OCTOBER 23, 2023
HOUSING IN NJ TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE FOR AUTISTIC ADULTS
FOX 5 NEW YORK | See story on Fox5NY.com
OCTOBER 19, 2023
APARTMENT PROJECT IN NJ TOWN DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM
NJ.COM | See story on NJ.com | See story in PDF format
october 9, 2023
PARENTS OF KIDS WITH AUTISM ARE PUSHING FOR A ‘FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND’ NEW NJ HOUSING PROJECT
PEOPLE.COM | See news article on People.com
AUGUST 24, 2023
A HOUSING COMPLEX SPECIFICALLY FOR NEURODIVERSE RESIDENTS MAY BE COMING TO NEW JERSEY
USA TODAY | See news article on USAToday.com
AUGUST 21, 2023
THE NOVEL WAY PROPOSED RED BANK APARTMENT COMPLEX IS APPROACHING HOUSING
Asbury Park Press | See news article on app.com
MAY 15, 2023
CREATING LONG TERM CARE AND SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM
PIX 11 News | See video on PIX11.com
NOVEMBER 12, 2022
NEURODIVERSE YOUTH NEED A PLACE TO CALL HOME
The Two River Times | tworivertimes.com
RED BANK – Karen Fluharty, a single mom, has long worried about what the future holds for her son Ryan, 20, who is on the autism spectrum.
Fluharty grew concerned – just as countless other parents in similar situations have – wondering what her son’s next step would be. “I started learning about the landscape of what’s out there and what happens after 21,” she said.
The term for what happens to young adults with similar diagnoses when they reach the age of 2 is “falling off the cliff,” Fluharty said. “Because at 21 they age out of their local board of ed services that are provided to our neurodiverse kids when they’re still in the school system.”
She “started on a journey,” she said, looking at what programs and opportunities were available for adults aging out of the system.
“And what I found was really frightening,” Fluharty said. With the exception of one program across the country she found nothing appropriate for her son.
“This is an area that really is underdeveloped,” said Fluharty, who is in the real estate business. “There really is no market for these young adults that fosters independence, that creates engaging, inclusive community lives.”
According to a report released in December 2021 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 44 children nationally and 1 in 35 in New Jersey are identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
For many, instead of graduating from a school program to independent living with career or further schooling prospects, Fluharty said, “we have a saying, essentially at 21, they graduate onto the couch.”
The statistics prompted Fluharty to form Parents With A Plan (PWAP), a 501(c)3 organization made up of families and legal and housing professionals working to find housing solutions for special needs young adults. They embarked on a private market study, surveying neurodiverse individuals and their parents and caregivers about their needs.
“We wanted to understand their needs. We also want to review what their fears and their hopes and their dreams are,” she said.
Among the findings:
• More than 200,000 in New Jersey are neurodiverse or have an intellectual or developmental disability – twice the capacity of MetLife Stadium;
• 73% of neurodiverse individuals in New Jersey are currently living with aging family;
• Lack of transportation was the No. 1 barrier to access and engagement in their communities.
“We started looking at communities around the state,” Fluharty said. “We know that one of the most critical issues for our neurodiverse population is transportation. Only 10% of our population drive.”
So they focused on communities that were inclusive and well connected. After looking at neighborhoods in Bergen and Somerset counties and other locations, Red Bank hit the group’s radar.
“When you look at the connectivity of Red Bank, and the philanthropy of Red Bank,” said Fluharty, citing programs and organizations such as Lunch Break, the Parker Family Health Center, Riverview Medical Center, the YMCA, Red Bank seemed like the perfect location.
“And the fact that there are over 100 places for retail jobs for our residents – we really felt that Red Bank provided that inclusive, connected community that our young adults who don’t drive will be able to access and be a meaningful part of the community, through volunteering, through jobs, through all of the amazing things that they can do.”
Plans are now being developed to build a 32 unit supportive apartment building in Red Bank. The proposed project will include 30 one-bedroom apartments and a first floor that is all amenity driven.
“Those supportive amenities on the first floor would include a 24/7 concierge that’s staffed by a behaviorist to help our residents problem-solve,” said Fluharty. A teaching kitchen will provide a place for residents to learn cooking skills, nutrition and other skills. Also included would be a health and wellness area to foster “all of those other elements that create a quality independent life,” she said.
