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Who
Are We?
Thirteen families in Clark and Skamania Counties formed Autism Community Services to establish a model
of services for individuals with autism that allowed them to live, work and play in the communities where they grew up.
Autism Spectrum Disorders- include:
Autism, Infantile Autism
Asperger’s Syndrome
High
Functioning Autism
PDD, PDD-NOS Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not otherwise specified (ICD-9)
Fragile X Syndrome
Rett Syndrome
Characteristics of Autism:
Cognitive differences
Different learning style
Sensory
processing difficulties
Difficulty with social relationships
Need for sameness
Behavior as a form of communication
Our Mission
Autism Community Services advocates for the provision of innovative, individualized
services to ensure practical, effective solutions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders to become valued, contributing
members of their communities.
Residential
A companion home model was the preferred living situation
selected by our organization. A companion home is a shared residential setting with one caregiver and his or her family and
the individual with autism. This provides twenty-four hour a day support while living in a typical neighborhood and participating
in work, recreational and other daily activities.
Enhanced Services
Individuals with high support
needs are often underserved by the current system. This results in frequent burn out by underpaid, overworked assistants,
leaving the family and residential providers with the added stress of frequently changing providers. Difficulty with social
relationships and a strong need for sameness are driving forces for individuals with autism. Frequent change produces trauma
in their lives causing the individuals to communicate their displeasure with negative behaviors.
By increasing the rate
of pay for the providers as well as the number of hours of service available we reduce the incidence of change in the individuals
lives. This in turn reduces the frequency of behavioral challenges and helps to keep the providers constant.
Employment,
Recreation, Education…
We are the people who live, work, go to school and play in your neighborhood.
We want the same things you do; a job, friends, joy, a good education, a nice home and a supportive community.
Autism Community Services
P.O. Box 2553
Vancouver, WA 98668
(360) 735-8670
consult4autism@gmail.com
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