm and is filed under adult living, autism, housing, independent living, NOT2BEMISSED. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.