A collaboration between Rutgers University’s Center for Adult Autism Services and Parents With A Plan will provide opportunities for Rutgers students to have hands-on experience while pursuing careers in the adult services field. A multipurpose room would serve as a virtual classroom for those students. “So we’re creating a path of very experienced, real world people that are building a career in adult support services for the neurodiverse,” Fluharty said.
As a neuro-inclusive apartment building, applying residents will need to have a clinical assessment. “Our goal is making sure that we’ve got young adults who can safely live in this environment,” Fluharty said. “We are not a licensed group home; we’re not assisted care and we’re not one-on-one. So we need young adults who have the ability to learn, that have some self-care skills. Perhaps they can cook a simple meal but need help with learning how to grocery shop and budget,” she explained.
In addition to the clinical assessment, an amenity fee will provide for staffing, including specialists, front desk and community engagement directors. Some of the costs could be covered by the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities.
“This will be the first of its kind in New Jersey and we’re very proud of the work that we’ve done to get to this point,” Fluharty said, “but we’ve got a lot of work to do ahead of us.”
Although she is not part of Parents With A Plan, Ellen Ashinoff of Fair Haven has the same goals: “To develop programs, housing and wraparound services for (this) young adult population.”
Her 18-year-old son Brett attended Fair Haven’s public schools until high school when he needed more vocational and independent living skills. He now attends a residential program.
“Obviously, that’s all we think about is who’s going to take care of Brett and what’s he going to do when I’m not around to organize his day and his life?” she said. She and her husband want to ensure that their two younger daughters, who will always be a part of their brother’s life, will not have to care for him.
“We want (his life) to be as fulfilling and purposeful as possible,” she said. “I want to set them all up for the best life that they can have.”
Ashinoff has visited programs around the Northeast. She cites Oasis in Middletown as a great model that’s already in place. “It’s a home and it’s warm and inviting and they have a farm and animals and they do all sorts of job skills and community outings. And so, looking at their model and bringing more of that to Monmouth County and to the Red Bank area is so vital.”
She points out that young men and women want to be involved with their community, whether through volunteering or socializing. “But most of them need some kind of living support, some kind of supervision either overnight or providing medical care or medicines,” Ashinoff said.
“I hope our community embraces more and more of our young adults,” she said, pointing out Coffee Corral in Red Bank and No Limits Cafe in Middletown as two businesses employing people with differences. “I hope this is the trend. I hope more and more businesses in Red Bank and Fair Haven and Rumson and Tinton Falls and all around us, I hope they all hire more and more of our young adults because that’s what needs to happen for everyone to be fully included into our community.”
The article originally appeared in the November 17 – 23, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
OCTOBER 25, 2022
PARENTS WITH A PLAN RELEASES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND NEW JERSEY AUTISM/IDD HOUSING STUDY
Parents With A Plan (PWAP), a 501(c) (3) organization comprised of families, legal and housing professionals developing private, best practices supportive housing solutions for special needs young adults, announces today results from its recent N.J. market analysis examining the needs of those with autism and other neuro-diversities who are facing an invisible housing crisis.
Conducted March-August 2022, N.J. residents – both neuro-diverse individuals and their parents/caregivers – were surveyed with the goal to examine the needs, wants, desires and fears related to their futures and housing insecurities.
Key findings from the first-of-its-kind private market study found:
· More than 200,000 in N.J. are neuro-diverse or have an intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) – twice the capacity of MetLife Stadium
· 73% of neuro-diverse individuals in N.J. are currently living with aging family
· 74.8% fear loneliness and isolation in the future
· Lack of transportation was the #1 barrier to access and engagement in their communities
· The top concern of individuals seeking an independent living situation was finding assistance to connect with people and places
· Nearly 50% of adults with autism or I/DD are invisible as they are not currently in the N.J. Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) system.
“As an entrepreneur and parent of a neuro-diverse, 20-year-old son, I searched nationwide for supportive housing best practices and quickly recognized a great need for innovation right here in New Jersey,” said Karen E. Fluharty, Parents With A Plan Founder. “Reimagining a private/public approach to developing inclusive housing with supportive amenities for N.J.’s neurodiverse population is critical. We can build better and create inclusive communities that foster and embrace our neuro-diverse young adults.”
