Justine Schneider's Contact Details

Justine Schneider's Company Details

Sweetwater Spectrum - Life with Purpose

, California, United States • 1 - 10 Employees
Nonprofit Organization Management

Sweetwater Spectrum's mission is to provide adults with autism innovative, community-based, long-term housing that offers individuals choice and challenges each resident to reach his or her highest potential.Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States, affecting 1 in 68 children. In the coming decade, as many as 500,000 children with autism will reach adulthood, yet very few residential options exist for them. The options available often have wait lists of 8 to 10 years. The growing demand for autism-specific support, programs, employment, and housing has reached crisis levels. Sweetwater Spectrum, a non-profit organization, was founded with the vision to design and build a supportive living, residential community for adults with autism unlike anything available today. Our community optimizes the insights and knowledge gained through autism research & embraces sustainable design and best practices. Sweetwater Spectrum is a place that provides a feeling of belonging while maximizing residents' individual development and independence, so residents can live life with purpose, dignity, and access a variety of daily opportunities in the larger North Bay Community. The nearly 3-acre property is in downtown Sonoma. The development includes four 3,240 sq. ft. 4-bedroom homes that provide each resident with their own bedroom and bathroom, plus shared common areas. Sweetwater Spectrum also consists of a community center, 1-acre organic urban farm, greenhouse, and therapy pool. Trained volunteers, a farm manager, an on-site executive director, and activities coordinator add support to this peaceful setting. The design and enrichment activities choices that went into the building of Sweetwater Spectrum have created a supportive residential community that accommodates individuals with a full range of autism spectrum disorders. Sweetwater Spectrum is an innovative model that can be replicated in communities across the nation.