The goal of Community Independence of Texas is to create a fulfilling and affordable living situation for semi-independent autistic adults. But what do we mean by “semi-independent”?
Just like anyone else, those with autism have a wide variety of interests, abilities, and gifts, but each also has a unique set of struggles. People with Level 1 ASD have traditionally been referred to as “high functioning”, may have been previously diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or PDD-NOS, and generally have low support needs, but still usually require some support. Anxiety is invariably an issue and can cause problems in decision-making, handling emergencies, and moving forward. Semi-independent ASD adults may sometimes appear neurotypical, but still have difficulty communicating with others and often deliberately mask (work hard to look neurotypical), which means they can miss out on the support they need.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5-TR), the most widely recognized standard for clarifying types and levels of neurodivergence, states Level 1 usually includes problems with social communication (difficulty initiating social interactions, responding to social advances, and maintaining conversations), repetitive behaviors (inflexible behaviors that interfere with daily functioning, such as difficulty switching activities or organizing), and restricted interests (fixed interests that make it hard to redirect).
However, this – as we all know! – is NOT the full story. Our fabulous Level 1 spectrum adults are usually very intelligent, commonly creative, capable of handling much of their own self-care (cleaning, food preparation, personal care), and are often very much a joy to be around! Challenging at times? Yes, of course – but then, aren’t we all?
The goal of Community Independence of Texas is to create a vibrant and affordable semi-supported community of autistic adults who have the ability and desire to live as independently as possible, with the comfort and security of an advisor nearby, social encouragement, and weekly support.