Founded in 2019, Fluharty established Parents With A Plan, an organization comprised of experts and advocates from both the private and public sectors resolved to meet the goal of innovating neurodiverse housing for the Garden State. Plans are now underway to develop a purpose-built, 32-unit supportive apartment building in Red Bank, N.J.
“The collaboration between Rutgers University and Parents With A Plan represents a major step forward in demonstrating how universities can play a key role in addressing the critical need for innovative models for accessible housing for neurodiverse people. The Red Bank apartments will take a comprehensive approach to ensuring that each individual resident can make meaningful connections to their community through employment, leisure and recreation, social engagement and a variety of other inclusive activities while also providing opportunities for Rutgers University students to learn the skills they will need to pursue careers in the adult services field through a model of hands-on training,” said Christopher J. Manente, PhD, BCBA, Founding Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology.
“The proposed property in Red Bank will demonstrate an unprecedented model of public-private partnership between Parents With A Plan and the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services that will create a new standard of excellence in supportive housing,” he continued.
Parents With A Plan engaged Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions LLC to conduct a market study to capture the need and preferences for the proposed property in Red Bank. According to Desiree Kameka Galloway, a recognized disability housing expert with the organization, society is beginning to raise expectations for the future of autistic adults and others with I/DD.
“Parents With A Plan is an organization heeding the call. Without accessible housing options, the majority of adults with autism and other I/DD will continue to ‘graduate to the couch’ and be housed in the family home. Parents With A Plan’s market study is a first step to understanding this impending housing crisis and quantifies the need for the development of supportive housing in N.J. and nationwide.”
The full report is available here.
For more information, please visit and sign up for news updates at www.parentswithaplan.org.
MARCH 23, 2022
FUTURE NEURO-INCLUSIVE APARTMENT BUILDING WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK
Parents With A Plan and Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions (NIHS) have conducted a NJ market analysis in order to plan for the physical features and supportive amenities that can make housing more accessible to the neurodiverse population.
On Wednesday, March 23rd from 7:00 to 8:30pm, we hosted a virtual gathering to inform stakeholders on the variety of features and collect data on the demand. The virtual meeting video and plain language presentation for potential tenants can be found here.
MARCH 22, 2022
“NJ NEEDS MORE AUTISM-FRIENDLY HOUSING. BUT HOW - AND HOW SOON?”
NEW JERSEY 101.5 | NJ1015.COM
On Wednesday night, the New Jersey-based nonprofit Parents With A Plan will virtually launch a statewide research program designed to identify and fulfill the needs of adults in the Garden State with autism and other neurodiversities once they phase out of the educational system at age 21.
Karen Fluharty, PWAP founder, said she worried about what would happen to her own son, Ryan, and others like him once they figuratively "fall off the cliff." She said the ideal young adult program she could find for him was in Phoenix, Arizona, but that the best options should not come with geographical hurdles.
That is why the PWAP program, launched in conjunction with Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions, points toward what will be a first-of-its-kind, autism-friendly apartment building in Red Bank.
Only 6% of adults with known intellectual or developmental disabilities are accessing residential support in New Jersey at this time, Fluharty said, which is not acceptable for a state with such broad resources, and when these people have so much to offer.
"These are young adults with something to contribute. Some of them are writers. Some of them are amazing musicians. Some of them are great caregivers. Each of these individuals has something to contribute to our society," Fluharty said.
Aging caregivers mean housing uncertainty for many
Desiree Kameka Galloway, Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions lead consultant, estimates there are 38,000 individuals living with disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy in the Garden State whose caregiver is over the age of 60.
That population is in elevated danger of being displaced or even becoming homeless if their situations were to change, and the research effort and eventual apartment building will seek to mitigate those risks.
"Housing can be a place, and this is true for all of us, that can create access, it provides stability, it's a place where we recharge our identity, it's where we find that comfort and refuge," Kameka Galloway said.
No more group homes, "person-centered" model
She said she has worked on similar initiatives elsewhere in the United States, shifting away from the idea of a group home and toward something with specifically tailored amenities and design features.
Will residents require a space that's easy to clean? Something more sensory-friendly? More research and data are needed, Kameka Galloway said, and then the concept can be expanded further across the state.
"When they build this first property, we're going to be able to carry metrics on it, so we're going to try and understand, how is this impacting their lives?" she said.
Both Kameka Galloway and Fluharty used the term "person-centered" to describe the vision for the apartments.
