114: This Long-Term Housing Solution is Changing the Way Adults with Special Needs Live

The population of those with developmental disabilities is growing larger, and many in this group will need support of some kind for the rest of their lives. In most cases, this support comes from their parents, and every one of those parents worries about what will happen when they’re no longer able to provide that support.

A 20-year study by the National Council on Severe Autism that concluded in 2020 and followed 187 people with autism in South Carolina revealed that 99% of the test subjects were unable to live independently and 70% ended up living at home with relatives.

For Sweetwater Spectrum’s founder, Mark Jackson, this quandary presented an especially personal challenge — a challenge that drove him to find a way to create a fulfilling and supportive living environment for those with developmental disabilities. His own son, now 32, had been diagnosed with autism years ago and was soon to age out of his private school. In January 2013, Mark and his partners opened Sweetwater Spectrum. This three-acre farm site supports developmentally disabled individuals in downtown Sonoma to accommodate 16 full-time residents — soon to expand to 20.

In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe speaks with Mark and Sweetwater Spectrum’s Executive Director, Olivia Vain. Olivia’s proven experience with directly managing programs focused on enriching the lives of those with autism was a great complement to Mark’s acquired logistical knowledge, and both offer interesting insight into creating a supportive community for those with developmental disabilities.

Together, we’re going to discuss:

• How Sweetwater Spectrum addresses the individual needs of its residents.
• The ways in which Sweetwater Spectrum differs from other approaches to special needs housing and the benefits those differences provide for the families of its disabled residents.
• The specialized, real-world knowledge that both founder Mark Jackson and Executive Director Olivia Vain have acquired now affords them the ability to consult with other prospective specialized communities so that they don’t encounter the same pitfalls that they did.

And much more.

Unfortunately, parents are unlikely to outlive their children, which leaves a gaping void when even one parent dies. Coupled with the demands of caring for someone with autism full-time, support can often prove to be a lot for some families to handle. We hope this episode will give you insights to support the solution options available.

Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll:

1. Learn about your unique situation and goals
2. Answer questions about our services
3. Determine if we're the right fit to work together

 Visit https://absolutetrustcounsel.com/scheduling/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications—from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com.