No boundaries, no limits
Fluharty said the living spaces will cut into that 6% access number — and hopefully quickly, as New Jersey continues to rank high among U.S. states in child autism rate (now 1 in 34).
"We will be helping and assisting, coordinate all of those various, disparate services to provide a higher quality of life, and to bring those percentages up," she said.
Fluharty repeated something she told her son in stressing the importance of New Jerseyans with disabilities being provided space, independence and training: There are no boundaries, there are no limits, and you can be whoever you want.
To register for the Zoom event, to be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, go to parentswithaplan.org.
Patrick Lavery is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at patrick.lavery@townsquaremedia.com
march 11, 2022
PARENTS LAUNCH MARKET ANALYSIS TO CREATE AN AUTISM-FRIENDLY APARTMENT BUILDING IN NEW JERSEY
Upcoming Kick-Off Program on Wednesday, March 23rd
Parents With A Plan (PWAP) is launching a statewide research program via Zoom on Wednesday, March 23 to assess the needs of New Jersey residents with autism and other neurodiversites who are facing an invisible housing crisis.
There are 500,000 individuals with autism who will enter adulthood in the next decade. Over 50,000 young adults with disabilities graduate from high school each year. Nearly 75% of those adults live with a family member and 20% of those caregivers are over 60 years of age. Today, fewer than 1 in 4 adults with disabilities live independently. Currently in NJ, 1 in 34 children are diagnosed as on the autism spectrum. Of the 205,000 individuals with I/DD known the Medicaid authorities in NJ, only 6% are accessing residential support outside the family home.
Without access to housing that is safe, affordable and cognitively accessible, these valuable residents are at high risk of involuntarily displacement from their community, institutionalization or homelessness when their parents pass away. Parents With A Plan aims to create an apartment building that would provide housing for people with and without disabilities, yet be designed to be accessible for those with neurodiversities.
“It’s critical that we reimagine the way housing and services are delivered to our neurodiverse population. We see a future in N.J. as a place where my son can have a safe and meaningful life of his own. Our goal is to bring the private and public sectors together to solve the impending social crisis facing these young adults,” says Karen E. Fluharty, Parents With A Plan Founder, Fighter, Mother.
“We aim to make N.J. the country’s leader in rethinking how we address this housing challenge, a societal problem that research shows will continue to grow in our state. Our team of seasoned professionals is committed to making an impact on the community and furthering the well being of individuals and families,” says Dean Mon, PWAP Board Member and Former Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders.
The goal is for all of the units to be autism-friendly and create a safety net of supportive amenities to help residents maintain their home and become active members of their community. Parents With A Plan has hired national industry leader Neuro-Inclusive Housing Solutions (NIHS) to conduct a market analysis in order to plan for the physical features and supportive amenities that can make housing more accessible to the neurodiverse population.
Desiree Kameka Galloway, lead consultant for NIHS says, “When we build housing that is neuro-inclusive with thoughtful property details such as universal design, easy-to-clean features, nature-based elements, additional sound-proofing and spaces for everyday chances for social interaction; we build housing better for everyone.”
On Wednesday, March 23 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, PWAP and NIHS will host a virtual gathering to inform stakeholders on the variety of features and collect data on the demand. The recording and a plain-language presentation will be available on the website after the live event.
For more information and to register, please click here.
NOVEMBER 9, 2020
JUST ANNOUNCED: NJ’s Parents With A Plan founder Ms. Karen Fluharty and board member and former Chairman, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Mr. Dean Mon were honored to be part of the Strategic Leadership Team for a groundbreaking new study, A Place in the World. The report provides the foundational nomenclature for housing and service delivery models, establishes best practices and guiding principles, and helps drive crucial partnerships and policy decisions that address pressing needs resulting from the current housing crisis
Private, nonprofit, philanthropic and public leaders and fellow pioneers have produced A Place in the World to transcend all sectors, establishing practical language defining features, amenities, locations, price points and economic realities in clear, relatable terms for consumers, developers, providers and funders.
From the co-authors of A Place in the World: “Together, we can and will inform outcomes demonstrating what works, what needs to work better and how supportive policy can better align the interests of the private, nonprofit, philanthropic and public sectors,” says Denise D. Resnik, First Place AZ founder, president and CEO—and mother of an adult son with autism. “We have united to take a critical step toward advancing a marketplace of options,” says Desiree Kameka Galloway, director of Autism Housing Network.
IMPORTANT NEW STUDY: A Place in the World offers the universal language to research, develop and achieve supportive housing solutions that will:
Establish the universal language for innovation and the expansion of and investment in supportive housing developments throughout the U.S. and beyond.
Foster valuable connections between housing developers and technology providers with a better grasp of the needs and nuances of the market segments.
Create segmentation leading to a meaningful collection of baseline and outcome data empowering the tracking and sharing of impact and economic realities, whether sourced through public or private payers.
Facilitate major policy advances based on data versus ideology.
#APlaceintheWorld #autismover21 #parentswithaplan
FEBRUARY 4, 2020
State of the Union Address, Washington, DC, Getting attention in Washington, A very big thank you to Sen. Albio Sires, US Representative 8 Congressional District NJ Hudson for hosting us as his guests at the 116 Congress State of the Union address. As we look to solve the housing crisis for neuro-diverse young adults aging out of the under 21 system, it is critical that we have the support and vision of our elected leaders.
FEBRUARY 1, 2020
Strategic Planning Sessions, Shrewsbury, NJ 2020, What would you do with an IDEA? Sometimes it’s a big idea, but building the right team is part of our DNA at Parents With A Plan. Our team came together to create our strategic business plan and timeline in February as we addressed key issues to making our vision a reality; an outcome based program that starts with HOME!
DECEMBER 5, 2019
PWP Hosts Industry Leaders at Kick Off Event, Montville, NJ, Over 50 parents, educators and industry leaders, including Denise Resnick, Founder, First Place, AZ and Dr. Christopher Manente Rutgers University, and our board hosted the first Parents With a Plan event on December 5. Bringing together leaders in the housing, education, advocacy groups and sharing best practices is our goal as we reimaging the future of our industry.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
Download our new brochure and learn about our vision for #buildingbetter for our neuro-diverse young adults. We are an inclusive group of parents, educators, developers and service providers dedicated to creating a better quality of life for our young adults aging out of the current support system. Join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook. Please share with someone you know who wants to help us create meaningful homes and lives!
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
Thanks to our political leaders in Washington for believing in the real crisis on the horizon, quality housing and jobs for our post 21 young adults. Had the chance to meet with Senator Cory Booker and share our vision and foster support as this bill moves to the Senate for #passageHR1058 #autismbeyond21 #parentswithaplan. Thank you to our NJ supporters of H.R.1058 - Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019 – Congresswomen Mikie Sherrill & Congressman Albio Sires.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2019
Check out what is happening in Bergen County, NJ.Our board of directors recently had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Tom Toronto, President, Bergen County United Way, and tour Airmount Woods Special Needs Housing in Ramsey, NJ, which earned the Innovation in Supportive Housing Award from the Supportive Housing Association of NJ. Airmount Woods is the first development of its kind in the country. Nine adults with high-need autism made it their home.
THE MADELINE CORPORATION AND BERGEN COUNTY’S UNITED WAY, both non-profit organizations with over 60 years of continuous service to the community, formed a partnership in 2004 to address the housing crisis in New Jersey by providing safe, affordable, creative housing solutions for families, older adults, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Thank you for innovating and building better.
#autismbeyond21 #parentswithaplan
June 10, 2019
Forever Home: Parents of Adult Children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities Fuel New Wave of Arizona Housing
June 3, 2019
Innovative Housing Showcase in Washington D.C.
Another great day on the Washington Mall at the Innovation Housing Showcase exploring the latest housing innovations for Parents with a Plan. Funny how everywhere I go includes the word ‘mall’!
APRIL 21, 2019
So excited to attend the leadership symposium on April 25! Happens to be a big day for Parents With A Plan and a big birthday for some one too!
APRIL 15, 2019
As we look around the country for best practices, no one has done it better then FirstPlace AZ. Hats off to Denise Resnick and team for the vision they bring.
February 8, 2019
Bipartisan bill to Fund 1 billion to Autism Cares Act of 2019 introduced to Congress by NJ Congressman Chris Smith; Senate version introduced by Senator Menendez.
March 15, 2019
Community building Community - First Place AZ.
March 25, 2019
Opening Doors a Discussion of Residential Options for Adults Living with Autism and Related Disorders
MARCH 5, 2019
A simple code helps airlines anticipate the needs of travelers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
March 25, 2017
Report to Congress Young Adults and Transitioning Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders